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HISTORY  ..vj 


OF  THJS 


UNITED    STATES, 


OR 


REPUBLIC  OF  AMERICA : 


A  CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE 

AND 

A    SERIES    OF   PROGRESSIVE    MAPS. 


BY  EMMA  WILLARD. 


NEW    EDITION. 


KEW  YOKK: 
PUBLISHED    BY    A.   S.   BARNES    <b    CO. 

NO.    61    JOHN-STREET, 

CINCINNATI:-H.   W.  DERBY  &  CO. 

1857. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

This  history,  now  brouglit  down  to  July,  1851,  has  heen  before  the  public  twenty- 
three  years.  During  that  period  the  record  of  current  historical  events  has  been  made 
as  they  occurred,  or  while  they  were  fresh  in  the  writer's  mind  ;  and  at  different  times 
added  to  the  work,  which  has  thus  been  kept  up  to  present  time.  That  this  history 
h>g  been  written  with  an  unprejudiced,  a  conscientious,  and,  in  the  main,  a  successful 
research  for  truth,  is  evident  from  the  fact,  that  it  is  now  used,  and  quoted  as  authority, 
by  the  pulpit,  the  press,  and  the  bar, — in  legislative  haUs,  and  courts  of  justice.  But 
this  book  contains  no  catalogue  of  the  authors  who  furnished  the  data ;  but  concerning 
tho  history  as  first  published,  such  a  list  is  in  print,  and  is  containea  in  aU  its  earlier 
editions.  The  later  portions,  comprising  the  second  quarter  of  the  present  century,  iis 
COTEMPORAKY  HISTORY.  Its  recorded  events,  not  only  have  circulated  among  their  actors, 
but  they  were  known  to  the  author  as  they  occurred ;  and  they  were  at  the  time  appre- 
hended" by  a  quick  nerve  of  patriotic  justice.  The  reading,  to  prepare  for  the  -writing 
of  this  portion  of  the  history,  has  been  exceedingly  voluminous ;  composed  not  so  much 
of  historical  books  as  of  public  documents, — newspapers,  and  other  periodicals, — mili- 
tary trials,  and  congressional  debates. 

When  cotemporary  history  circulates  unchallenged,  amidst  the  actors  of  the  scenes  it 
narrates, — that  is  evidence  of  its  veracity.  When  we  go  a  step  further,  and  produce  the 
positive  endorsement  of  some  among  those  actors,  of  the  most  eminent  and  best  quali 
fied  to  judge,  and  that  given  while  yet  the  events  are  fresh  in  their  memories,  our  his- 
tory, thus  endorsed,  may  fearlessly  claim  to  be  settled  upon  a  foundation  which  the 
future  can  never  shake.  Such  evidence  we  now  produce.  Our  first  authority  is  Dan- 
eel  Webster,  than  whom  no  man  living  better  understands  the  whole  history  of  iis 
country;  and  it  is  thus  written  in  a  letter  to  the  author,  dated  from  that  Senate  Cham- 
ber, whence  his  words  went  forth  to  the  confines  of  civilization,  "  I  cannot  better  express 
my  sense  of  the  value  of  your  history  of  the  United  States,  than  by  saying  I  keep  it 
near  me,  as  a  book  of  reference,  accurate  in  facts  and  dates."  Mr.  Webster  is  a  Whig. 
The  next  presented,  is  the  unimpeachable  testimony  of  an  eminent  patriot  of  New  York, 
Mr.  Dickenson,  late  of  the  United  States  Senate,  and  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  says,  in  a  letter  to  the  author,  "  I  have  given  your  sheets  an  attentive  peru- 
sal, and  can  nnd  no  suggestion  of  error  to  communicate.  Having  been  an  actor  in  the 
scenes  so  vividly  sketched,  I  am  cheerful  to  declare,  that  1  find  them  truthful  and  com- 
plete." 

Having  given  these  authorities  from  the  highest  legislative  body  in  the  nation,  we 
next  quote  from  opinions  of  the  bench.  John  Wielard,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  tho 
State  of  New  York,  whose  upright  and  fearless  decisions  are  known  far  beyond  its 
limits,  thus  writes  to  the  author:  "So  far  as  my  recollection  serves  me,  these  chap- 
ters are  in  conformity  with  the  first  great  law  of  historic  composition,  truth.  Your 
reflections  on  the  various  events  recorded,  are  eminently  just;  and  your  views  of  the 
late  anti-slavery  question  correspond  with  those  of  the  most  enlightened  statesmen  of 
our  country."  Our  last  quotation  is  from  John  Mc'Lean,  whose  least  merit  is,  that  he 
occupies  one  of  the  first  judicial  positions  of  the  nation.  His  knowledge  and  candor, 
•^espfecting  the  political  afiairs  of  his  country,  none  would  either  dare  or  desire  to  im- 
peach. Thus,  he  writes  wliat  is  sufiicient  to  affix,  to  this  portion  of  our  history,  the 
stamp  of  reliability :  "  I  have  looked  over  your  sketches,  forwarded  for  my  perusiil  and 
examination,  and  I  find  no  errors  to  correct." 

Nearly  all  of  the  military  history  of  the  country,  since  1812,  has  been  critically  read 
by  an  inspector-general  of  the  army;  and  other  officers  in  command  since  that  period. 
Lafayette  himself  read  and  criticised  the  history  of  the  Eevolution  ;  and  Henry  Clay, 
a  name  worthy  to  be  mentioned  in  the  same  connection,  has  read  and  given  some  cor- 
rections on  parts  of  the  history  in  which  he  was  an  actor ;  and  the  lightest  suggestioni 
by  either  have  been  carried  out  by  the  author. 

Translation  of  Willard's  History  of  the  United  States  into  the  Spanish  Language. 

Tlie  great  favor  which  "  Willard's  History  of  the  United  States''^  has  received  from  tho 
public,  and  tho  call  from  Cuba,  California,  Mexico,  and  South  America  for  the  work 
m  the  Spanish  Lang^mge,  have  induced  the  publishers  to  have  the  abridged  copy  trans- 
lated into  pure  Castihan,  and  it  is  now  offered  to  tlie  schools  and  academies  of  thfl 
countiy  where  the  Spanish  language  is  taught,  as  well  as  to  native  Spaniards. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1851, 

By  A.  S.  BARNES  &  CO., 

In  the  Clerk'i  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Uie  United  States  for  the  Soathem  District  of 

New  York. 


PREFACE. 


At  a  time  when  the  accumulated  mass  of  knowledge  is  great, 
beyond  the  human  capacity,  service  is  done  to  science,  by  clear  ar- 
rangement and  devices  addressed  to  the  eye.  If  the  faculties  are 
enabled  to  seize  and  hold  fast  the  frame-work  of  an  important  sub- 
ject, future  facts  will  naturally  find  and  keep  their  own  place  in  the 
mind,  and  the  whole  subject  rest  there  in  philosophical  order. 
Not  only  is  this  important,  as  respects  the  particular  study  thus  ac- 
quired; but  as  regards  intellectual  habits  and  general  improvement. 

To  accomplish  these  ends,  with  regard  to  the  history  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  is  one  of  the  main  objects  of  the  present  work.  Its 
plan  is  chronographically  exhibited  in  front  of  the  title  page.  The 
maps,  included  between  the  periods  of  the  work,  coincide  in  time 
with  the  branches  of  the  subject ;  and  the  sketches  on  the  maps 
picture  the  events  there  expressed  in  words. 

But  most  minds  find  it  difficult  to  remember  dates,  though  dver  st^ 
well  arranged ;  and  hence  experienced  educationists  recorof^end  tjj^l 
the  memory  should  not  in  this  respect  be  overtaxed  ;  but  that  dates 
should  rather  be  kept  at  hand  in  books,  to  be  consulted  as  occasion 
requires.  Hence,  the  importance  of  arrangements  in  printed  works. 
by  which  dates  may  stand  prominent,  and  be  easily  found.  A  cui- 
sory  glance  at  the  chronological  table,  and  along  the  margin  of  tins 
work,  may  satisfy  the  observer  tha*  this  task  has  been  executed 
with  faithfulness. 

Every  student  or  reader  of  history  should  begin  with  that  of  his 
own  country ;  and  the  history  of  the  United  States  is  on  some  ac 
counts,  a  more  safe  and  profitable   study  than  that  of  any  other 
nation. 

When  the  course  of  events  is  studied,  for  the  purpose  of  gaining 


IV  PREFACE. 

general  information,  the  natural  order  of  the  thoughts  must  be  regard- 
ed,  if  we  expect  that  memory  will  treasure  up  the  objects  of  attention. 
Each  individual  is  to  himself  the  centre  of  his  own  world ;  and  the 
more  intimately  he  connects  his  knowledge  with  himself,  the  better 
will  it  be  remembered,  and  the  more  effectually  can  it  be  rendered, 
in  after-life,  subservient  to  his  purposes.  Hence,  in  geography,  he 
should  begin  with  his  own  town,  and  pass  from  thence  to  his  country, 
and  the  world  at  large ;  in  history,  with  the  year  in  which  he  was  born, 
and  the  record  of  the  family  Bible.  With  its  dates  the  mother  might 
easily  connect  and  teach  to  her  child  some  of  the  epochas  of  his  coun- 
try. Your  grandfather  or  your  father,  she  might  say,  was  born  so 
much  before  or  after  the  declaration  of  independence — your  own 
birth  was  during  the  administration  of  such  a  president.  This  would 
constitute  the  foundation  of  his  knowledge  of  history  and  chronolo- 
gy; and,  if  well  laid,  it  would  be  as  enduring  as  the  mind.  Some- 
thing of  this  kind  is  incidentally,  if  not  systematically,  done  in  every 
family.  At  the  period  of  receiving  school  education,  the  pupil 
having  learned  the  epochas  of  his  family,  wants  those  of  his  country  ; 
and  these  should  in  like  manner,  be  connected  with  the  leading  events 
in  the  history  of  cotemporary  nations. 

History  and  geography  mutually  aid  each  other ;  and  the  student 
will  naturally  be  earher  acquainted  with  the  localities  of  his  own  coun- 
try, than  with  those  of  any  other ;  and  the  history  of  our  Republic, 
pursued,  as  here  laid  down,  will  give  a  knowledge  of  our  geogra- 
phy in  its  various  stages  of  progression. 

An  attention  to  the  events  of  American  history,  in  connection  with 
geography,  not  only  makes  each  better  understood,  and  by  association 
better  remembered ;  but  the  tendency  will  be  to  produce  an  improve 
ment  in  our  national  literature,  and  thus  aid  the  growth  of  wholesome 
national  feeling.  From  foreign  novels  and  poems,  the  American 
too  often  locates  the  imaged  excellence,  which  warms  his  heart,  in  the 
old  world.  But  if  our  youth  learn  to  connect  the  mental  sublime  of 
the  character  of  their  fathers,  with  the  natural  grandeur  of  Ameri 
can  scenery,  some  among  them,  will,  in  future  life,  be  moved  to  sup- 
ply the  deficiencies  of  our  literature,  by  filling  up  the  chasms  of  truth 
with  new  discoveries,  or  with  the  glowing  tracery  of  imagination. 


PREFACE.  f 

History,  it  is  said,  is  the  school  of  poHtics.  It  is  not,  however, 
tlie  mere  knowledge  of  events,  in  which  the  student  sees  little  con- 
nection, which  lays  a  foundation  for  his  political  knowledge.  It  is 
only  when  he  is  led  to  perceive  how  one  state  of  things,  operating 
on  human  passions,  leads  to  another,  that  he  is  prepared,  when  he 
comes  into  life,  to  look  over  the  moving  scene  of  the  world — predict 
tlie  changes  which  are  to  succeed — and  should  his  be  the  hand  of 
power,  to  reach  it  forth  to  accelerate  or  stop  the  springs  of  change, 
as  he  finds  their  tendency  to  be  good  or  evil.  There  is  no  history 
like  that  of  America  for  producing  this  eifect ;  and  the  young  poli- 
tician of  other  countries,  might  begin  with  this,  as  the  most  easily 
comprehensible  subject  in  the  whole  field,  and  that,  in  which 
effects,  may  with  most  certainty,  be  traced  to  their  proper  causes. 

The  most  important  advantage  of  the  study  of  history,  is  improve- 
ment in  individual  and  national  virtue.  In  this  respect,  we  come 
boldly  forward  to  advocate  a  preference  for  the  history  of  the  Ameri- 
can Republic.  Here  are  no  tales  of  hereditary  power  and  splendor 
to  inflame  the  imaginations  of  youth  with  desires  for  adventitious 
distinction.  Here  are  no  examples  of  profligate  females,  where  the 
trappings  of  royalty  or  nobility  give  to  vice  an  elegant  costume 
or,  as  with  the  Q,ueen  of  Scots,  where  beauty  and  misfortune  make 
Bin  commiserated,  till  it  is  half  loved.  Here  are  no  demoralizing  ex- 
amples of  bold  and  criminal  ambition,  which  have  "  waded  through 
blood  to  empire."  The  only  desire  of  greatness,  which  our  children 
can  draw  from  the  history  of  their  ancestors,  is  to  be  greatly  good. 

It  is  not  in  the  formal  lesson  of  virtue,  that  her  principles  are  most 
deeply  imbibed.  It  is  in  moments  when  her  approach  is  not  suspect- 
ed, that  she  is  fixing  her  healing  empire  in  the  heart  of  youth.  When 
his  indignation  rises  against  the  oppressor — when  his  heart  glows  with 
admiration  of  sufl'ering  virtue — it  is  then  that  he  resolves  never 
to  be  an  oppressor  himself;  and  he  half  wishes  to  suffer,  that  he  toe 
may  be  virtuous.  No  country,  ancient  or  modern,  affords  examples 
more  fitted  to  raise  these  ennobling  emotions,  than  America  in  her 
early  settlement,  and  at  the  period  of  her  revolution. 

And  may  not  these  generous  feelings  of  virtue  arise,  as  well  re- 
gpecting  nations  as  individuals  ;  and  the  resolution  which  the  youth 


VI  PREFACE. 

makes,  with  regard  to  himself,  be  made  also  with  respect  to  his 
country,  so  far  as  his  own  future  influence  may  extend  ?     Would 
the  teacher  excite  these  emotions  in  his  pupil,  let  him  put  into 
his  hands  the  history  of  the  struggle  of  the  United  States  for 
their  independence.     Though,  doubtless,  there  were  bad  men  in 
America,  and  those  of  great  virtue,  in  England,  yet,  as  nations, 
how  great  is  the  disparity  in  the  characters  delineated.     Eng- 
land, seeking  to  make  a  filial  child  a  slave,  refuses  to  listen  to  her 
duteous  pleadings.     She  deigns  not  even  the  privileges  of  civil- 
ized warfare  ;  but  sends  forth  the  brand,  which  lights  the  midnight 
fire  over  the  heads  of  the  sleeping  family,  and  the  tomahawk,  which 
cleaves  the  head  of  the  infant, in  the  presence  of  the  mother.     Eng 
land  also  descends  to  bribe,  to  flatter,  to  sow  dissension,  to  purchase 
treason,  and  to  counterfeit  money.     France,  unlike  her  La  Fayette, 
declared  for  America  in  success,  not  in  misfortune  ;  and  if  at  length 
she  fought  her  battles,  it  was,  that  she  feared  and  hated  her  enemy. 
Could  the  policy  of  France  have   prevailed,  America  would  have 
found  in  her  embrace  of  friendship,  the  pressure  of  death.     In  com 
parison  with  these  old  and  wily  nations,  the  character  of  America  is 
that  of  youthful  simplicity,  of  maiden  purity  ;  and  her  future  states 
men  will  say,  as  he  reads  the  story,  my  country  was  the  most  virtu 
ous  among  the  nations  :  this  is  her  pride — not  the  extent  of  her  do- 
mains, or  the  wealth  of  her  revenue.     This  is  the  source  of  that 
greatness,  which  it  becomes  her  sons  to  preserve  ;  and  when  man 
hood  shall  have  placed  me  among  her  guardians,  I  will  watch  that 
purity  with  jealous    tenderness ;  and  sooner  part   with  existence 
than  be  made  the  instrument  of  her  degradation. 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE 


Sove-    1  A.  D. 
>f  reigns  of  1492. 


France. 


1497. 


1498. 


1512. 
1524. 


1534. 

1541. 


1492. 

Columbus  discovers  America, 

The  Cabots  discover  the  contineat  at  La- 
brador,   

Columbus  discovers  the  continent  in  South 
America.  Americus  Vespucius  receives 
the  honor  belonging  to  Columbus,  of  giving 
name  to  the  country, 

Ponce  de  Leon  discovers  Florida, 

Verrazani  explores  the  coast, 

James  Cartier,  under  Francis  L  of  France 
discovers  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 

Cartier  builds  a  fort  on  the  site  of  Quebec,  . 

De  Soto,  a  Spaniard,  in  an  overland  expe 
dition  discovers  the  Mississippi, 


1549.  English  liturgy  completed. 


1553. 


The  Puritans  separate  from  the  English  re 
formers,  and  are  persecuted. 


1564.  A  colony  of  French  Protestants,  under  Ri 

bault,  settle  in  Florida,    . 

1565.  St.  Augustine  founded  by  Pedro  Melendez, 


Page 
10 

12 


"       The  Spaniards  destroy  the  French  colony, 

and  possess  the  country,         .         .         .16 
1567.   200  Spaniards  massacred  by  the  French,    .     16 


157§. 


1578.  Patent  granted  by  Queen  Elizabeth  to 
Sir  H.  Gilbert, 

1583.  Sir  H.  Gilbert  takes  possession  of  New- 

foundland,        

1584.  Sir  W.  Raleigh  obtains  a  patent,  and  sends* 

two  vessels  to  the  American  coast,  which 
receives  the  name  of  Virginia, 


17 


17 


18 


Swe 
reigns  oj 
England. 


Edw.  VI 


N 

;> 
w 


Vlll 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


Sove- 

tigna  0/ 

Spam, 


Sove- 
reigns of 
France 


A.  D  Page 

1585.  Raleigh  sends  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  who 

leaves  a  colony  on  the  island  of  Roanoke,     19 

1586.  They  return  to  England,     .         .         .         .19 

1587.  Raleigh  sends  a  colony  by  Captain  White, 

which  is  lost,  .... 


1589.  Raleigh  sells  his  patent  to  the  London  com- 
pany,      


1602.  Bartholomew  Gosnold  sails  in  a  direct 
course  for  America,  and  discovers  Cape 
Cod 


19 


19 


19 


1603. 


Henry  IV.  of  France,  grants  Acadia  to  de 

Monts, 20 

1604.  De  Monts  discovers  and  explores  the  bay  of 
Fundy,  and  founds  Port  Royal, 

1606.  London  and  Plymouth  companies  established, 

1607.  The  Plymouth  company  make  an  ineffectu- 

al attempt  to  plant  a  colony  at  Kennebec,  . 
"       The  London  company  send  a  colony  who 

discover  Chesapeake  Bay,   and  make  the 

first  effectual  settlement  at  Jamestown,  . 
"       Captain  John  Smith  made  prisoner  by  the 

Indians,  and  rescued  by  Pocahontas, 

1608.  The  city  of  Quebec  founded  by  Champlain,  . 
"       John  Robinson  and  his  congregation  emigrate 

to  Holland, 

1609.  A  new  charter  granted  to  the  London  com- 

pany.    Lord  Delaware  is  appointed  gover- 
nor,         

"      The  colony  is  reduced  by  famine  and  distress, 
"       Hudson   River  and  Lake  Champlain    dis- 
covered,   

1613.  Pocahontas  marries  JohnRolfe,  an  English- 

man,        

1614.  Captain  Smith  explores  the  coast  from  Pe- 

nobscot to  Cape  Cod,      .... 
"       A  fort  erected  by  the  Dutch  on  the  site  of 
New  York,     .                 .... 
Fort  Orange  built  near  the  site  of  Albany,    . 
The  first  general  assembly  is  called  in  Vir- 
ginia,       

1620.  Convicts  are  sent  to  the  colony,  negroes  in- 
troduced, and  slavery  commenced,    . 
"       Sept.  6,  The  Pilgrims  sail  from  Plymouth 

(Eng.,) 34 


1615. 
1619. 


24 
25 

27 

26 

28 

66 
66 

27 

27 


CHRONOLOGICAL   TABLE. 


Sove 
mgns  of 

Spain 


•T3 

E 

•T3 


1620. 

Page 
Dec.  14,  The  Pilgrims  land  on  Plymouth 

Rock, 36 

James  I.  grants  a  charter  to  the  grand  coun- 
cil of  Plymouth  for  governing  New  Eng- 
land,        39 


1621.  A  district  called  Mariana  granted  to  John 

Mason, 39 

"      Treaty  with  Massasoit,       .         .        .         .37 
"       Cotton  first  planted  in  Virginia,  .         .     56 

1622.  Gorges  and  Mason  obtain  a  charter  of  Maine 

and  New  Hampshire.     They  send  a  colo- 
ny to  the  river  Piscataqua,       .         .         .40 
"      Indian  conspiracy,  which  nearly  proves  fatal 

to  the  colooy  of  A^irginia,  .         .         .56 

1624.  London  company  dissolved,  and  Virginia  be- 

comes a  royal  province,  .         .         .57 

1625.  Death  of  Robinson, 38 


1638, 
1628, 

1629, 


1630, 

1631, 

(( 

1632. 
1633. 


1636. 

1634. 

(( 

1635. 


1636. 
1637. 


Swedes  and  Fins  colonize  the  west  side  of 

the  Delaware  river,— (First  settlement  of  Del.) 

Patent  of  Massachusetts  obtained,  and  the 
first  permanent  settlement  of  that  colony 
commenced  at  Salem  by  John  Endicot 
and  others, 

A  royal  charter  is  granted  to  the  Massachu- 
setts company, 

Charlestown,  (Mass.,)  founded, 

The  Dutch  colonize  the  west  side  of  the 
Delaware  river,       ..... 

Carolina  granted  to  Sir  Robert  Heath, 

Clayborne  plants  a  colon  v  on  Kent  Island,    . 

The  Dutch  erect  a  trading  fort  at  Hartford, 

Maryland  granted  to  Lord  Baltimore, 

First  house  built  in  Connecticut  at  Windsor, 

Patent  of  Connecticut  granted  to  English 
noblemen, 

Roger  Williams  founds  Providence,     . 

Settlement  of  Maryland  begun, 

Jesuit  missionaries  preach  to  the  Hurons,    . 

Three  thousand  persons  emigrate  to  New 
England, 

Henry  Vane  chosen  governor,    . 

Grand  council  of  Plymouth  surrender  their 
charter  to  the  crown,       .... 

Fort  Saybrook  erected,       .... 

Hooker,  Haynes,  and  others,  settle  Hartford, 

Pequod  war, 


54 


40 

40 
41 

54 
94 
54 

46 
55 
46 

46 
45 
55 
90 

43 
43 

58 
47 
48 
49 


reigns  tf 
England 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


Sove- 
mrigns  of  ) 
Spain 


Save- 


eigns  of  1638.  Rhode  Island  settled  by  Clarke,  Coddington, 

France.  ,     ^, 

and  others, 

1638.  Harvard  college  founded, 
"       Exeter    in    New  Hampshire    foundea   by 

Wheelright,  54 

1639.  New  Haven  settled  by  Eaton,  Davenport, 
and  others, 52 

"       Mrs.  Hutchinson's  theological  "disturbance" 

in  Massachusetts,  .         .         .         .53 

1640.  Montreal  founded,       .         .         .         .         .     90 

1641.  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts  unite,  .     54 


A  D. 


Page 

54 
53 


1643. 


1643.  The  confederacy  begun  by  the  union  op 

Plymouth,  Massachusetts,    Connecti- 
cut, AND  New  Haven, 

"       Indians  make  war  on  the  Dutch, 

"       Battle  of  Strickland's  Plain, 

1644.  Roger  Williams  obtains  a  charter  for  the 

Rhode  Island  and  Providence  plantations, 

1645.  Clayborne  occasions  an  insurrection  in  Mary- 

land,        

"  Peace  established  between  the  Dutch  and 
Algonquins,  through  the  mediation  of  the 
Mohawks,       ...... 

"  Superstition  respecting  witchcraft  com- 
mences, ..... 

1646.  John  Elliot  teaches  the  Indians  at  Nonan- 

tum, 

1649.  A  part  of  Virginia  granted  to  Lord  Culpepper, 

and  others, 

"  Indian  massacres  at  St.  Louis,  and  St.  Ig- 
natius, ...... 


1662. 


1663 


1664, 


68 


99 


78 


62 


91 


1651.  Navigation  act  oppresses  the  colonies,         .     61 
"       The  general  court  at  Hartford  pass  excellent 

laws  respecting  common  schools,      .         .  101 
1651.  Civil  war  in  Maryland,  and  subversion  of  the 

proprietary  government,  .         .  GS 

"       The  Puritans  persecute  the  Quakers,  .     89 

1657.  Elliot  translates  the  Bible  into  the  Indian 

language, 78 


Winthrop  obtains  a  liberal  charter  for  Con- 
necticut and  New  Haven,         .         .         .77 

Carolina  granted  to  Lord  Clarendon  and 
others, 94 

Dutch  conquer  the  Swedes  on  the  Delaware,     68 


reigna  o/ 
nd. 


Sove- 

tigna 
Englat 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


Sote 

retgns  of 

Spain. 


A.  D. 


Pnge 


1664.  Patent  granted  to  the  Duke  of  York.     lie 
sends  Colonel  Nichols,  who  takes  New 
Amsterdam,  which  is  named  New  York,  .     69 
"       New  Jersey  granted  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret,     73 


1665.  Lake  Superior  discovered  by  Father  Al- 
louez, 

1667.  The  patent  of  Carolina  extended  to  the  36°, 

1668.  St.  Mary's  founded,  also  a  mission  at  Green 

Bay,       ....... 

1673.  The  Mississippi  discovered  by  Marquette,     . 

1670.  An  attempt  to  introduce  Mr.  Locke's  consti- 
tution,      

1675-76.  King  Philip's  war,  .... 

•  "  Three  of  the  Regicides  come  to  America,  . 
John  Washington  provokes  the  Indians  to 


1675. 


1676. 


New  Jersey  divided  into  East  and  West 

Jersey, 

"       Bacon's  rebellion, 

1677.  Virginia  obtains  a  new  charter, 

"       Massachusetts  purchases  Maine, 

1678.  Andross  usurps  the  government  of  the  Jer- 


seys, 


1679. 


New  Hampshire  becomes  a  royal  province,  . 
"       Randolph   sent  as  inspector  of  customs  in 

New  England, 

1080.  Charleston  (S.  C.,)  founded, 

1681.  Penn  receives  from  Charles  II.  a  grant  of 

Penlisylvania,  

"       Penn  reclaims  the  Jerseys  for  the  proprietors, 

1682.  He  receives  a  grant  of  the  territories, 

"       He  arrives  in  America,        .... 
"       Philadelphia  founded, 
♦'       East  Jersey  purchased  by  the  Quakers, 
managed  by  Penn,     .... 
"       The  charter  of  Massachusetts  annulled, 
La  Salle  visits  and  names  Louisiana, 


and 


t684, 
1686. 
1687. 
1688. 


91 
94 

92 
92 

95 

79 

83 

62 

74 
63 
64 

83 

74 
83 

84 
95 

71 
74 
71 
71 
72 

74 
84 
93 


Save- 
reigru  9I 
Fngland. 


Sir  E.  Andros  made  governor-general. 
Tyrannizes  over  New  England,        .        .     84 

Andros  attempts  to  deprive  Connecticut  of 
her  charter, 8-5 

New  York  and  New  Jersey  under  the  juris- 
diction of  Andros, 85 

English  revolution,       .....    85 


"       King  William's  war,  .        .        .        .96 

1689.  Andros    and  Randolph  imprisoned,      .        .     85 
"       Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  resume  their 

charters, 86 


^  p-  i-, 
^      > 


Xil 


CHRONOLOGICAL   TABLE. 


Sowe* 


'ttgns  of  reigns  of 
Spain.      France. 


Sovc' 


A.  D.  Page 

1689.  The  government  of  New  York  seized  by 

Jacob  Leisler, 87 

1690.  Governor    Frontenac   sends    three    parties 

which    destroy    Schenectady,    (N.    Y.,) 
Salmon  Falls,  (N.  H.)  and  Casco,  (Maine,)     97 
"         A  Congress  meets  at  Albany,     .         .         .97 
"       Sir  William  Phipps'  unsuccessful  invasion  of 

Canada, 98 

"       French  Protestants  settle  in  Virginia  and 

Carolina, 96 

1691.  Sloughter  governor  of  New  York.    Leisler 

executed, 88 


1692. 


1692. 


1693. 


1695. 
1C97. 

1698. 


Massachusetts  obtains   a   new  charter 
with  extended  limits,  but  restricted 

privileges, 99 

Bexar,  in  Texas,  founded  by  the  Spaniards,     397 
Delusion  respecting  witchcraft,    ....       99 
Penn  deprived  of  the  government  of  Penn- 
sylvania for  two  years,     .         .        .        .108 
Mr.    Locke's   celebrated    constitution   for 

Carolina  abrogated,      .... 
Governor  Fletcher  introduces  episcopacy 
into  New  York,           .... 
Rice  brought  into  Carolina  from  Africa, 
Peace  of  Ryswick  terminates  King   Wil- 
liam's war, 103 

Piracies  of  Kid, 106 


1699.  Pensacola  settled  by  the  Spaniards,     . 

1701.  Penn  grants  a  new  charter  to  Pennsylvania, 

1702.  The  Jerseys  united  and  joined  to  N.  Y.,  . 
"         England  at  war  with  France  and  Spain, 

"       In  America,  Queen  Anne's  war, 

"  Governor  Moore  of  South  Carolina  makes 
an  unsuccessful  attempt  on  St.  Augustine, 

"  Mobile  founded  by  d'Iberville,  with  a  colo- 
ny of  Canadian  French, 

"  Controversies  in  Massachusetts  between 
the  governor  and  the  assembly, 

1703.  Appalachian  Indians  are  subdued. 

"  The  territories  separate  from  Pennsylvania, 
and  are  called  Delaware, 

1704.  Deerfield  destroyed,  .        .        .         . 
1706.  Episcopacy  introduced  into  Connecticut,    . 


95 

106 
109 


112 

108 
107 
103 
103 

109 

112 

114 
110 

108 
103 
102 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


XUl 


Sove- 
reigns of 
Spain 


A.  D. 

1706.  French  and  Spaniards  invade  Carolina, 

1707.  A  French  colony  settle  at  Detroit, 

1708.  Saybrook  Platform, 
1710.  German  palatines  settle  in  the  colonies, 

1712.  Indian  war  in  North  Carolina.     The  Tus 

caroras  defeated;  unite  with  the  Iroquois, 

1713.  Fortresses  of  Crown  Point  and  Niagara 

built  by  the  French,         .        .        .        . 
"       Peace  of  Utrecht  closes  Queen  Anne's  war. 


Page 
110 
113 
103 
104 

110 

113 

104 


1715. 


Indian  war  in  South  Carolina.     The  Ya 
massees  expelled  ;  settle  in  Florida, 
1716.  Natchez  founded,        .... 
1717-20.  Father  Ralle's  war, 
1718.  New  Orleans  founded, 
1719-20.  Carolina  revolts,  and  a  royal  government 
is  established, 
"       Irish  emigrants  settle  at  Londonderry,  (N.H 
1723.  First  settlement  made  in  Vermont,      . 

1729.  North  and  South  Carolina  erected  into  sepa- 
rate governments, 

1732.  Company  formed  in  England  for  the  settle 
ment  of  Georgia,     ,        .        •        . 


1733. 

1736. 
1738. 
1740, 

1740. 
1742. 

1744. 

1745. 


1748. 
1750. 
1753. 
1754. 


Save- 
reigM  9( 
Englani 


111 

112 

105 
112 

111 

116 
116 


112 
116 


1733. 

First  settlement  of  Georgia  made  by 

Oglethorpe, 117 

Scotch  and  Germans  settle  in  Georgia,  .  118 
Insurrection  of  the  blacks  in  Carolina,  .  118 
Oglethorpe  invades  Florida,  and  makes  an 

unsuccessful  attempt  on  St.  Augustine,    .     118 
The  Moravians  settle  in  Pennsylvania,       .     143 
A  Spanish  fleet  invades  Georgia,  but  re- 
tires with  loss,         118 

War  between  England  and  France,    .        .     121 

Old  French  war, 121 

The  colonists  under  Colonel  Pepperell  take 
Louisburg  and  Cape  Breton  from  the 
French, 132 

Peace  restored  by  the  treaty  of  Aix  la  Cha- 
pelle,       .        • :92 

Conflicting  claims  of  the  French  and  Eng- 
lish.    Ohio  company 122 

Washington  sent  by  Dinwiddle  as  an  envoy 
to  the  French, j25 

The  French  erect  Fort  du  Quefsne.  Wash- 
ington defeats  a  French  party  headed  by 
de  Jumonville,  .  .        .     127 


uy 


CHRONOLOGICAL   TABLE. 


S0V€- 

reigns  of 
Spain. 


Save-    I 

reigns  oj\ 

France. 


A.  D.  Page 

1754.  Washington  capitulates  at  Fort  Necessity,     127 
"       Delegates  from  seven  provinces  meet  at 

Albany.  They  propose  a  plan  of  union  for 

the  colonies  Mrhich  is  rejected  by  Conn.,     128 

1755.  July,  Braddock's  defeat,     .  .        .     130 
"       War  with  the  Cherokees,            .  131 
"      The  French,  under  Dieskau    totally  de- 
feated at  Lake  George,            .        .        .     132 

1756.  Formal  declaration  of  war  between  France 

and  England,  .         .        •         .        .132 

1757.  The  massacre  of  Fort  William  Henry,        .     134 

1758.  July  6,  Louisburg  taken  by  the  English  un- 

der General  Amherst,  .  .  .  .136 
"       July  5,  Abercrombie  repulsed  at  Ticonde- 

roga,  and  death  of  Lord  Howe,  .  .  136 
"      Aug.  27,  Fort  Frontenac  taken  by  Colonel 

Bradstreet, 136 

"       Nov.    25,    Fort  Duquesne  taken  by  the 

English, 137 

1759    Sept.  13,  Wolfe  wins  the   battle  on  the 

Heights  of  Abraham,  and  loses  his  life,  .     140 


1760.  Sept.  8,  Canada  surrenders  to  Great  Britain,  141 
"       Massachusetts  opposes  the  issuing  of  writs 

of  assistance, 147 

1761.  Cherokees  subdued, 143 


1763. 


1763. 
1764. 
1765. 

u 

1766. 

1767. 
1768. 


1770. 


The  peace  of  Paris,  .        .        .        • 

Pontiac's  war, 

Duties  laid  on  sugar,  molasses,  &c.  violent- 
ly opposed  in  the  colonies. 

Parliament  passes  the  stamp  act. 

May  29,  Patrick  Henry^s  five  resolutions,  . 

October,  First  continental  congress  meet  at 
New  York, 

Stamp  act  repealed  ;  but  parliament  claims 
a  right  to  bind  the  colonies,      . 

Duties  laid  on  tea,  painter^s  colors,  &c. 

Non-importation  agreements  extensively 
adopted, 

Sept.  22,  A  convention  held  at  Boston, 

Sept.  28,  British  troops  stationed  at  Boston, 

March  5,  Affray  with  British  troops  at 
Boston, 

Parliament  removes  duties  before  imposed, 
except  those  on  tea,         .... 

War  between  the  Senecas  and  Cherokees, 


144 
142 

148 
149 
150 

151 

152 
154 

154 
155 
155 

156 

156 

2771 


O 
in 
Q 
t?3 


O 
Q 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


Sove- 

Sore-   1 

reigns  9j 

rei;57W  of 

Spain. 

France. 

^^-v-^' 

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S0V€- 

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United 

France. 

States. 

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1775. 


A.D 

1773.  Attempts  of  the  British  to  import  tea  into 

the  colonies     the  cargoes  of  three  ships 
are  thrown  overboard  at  Boston, 

1774.  ParUament  shuts  the  port  of  Boston,   , 

"  Sept.  4.  ^  congress  assemble  at  Philadel- 
phia. They  promulgate  "The  Bill  of 
Rights,"  and  petition  the  king. 

April  18,  The  war  commences. — Battle  of 
Lexington, 

May  10,  Ticonderoga  an^l  Crown  Point 
taken  by  the  Americans, 

Congress  again  meet  at  Philadelphia, 

Royal  governments  laid  aside  in  the  south- 
ern colonies, 

Large  reinforcements  of  British  troops  ar- 
rive in  Boston,         ..... 

June  15,  Washington  made  commander-in- 
chief,       

June  17,  Battle  of  Bunker's  Hill, 

Dr.  Franklin  the  first  postmaster-general, 

Nov.  13,  Arnold  appears  before  Quebec,  but 
is  forced  to  retire,  .... 

Dec.  31,  Americans  defeated  at  Quebec, 
and  Montgomery  killed. 

The  Delaware  Indians  determine  to  receive 
the  gospel  from  the  Moravians, 

Jan.  1,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  burned  by  the 
royalists, 

March  17,  British  evacuate  Boston,    . 

June,  Americans  leave  Canada, 

June  28,  British  repulsed  at  Fort  Moultrie, 

Washington  fixes  his  head-quarters  at  New 
York, 


Page 


reigna  oj 
Kngland. 


1776. 


17T6. 


"  July  4,  The  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence,      

"  Aug.  27,  Battle  of  Long  Island.  The 
Americans  defeated,        .... 

"       Sept.  15,  British  enter  New  York,     . 

"       Oct.  28,  Skirmish  at  White  Plains,     . 

"  Nov.  16,  Fort  Washington  taken  by  the 
British,  .        .        .        .      '•. 

"       Washington  retreats  across  New  Jersey,   . 

'•  Dec.  26,  He  defeats  the  British  at  Trenton, 
1777.  Jan.  3,  At  Princeton,  .... 

"  April  26,  Danbury,  Connecticut,  burned, 
and  stores  taken  by  the  British, 


157 
157 


159 

165 

167 
167 

167 

168 

169 
168 
171 

172 

173 

278 

175 

176 
177 

178 

178 


179 

183 
185 
186 

187 
187 
189 
190 

193 


XTi 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


Save 
reigns  of 
IVaJtce. 


United 
States. 


A.  D  Page 

1777.  La  Fayette  espouses  the  American  cause.  .     194 
"       July  5,  Americans  evacuate  Ticonderoga  ; 

July  7,  are  defeated  at  Hubbardton,         .     19' 
*        Aug.  3,  St.  Leger  invests  Fort  Stanwix ; 

Aug.  6,  General  Herkimer  is  defeated,        196 
"       Aug.  16,  Battle  of  Bennington,  .  198 

"       Sept.  11,  Battle  of  Brandy  wine,  .        .     203 

"  Sept.  19,  Battle  of  Stillwater,  .  .  .200 
"  Sept.  26,  British  enter  Philadelphia,  .  .  205 
"       Oct.  4,.Battle  of  Germantown,  .         .     205 

"       Oct.  7,  Battle  of  Saratoga,  .        .        .200 

"  Oct.  17,  Burgoyne  surrenders  his  army,  .  201 
"  Oct.  22,  British  repulsed  at  Red  Bank,  .  206 
"      Nov.  16,  Americans  abandon  Mud  Island, 

and  on  the  18th  Fort  Mercer,         .        .206 
"      Dec.  11,  Washington  retires  to  winter-quar- 
ters at  Valley  Forge,       .        .        .        .207 

1778.  Intrigues  against  Washington  by  Conway 

and  others, 208 

1777.  Vermont  declares  itself  independent,   .        .    257 

1778.  Feb.  6,  Treaty  of  alliance  with  France,     .    211 
"       Parliament  sends  three  commissioners  to 

bribe  and  corrupt  the  Americans,  .  .212 
"  June  18,  British  evacuate  Philadelphia,  .  213 
"  June  28,  Battle  of  Monmouth,  .  .  .213 
'*  A  French  fleet,  under  d'Estaing,  arrives,  .  214 
"  Aug.  9,  Sullivan  invades  Rhode  Island.  Is 
disappointed  in  not  receiving  the  co-ope- 
ration   of  the  French  fleet — evacuates 

the  Island, 214 

"       Dec.  29,  Savannah  taken  by  the  British,     .    217 

1779.  Sunbury  taken  by  the  British,  which  com- 

pletes the  subjugation  of  Georgia,  .     217 

"       Port  Royal  unsuccessfully  attacked  by  the 

British, 217 

"       March  3,   General  Prevost  surprises  the 

Americans,  under  Ashe,  at  Briar  Creek,    219 

"  May  12,  Prevost  attempts  to  take  Charles- 
ton,          219 

"      June  1 ,  Clinton  takes  Stony  and  Verplank's 

Points 820 

"  June  20,  Indecisive  engagements  between 
the  armies  of  Lincoln  and  Prercst  ?t 
Stono  Ferry, 219 

"       July,  The  British  make  a  descent  upon 

Connecticut,  220 

"      July,  War  of  the  French  and  English  in  the 

West  Indies, 222 

"      July  2,  French  capture  Grenada,        .        ,    223 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


ja% 


SOVB-  j 
"•tgWJ  of\ 
France. 


United 
States. 


o 
o 
'^ 

H 
3 
"^ 

> 

o 
o 
"^ 

Q 

Pi 

U2 


A.  D.  Page 

1779,  July  15,  The  Americans,  under  Wayne, 

take  Stony  Point, 221 

"       Unsuccessful  expedition  against  the  British 

at  Penobscot,  ...  .221 

"       Aug.  29,  Sullivan  defeats  the  Indians,  and 

desolates  their  country,    .  .     222 

"  Sept.  23,  Paul  Jones'  naval  battle,  .  .  225 
"       Oct.  9,  The  French  and  Americans  repulsed 

from  Savannah, 224 

"       Congress  beset  by  the  intrigues  of  France 

and  Spain, 227 

1780.  May  7,  Fort  Moultrie  surrenders   to   the 

British,  229 

"  May  12,CharlestonsurrenderstotheBritish,  230 
"       May  28,  Tarleton  surprises  Buford  atWac- 

savi', 230 

"       Clinton  establishes  a  royal  government  in 

South  Carolina, 230 

"       June  23,  Skirmish  at  Springfield,  N.  J.  be- 
tween Greene  and  Knyphausen,       .         .231 
"       Congress  sanctions  the  depreciation  of  pa- 
per currency,  231 

"       July  10,  A  French  squadron,  under  the  Count 

de  Rochambeau,  arrives  at  Rhode  Island,     233 
"       Aug.    6,   Sumpter   defeats  the  British  at 

Hanging  Rock, 234 

"       Aug.  16,  Gates  defeated     by    Cornwallis 

near  Camden,  S.  C.         .        .        .        ,    235 
"       Aug,    18,  Tarleton  surprises   and    defeats 

Sumpter  at  Fishing  Creek,       .        .        .     236 
"       Sept.  Arnold's  treason  discovered  at  West 

Point, 238 

"  Oct.  2,  Andre  executed  as  a  spy,  .  .  239 
"       Oct.  7,  Tories  defeated  at  King's  Mountain, 

N.  C 240 

1781.  Revolt  of  the  Pennsylvania  troops,     .  243 

"  Jan.  4,  Arnold  devastates  Virginia,  .  .  250 
"       Robert  Morris  made  treasurer.     Congress 

raise  money  by  borrowing  from  France 

and  Holland, 243 

"      Jan.   17,  Tarleton  defeated  by  Morgan  at 

Cowpens,  S.  C 244 

"       Cornwallis   pursues  the  Americans  across 

the  Carolinas, 845 

"      March  1 5,  Battle  of  Guilford  C.  H.  (Greene 

and  Cornwallis,) 24G 

"  Lafayette  opposes  the  British  in  Virginia,  .  251 
"      April  25,  Americans  surprised  and  defeated 

at  Hobkirk's  Hill,  (Greene  and  Rawdon,)    247 
"       May  10,  Camden  evacuated  by  the  British,    248 


'■■'Zi 


XVlll 


CHRONOLOGICAL   TABLE. 


S0V4 

reigns  of 
Frame. 


United 
Statis. 


A.D. 

1781. 


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u 

(( 

a 

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(( 

(( 

(( 

o 

(( 

o 

1782. 

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H 

HH 

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"^ 

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^ 

(( 

H 

;> 

tr^ 

1783. 

o 

o 

:^ 

(( 

Q 

•  ?d 

ii 

M 

Ui 

a 

Ui 

(( 

a 

1784. 

1786. 

1787. 

u 

1789. 

Presi- 

dents of 

the  U.  S. 

u 

w  O 

W  M 

a  o 

K 

"^  ^ 

o  o 

H  H 

1790. 

O 

;z; 

u 

Forts  Watson,  Georgetown,  and  Motte  ca- 
pitulate to  the  Americans, 

June    5,  Augusta  taken  by  the  Americans, 

Aug.  4,  Execution  of  Colonel  Hayne, 

Aug.  23,  Cornwallis  enters  Yorktown, 

Sept.  5,  Partial  action  between  the  English 
and  French  fleets  off  the  Capes  of  the 
Chesapeake,     ...... 

Sept.  6,  Forts  Trumbull  and  Griswold  taken 
by  ihe  British,  and  New  London  burned, 

Sept.  8,  Battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  S.  C. 
(Greene  and  Stuart,)        .        •         ,         . 

Oct.  6,  Yorktown  besieged, 

Oct.  19,  Cornwallis  surrenders  to  the  allies, 

April  19,  Treaty  with  the  states  of  Holland, 

Newburg  address  and  meeting  of  officers,  . 

Inhuman  massacre  of  the  Indian  converts  of 
the  Moravian  brethren,    .... 

Unsuccessful  attempt  to  persuade  Washing- 
ington  to  become  a  king, 

Jan.  20,  Preliminary  articles  of  peace  signed 
at  Versailles, 

Sweden,  Denmark,  Spain,  and  Russia  ac- 
knowledge the  independence  of  the  U.  S. 

Sept.  3,  Definitive  treaty  of  peace  signed,  . 

Nov.  3,  American  army  disbanded, 

Nov.  25,  British  evacuate  New  York, 

Dec.  23,  Washington  resigns,     . 

The  U.  States  are  encumbered  with  a  heavy 
debt,  which  occasions  great  distress, 

Delegates  from  five  of  the  middle  states 
meet  at  Annapolis  to  concert  measures  for 
amending  the  government^ 

Shays'  rebellion, 

A  convention  at  Philadelphia  frame  the  con- 
stitution of  the  United  States, 

Eleven  states  adopt  the  federal  constitution, 


17§9. 

The  final  adoption  of  the  federal  con 
stitution,       ...... 

April  30,  Washington's  first  inauguration,  . 

The  president  visits  New  England,     . 

Nov.  North  Carolina  accedes  to  the  con- 
stitution, ...... 

Mr.  Hamilton's  system  for  funding  the 
national  debt  adopted,       .... 

May,  Rhode  Island  accedes  to  the  constitu- 
tion. 


Page 

248 
248 
249 
252 


253 

254 

250 
255 
256 
259 
261 

279 

261 

260 

263 
260 
263 
263 
263 

264 


265 
265 

265 
267 


269 
270 
272 

272 

273 

274 


A.  D. 


o 

o 

1798. 

;> 

(( 

> 

1799. 

^ 

1800. 

M 

ao 

no 

1801. 

>c! 

►flr 

>> 

?3H 

1-5 

1802. 

Ha 

•-ri 

" 

n  1 

o 

an 

> 

~M 

c» 

^."^ 

Ch 

55S 

H 

»^ 

•^ 

^s 

^ 

H 

1803.  ' 

Jxi 

it       1 

Ui 

o 

.^ 

1804.  ] 

CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 

Aug.  7,  Treaty  with  the  Creek  Indians,    . 
Dec.  0,  Kentucky  an  independent  crovern't, 
Duties  laid  on  distilled  spirits,   . 
General  llarmar  defeated  by  the  Indians,  . 
A  National  Bank  established,    . 
Vermont  admitted  to  the  Union, 
Kentucky  admitted  to  the  Union, 
Capt.  Grey  discovers  the  Columbia  river,  . 
A  mint  established  by  congress, 
Washington's  second  inauguration,     . 
April,  M.  Genet,  the  French  minister,  in- 
sults the  American  government, 
April  22,  Washington  issues  a  proclamation 

of  neutrality, 

Insuri;ection  in  Pennsylvania  on  account  of 

duties  on  distilled  spirits, 
General  Wayne  defeats  the  Indians  in  Ohio, 
Nov.  19,  A  treaty  of  amity  and  commerce 
concluded  with  Great  Britain  by  Mr.  Jay, 
Treaty  with  Algiers,  .         . 
Oct.  27,  Treaty  with  Spain,         .         .         ', 
Tennessee  admitted  to  the  Union, 
Washington  publishes  his  "  Farewell  Ad- 
dress,"      

March  4,  John  Adams  inaugurated,     . 

Mission  to  France, 

Congress  prepare  for  war  with  France, 

Feb.  10,  French  frigate,  I'lnsurgente,  cap- 
tured by  the  U.  S.  frigate  Constellation,  . 

Sept.  30,  Treaty  \vith  P'rance, 

Dec.  14,  Death  of  Washington, 

Seat  of  government  transferred  to  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia, 

Mississippi  and  Indiana  erecied  into  terri- 
tories,      ....... 

March  4,  Mr.  Jefferson's  first  inauguration, 

War  with  Tripoli,       .         .  .        . 

Ohio  admitted  to  the  Union, 

Difficulty  with  the  Spanish  government 
respecting  the  right  of  deposit  at  New 
Orleans, 


XIX 


Pago 

275 
275 
274 

280 
275 
276 
281 
403 
281 
281 

282 

281 

283 
284 

285 
286 
286 
286 

287 
288 
289 
269 

289 
289 
290 

290 

291 
293 
295 
293 


293 


1§03. 


294 


The  purchase  of  Louisiana,     . 

United  States'  frigate  Philadelphia  cap- 
tured by  the  Tripolitans,  .         .         .     295 

Decatur  recaptures  and  burns  the  Phila- 
delphia at  Tripoli,  ....     295 

Commodore  Preble  bombards  Tripoli,  296 


XX 


CHRONOLOGICAL   TABLE. 


Sove-    (   Presi- 
reigns  of 
France. 


A.  D. 

1804. 


1805. 


1806. 


1807. 


1809. 


1810. 


1811. 


1812. 


Page 
Alexander  Hamilton  killed  in  a  duel  with 

Aaron  Burr,  .         .  .        .     296 

Jefferson's  second  inauguration,  .        .    297 

The  Americans,  under  Elaton,  aid  the  ex 

bashaw  of  Tripoli.  They  take  Derne.  .  296 
Great  Britain  searches  American  vessels, 

and  impresses  American  seamen,  .  .  298 
May,  The  British  blockade  the  French  coast,  298 
Nov.  21,  French  decree  issued  at  Berlin; 

blackading  the  British  isles,     .         .         .     298 
Aaron  Burr  tried  for  conspiracy  and  ac- 
quitted,   298 

June  22,  Outrage  committed  upon  the  United 

States'  frigate  Chesapeake,  .  .  .  299 
Nov.  11,  British  orders  in  c(yincil  issued,  .     299 

Milan  decree, 300 

Dec.  22,  American  government  lay  an  em- 

__  bargo, 300 

March  4,  Mr.  Madison  inaugurated,    .        .    300 
Embargo  repealed,  and  non-intercourse  law- 
substituted,      300 

Decree  of  Rambouillet  issued,     .        .        .    300 
April,  Arrangement  with  Mr.  Erskine,       .     300 
May,  Act  of  congress  renewing  the  inter- 
course with  Great  Britain  and  France 
whenever  either  should  repeal  their  de- 
crees,        301 

French  decrees  repealed,  ....  301 
May  16,  Attack  on  the  United  States' frigate 

President, 301 

Nov.  7,  Battle  of  Tippecanoe  (Harrison  and 

the  Indian  Prophet,)         .         .         .        .302 
Congress  prepare  for  war  with  England,     .     303 
Secret  mission  of  Great  Britain  to  divide 
the  Union  disclosed  by  John  Henry,  the 

agent, 303 

April,  embargo  laid, 304 

June  18,War  declared  against  Great  Britain,  304 
June  23,  Orders  in  council  revoked,  .  .  317 
June  26,  America  makes  overtures  for  peace,  317 
July  12,  General  Hull  invades  Canada,  .  308 
July  17,  Mackinaw  taken  by  the  British,  .  308 
Aug.  9,  Battle  of  Maguaga,  (Miller  and  Te- 

cumseh,) 309 

Aug.  15,  Chicago  abandoned  ;  the  garrison 

killed  or  taken  by  the  Indians,  .  .  309 
Aug.   16,  Hull  surrenders  Detroit   to  the 

British, 310 

Aug.  19,  United  States'  frigate  Constitution 
captures  the  British  frigate  Guerriere,    .     311 


retgns  ot 
England 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


XXI 


Sove- 
reigru  of 
France. 


A.  D. 

1812    Sept.  4,  The  savages  are  defeated  at  Fort 
Harrison, 

"  Sept.  7,  Tlic  United  States'  frigate  Essex 
captures  the  British  sloop  of  war  Alert,  . 

"  Oct.  2,  Hopkins'  expedition  against  the 
Kickapoos, 

"  Oct.  IS,  United  States' ship  Wasp  captures 
the  British  ship  Frolic,  and  both  are 
afterwards  taken  by  the  Poictiers, 

"  Oct.  25,  The  frigate  United  States  captures 
the  British  Macedonian, 

"  Unsuccessful  attempt  of  General  Smyth  to 
invade  Canada,      ..... 

"       Dec.  29,  The  United  States'  frigate  Consti- 
tution captures  the  Java, 
1813.  Jan.  22,  Battle  and  massacre  of  French- 
town,  (Winchester  and  Proctor,)     . 

"  The  British  destroy  stores  at  Ogdensburg, 
New  York, 

"  Feb.  23,  The  Hornet  captures  the  British 
sloop-of-war  Peacock,   .... 

"       Delaware  and  Chesapeake  bays  blockaded, 

"       March  4,  Madison's  second  inauguration,    . 

"       April  10,  Attack  on  Lewiston,  Delaware,   . 

"  April  27,  Americans  take  York,  U.  C.  ; 
General  Pike  killed,      .... 

"       May  1,  Fort  Meigs  besieged,     . 

"       British  ravage  the  coast  of  the  Chesapeake, 

"  May  27,  Fort  George  surrenders  to  the 
Americans, 

"  May  28,  Fort  Erie  surrenders  to  the  Ameri- 
cans,    ....... 

"      The  British  are  repulsed  at  Sackett's  Harbor, 

"  June  1,  The  United  States'  frigate  Chesa- 
peake captured  by  the  Shannon, 

"  British,  under  St.  Vincent,  take  Generals 
Winder  and  Chandler  at  Stony  Creek,    . 

"      British  attack  Craney's  Island, 

"  June  24,  Colonel  Boerstler's  detachment 
taken  by  the  British  army  at  Beaver 
Dams,  U.  C 

"  Aug.  1,  British  repulsed  by  Croghan  at  Fort 
Stephenson,  ..... 

"  Aug.  14,  United  States'  brig  Argus  taken  by 
the  Pelican,  ..... 

1812.  Aug.  30,  Indian  massacre  at  Fort  Mims, 

(Alabama,) 

1813.  Sept.  4,  The  Enterprise  captures  the  Brit- 

ish ship  Boxer, 

"      Sept.  10,  Perry's  victory  on  Lake  Erie,      . 


rage 
314 

Sove- 
reigjit  o) 
England. 

312 

314 

315 

315 

315 

31G 

320 

323 

328 

327 
320 
327 

324 
321 

O 
Q 

327 

324 

324 
324 

329 

325 
327 


325 

322 

329 

330 

329 
325 


XXll 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


Sove 
reigns  0/ 
France 


lo 

en 

> 

•a 
3. 


r 


Presi- 
dents of 
the  U.  S. 

A.D. 

1813. 

s.*-.-*^ 

" 

" 

1812. 

1813. 

1812. . 

1813.  . 

(( 

1814. 

u 

(( 

u 

e-i 

0 

u 

u 

u 

u 

(i 

(( 

'• 

u 

u 

(( 

1 

(( 

1 

(( 

Page 
Sept.  23,  General  Harrison  takes  possession 

of  Maiden,— Sept.  29,  of  Detroit,  ,  .  326 
Oct.  5,  Battle  of  the  Thames,  (Harrison 

and  Proctor) ;  Tecumseh  killed,  .  .  326 
Commodore  Chauncey  captures  a  British 

flotilla  on  Lake  Ontario,  .         .         .     327 

Nov.  7,  Creeks  defeated  at  Talladega,  .  331 
Nov.  11,  Battle  of  Williamsburg,  U.  C.  .  328 
Nov.   29,  Creeks  defeated  at  Autossee, — 

Dec.  23,  at  Eccanachaca,  .  .  .  331 
Dec.   10,   Fort  George  evacuated  by  the 

Americans,  and  Nev/ark  burned,     .         .     328 
Dec.  19,  Fort  Niagara  taken  by  the  British ; 
they  destroy  the  towns  on  the  Niagara 
frontier,         .  ...     328 

Feb.  21,  Stores  at  Malone  destroyed,  .     334 

Affair  at  La  CoUe,  (General  Wilkinson  and 

Major  Hancock.) 334 

March  28,   United  States'  frigate    Essex 

taken  by  the  British  frigate  Phebe,  .     349 

April  21,  United  States'  ship  Frolic  cap- 
tured by  a  British  frigate,  .  .  349 
July  3,  Americans  take  Fort  Erie,  .  .  336 
July  5,  Battle  of  Chippewa,  .  .  .  337 
July  11,  Commodore  Hardy  makes  a  de- 
scent upon  the  coast  of  Maine,  .  .  345 
July  25,  The  battle  of  Bridgewater,  .  .  337 
Aug.  4,  The  British  besiege  Fort  Erie,  .  340 
Aug.    9,   The   British  are   repulsed   from 

Stonington, 346 

Aug.   15,  The    British  are  repulsed  from 

Fort  Erie, 340 

Aug.    24,    The    battle    of   Bladensburg ; 
Washington   entered   and  plundered  by 

the  British, 344 

Aug.  27,  Alexandria  capitulates  to  the  Brit- 
ish,      .         .  ...     344 
Sept.  11,  British  fleet  on  Lake  Champlain 

captured  by  the  Americans,  .  .  .  347 
Sept.  11,  The  battle  of  Plattsburg,  .  .  347 
Sept.   12,  The  British  are  defeated  near 

Baltimore, '.     345 

Sept.   13,  The  British  are  repulsed  from 

Fort  M'Henry, 345 

Sept.  17,  Sortie  from  Fort  Erie,  in  which 

the  British  works  are  destroyed,     .         .     340 

Nov.  7,  General  Jackson  takes  Pensacola,     353 

Dec.  13,  The  British  capture  an  American  i 

flotilla  on  Lake  Borgne,  .         .         .     354 

Dec.  15,Meetingof  theHartfordConvention,    3501 


reigns  oj 
England. 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


xxm 


—  s  z 


Presi- 
dents oj 
the  U.  S. 

A.  D 

1814.  ] 

1815.  . 

> 

"     ] 

;> 

u 

o 

li 

1816. 

u 

O 

S3 
O 


1817. 


1818. 


1819, 


Dec.  22,  The  British  land  below  New  Or- 
leans.    They  repulse  the  Americans, 

Jan.  8,  The  Battle  of  New  Orleans, 

Jan.   15,  United  States'  frigate  Presidei^t 
captured  by  a  British  fleet,     . 

Feb.  17,  Treaty  ofpeace  with  Great  Britain, 

Feb.  20,  The  United  States'  frigate  Con- 
stitution captures  the  Cyane  and  Levant, 
'Fort  Bowyer  surrenders  to  the  British, 

April  6,  Massacre  of  the  American  prison- 
ers at  Dartmoor,  England, 

War  with  Algiers,  .... 

"Sept.  6,  Treaties  with  the  Indians,    . 

A  National  Bank  established  by  congress,  . 

Sept.  Treaties  with  the  Chickasaws,  Choc- 
taws,  and  Cherokees,     .         .         .         • 

A  new  tariff  is  formed  to  encourage  cotton 
manufactures, 

Colonization  society  formed, 

Dec.  Indiana  admitted  to  the  Union,  . 

Monroe's  inauguration,      .... 

Indians  cede  their  lands  in  Ohio  to  the  U.  S. 

TheU.  S.  take  possession  of  Amelia  Island, 

General  Jackson  takes  possession  of  St. 
Marks  and  Pensacola,    .... 

War  with  the  Seminole  Indians, 

Illinois  admitted  to  the  Union,  . 

Treaties  concluded  with  Great  Britain  and 
Sweden, 

Chickasaws  cede  their  lands  to  the  U.  S.   . 

Alabama  admitted  to  the  Union, 

Arkansas  territory  erected, 


Page  i    So9*- 


1819. 

"      Cession  of  Florida,        .... 

"  The  legislature  of  New  York  pass  an  act 
providing  for  the  education  of  women,     ._ 

1820.  Maine  becomes  an  independent  state, 

1821.  Missouri  admitted  to  the  Union, 
"       Monroe's  second  inauguration,  . 

"  Anglo-American  Texas  founded  by  Stephen 
F.  Austin  and  his  party, 

1822.  Commercial  treaty  with  France, 

"       Depredations  of  the  pirates  in  the  W.  Indies, 

1823.  Commodore  Porter  subdues  them,      . 

"  The  government  of  the  U.  States  recognises 
the  independence  of  the  South  America 
republics,      ....•• 

1824.  A  new  tariff  formed,  .  •         •     .     • 
"       Aug.  15,  General  Lafayette  visits  America, 

and  is  received  with  distinguished  honors, 


358 

359 
359 
358 
359 
359 
360 

362 
361 
362 

362 
362 
362 
362 


363 


363! 


366 
366 
366^ 

398 
367 
367i 

367: 


368 
369 

369 


O 

o 

Q  i-^ 
W  < 

'    pi 
o 

t?3 


XXI7 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 


Sove- 

Presi- 

A.D. 

reigns  of 

dents  of 

1825. 

France. 

the  U.  S. 

u 

a 

o 

1826. 

i% 

"i 

1827. 

H 
W 

o 

1828. 

1829. 

' 

1831. 

H 

»«Ch 

1832. 

%^E 

(k 

o  »":< 

C  fD"L 

(( 

P.«    00 

§?  = 

(( 

-< 

» 

t^ 

1833. 

o 

(( 

2 

f> 

(( 

^ 

:z; 

^ 

u 

a 

S 

(( 

H 
^ 

1835. 

<l 

(( 

fd 

tH 

W 

>- 

o 

u 

1 

1835- 

O 

o 

1835. 

^ 

H 

(( 

ffi 

M 

1836. 

^ 

1?3 

(( 

W 

(( 

:^ 

o 

W 

u 

1837. 

(b 

<j 

^ 

" 

^ 

td 

u 

d 

S3 

1838. 

H 

^ 

John  Quincy  Adams  inaugurated, 

Treaty  with  Colombia,      .... 

July  4,  Deaths  of  Adams  and  Jefferson,    . 
Morgan's  abduction  and  great  excitement 

respecting  free-masonry, 
July  4,  Death  of  James  Monroe, 
Tariffbill  amended,woolIens,  &c.  protected. 
General  Jackson's  first  inauguration, 
Mr.  Rives'  treaty  with  France, 
Cholera  breaks  out,  .... 

Black  Hawk's  war,  .... 

The  Seminoles  make  a  treaty  with  the  U.  S. 
Nov.  19,  A  Convention  at  Columbia,  S.  C, 

issue  the  nullification  ordinance,     . 
President  Jackson's  proclamation. 
The  president  vetoes  the  bill  for  a  renewal 
of  the  bank  charter,       .         .         .         . 

Jackson's  second  inauguration. 
May  20,  Death  of  General  Lafayette, 
Removal  of  the  government  deposites  from 
the  U,  States  Bank  to  the  State  Banks,  . 
The  Chickasavvs  and  Choctaws  emigrate,  . 
Specie  circular,        ..... 

Sept.,  Wisconsin  made  a  territory,  and  Ar- 
kansas admitted  to  the  Union, 
Great  fire  in  New  York,  .... 

7.  Mania  for  land  speculation,    . 
Major  Dade,  General  Thompson,  and  oth- 
ers, destroyed  by  the  Indians, 
Dec.  31,  General  Clinch's   battle   of  the 
Withlacoochee,     ..... 

Feb.  29,  General  Gaines'  battle, 
March  2,  Independence  of  Texas  declared, 
March  6  and  27,  Massacres  of  the  Alamo 
and  Goliad,  ...... 

April  21,  Battle  of  San  Jacinto, 
May,The  Creeks  make  war  upon  the  whites, 
Michigan  admitted  to  the  Union, 
March  3,  Independence  of  Texas  recognised 

by  the  congress  of  the  U.  S. 
March  4,  Van  Buren  inaugurated, 
Revulsion  in  business,  and  pecuniary  dis- 
tress,   ....... 

May  10,  The  banks  stop  specie  payments, 
Canadians  revolt  from  the  British  govern- 
ment, and  are  aided  by  Americans  on  the 
frontier, 


Page 
372 

372 

Sov- 
reigns  cf 
England, 

372 

372 
372 
374 

o 

374 

387 

374 

374 

381 

385 

378 

388 

378 

378 

388 

379 

389 

388 
390 
389 

383 

384 

385 
400 

400 
400 

387 
388 

401 
389 

389 
390 


391 


as  <5 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


XXV 


Sovr.-     I    Presi-    |A.  D. 
ret^*  oj\  dents  of 'IS28. 

■'l840. 


the  U.  S. 


o  2; 

as  s 
•    -J 


1841, 


1842. 


1843. 


1844. 


1845. 


1846. 


Dec.  25,  Battle  of  Okee  Chobee 

Death  of  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  and  be- 
ginning of  Anti-rent  troubles  in  N.York, 

March  4,  Inauguration  of  William  Henry 
Harrison,      ...... 

March  11,  Steamer  President  sails  from 
New  York,  and  is  lost  at  sea, 

April  4,  Death  of  President  Harrison, 

July  6,  A  bill  passed  to  distribute  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  public  lands  to  the  different 
slates,  ....... 

Aug.  16,  President  Tyler's  first  veto  of  a 
National  Fiscal  Bank,  .... 

Aug.  18,  Bankrupt  law  passed, 

Aug.  30,  A  tariff  bill  passed,     . 

Sept.  9,  Mr.  Tyler's  second  veto  of  a  Na- 
tional Fiscal  Corporation, 

Sept.  12,  Mr.  Tyler's  cabinet  all  resign  ex- 
cept Mr.  Webster,         .... 

Oct.  11,  Failure  of  the  old  U.  States  Bank, 

Aug.  20,  Treaty  with  England  settling  the 
North-East  boundary,      .... 

Aug.  17,  Fremont  explores  the  South  Pass 
of  the  Rocky  iNLountains, 

May  18,  Dorr's  seizure  of  the  arsenal  in  R,  I. 

Sept.  6,  Fremont  explores  the  Salt  Lake,    . 

Feb.  28,  Explosion  on  board  the  Princeton 
kills  Messrs.  Upshur,  Gilmer,  &c., 

May  6-June  7,  Riots  in  Philadelphia, 

Anti-renters  keep  armed  bands  disguised 
as  Indians,    ...... 

July  7,  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  prophet, 
killed  at  Carthage,  Illinois,    . 

Jan.  16,  Ratification  of  Treaty  with  China, 

Feb.  28,  Congress  pass  the  joint  resolution 
to  annex  Texas,    ..... 

March  3,  Congress  admits  into  the  Union 
two  states — Iowa  and  Florida, 

March  4,  Inauguration  of  Polk  and  Dallas, 

Fremont  sent  with  an  armed  party  of  63  to  Cal. 

July  30,  General  Taylor  ordered  into  Texas, 

Sept.  Stockton  sent  to  Cal.  with  sealed  orders, 

Jan.  13,  General  Taylor  ordered  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande, 

March  12,  Senor  Lanzas  writes  to  Mr.  Sli- 
dell  that  the  "  casus  belW''  was  given,    . 

April  23,  Mexico  declares  war  against  the 
United  States, 


Page  |     Sove- 

386  ';^'5^»  «/ 

hnglan^ 

395 

39] 

392 
30  J 


392 

392 
393 
393 

392 

393 
393 

393 

446 
394 
446 

394 
394 

395 

396 
403 

402 

396 
401 
448 
402 

402 

404 
407 
407 


XXVI 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 


A.  D. 

1846. 


1847. 


Page 

April  24,  Mexican  War  begins  by  Thorn- 
ton's capture,         .....     407 
May  8,  Victory  of  Palo  Alto,          .         .     409 
May  9,  Victory  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  .     409 
May  11,  President's  extra  message  informs 
congress  that  the  Mexican  war  had  be- 
gun,       407 

May  13,  Act  of  congress  to  raise  men  and 
money,  ......     407 

June  16,  Treaty  settling  the  northern  boun- 
dary of  Oregon,    .....     404 

June  26,  Army  of  the  West,  under  General 

Kearny,  march  from  Fort  Leavenworth,     422 
July  6,  American  Californians  under  Fre- 
mont declare  independence,  .         .         .     421 
July  7,  Monterey,  in   California,  taken  by 

Com.  Sloat, 421 

Aug.  18,  Gen.  Kearny  takes  possession  of 
Santa  Fe,      ......     423 

Sept.  20,  Army  of  the  Centre,  under  Gen- 
eral Wool,  begins  its  march  from  Bexar,     415 
Sept.  21-2-3,  The  taking  of  Monterey, 

Armistice  of  Monterey,  .  .  .411 

Oct.  21,  General  Wool  takes  possession  of 

Monclova — Dec.  5,  of  Parras,        .  .     415 

Nov.  22,  Doniphan's  treaty  with  the  Navajoes,    426 
Dec.  6,  Battle  of  San  Pascal,     .         .         .424 
Dec.  25,  Battle  of  Bracito,    .         .         .         .427 

Jan.  8,  Battle  of  San  Gabriel,  .         .         .     424 
Jan.  12,  Capitulation  of  Cowenga,        .         .     424 
Jan.  19,  Revolt  in  New  Mexico,  and  mas- 
sacre of  Gov.  Bent  and  others,       .         .     428 
Jan.  24-Feb.  5,  Colonel  Price's  victories  at 

Canada,  Embudo,  and  Puebla  de  Taos,  .     428 
Feb.  22-3,  Battle  of  Blena  Vista,  .         .     420 
Feb.  26,  Battle  of  Agua  Frio,  .         .         .420 
Feb.  28,  Battle  of  Sacramento,        .         .     427 
March  7,  Battle  of  Ceralvo,       .  .  .420 

March  27,  Vera  Cruz  surrenders  to  the 

American  army  under  General  Scott,     .     430 
March  28,  Sloop-of-war  Jamestown   sent 
with   provisions  to  Ireland,  which  was 
suffering  from  famine,  ....     443 

April  18,  Battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,     .         .     430 
April  19,  American  army  enters  Jalapa — 
22,  they  enter  Perote — May    15,  enter 
Puebla, 431 


Sovc' 
reigns  of 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


XXVIl 


Sore-  I  Presi- 
reigns  of\  dents  of 
France,    the  U.  S 


A.  D. 


M 


1848. 


1847.  Aug.  20,  BatUes  of  Contreras   and  Cnu- 
RUBUsco,        .         •         *        -A        *         ■ 
Sept.  8.  Baltic  of  Molinos  del  Key,  .     ■ 

Sept.  13,  Battle  of  Ciiapultepec, 
Sept.  14,  MEXICO  TAKEN,     .        .        . 
Oct.  9,  Battle  of  Huamantla— 18,  of  Atlisco, 
Feb    2,  Treaty  of  peace    with   Mexico   is 
siirne'd  at  Guadalupe— 22,  laid  by  Presi- 
delit  Polk  before  the  Senate,    . 
»       Gold  discovered  in  California,      . 
~^'       ^Feb.  23,  Death  of  Ex-president  J.  Q.  Adams, 
"       March  16,  Battle  of  Santa  Cruz  de  Rozales, 
"       May  29,  Wisconsin  admitted  into  the  Union, 
«       July  4,  Peace  proclalmed  at  Washington, 
"       Auo-.  7,  Free  soil  convention  at  Buffalo, 
"       Auff.  13,  Oregon  made  a  territory, 
«       Dec.  22,  Disunion  threatened.  ' First  meeting 
of  Southern  members  of  congress  in  Wash- 
ington addressed  by  Mr.  Calhoun,    . 

1849.  Jan.^22,  Second  meeting  of  Southern  mem- 

bers not  unanimous,  .         .         .         • 

«       March  3,  Minesota  made  a  territory,    . 
"       Unhappy  close  of  the  30th  congress,    . 

"March  4,  Inau  guration  of  Taylor  and  Fillmore, 

September  1,  State  constitution  for  California 

formed  at  Monterey,        .         •         •    _     • 

Dec.  20,  Legislature  convene  at  San  Jose,    . 

1850.  Jan.  Texas  makes  laws  to  extend  her  power 
over  New  Mexico,  '         '        \       \ 

Jan.  25,  Compromise  measures  introduced 

into  the  senate  by  Mr.  Clay,  .  .  • 
Feb.  13,  Fremont  and  Gwin  (senators  elect) 

arrive  in  Washington  with  the  Californian 

petition  for  admission,  .  •  •  • 
April  18,  Collision  at  St.  Fee  of  the  U.  S. 

and  Texan  authorities,  .  .  '  ,  ' 
May  18  and  19,  Abortive  attempt  on  Cuba 

by  Lopez  and  his  American  followers,  . 
June  2,  Nashville  convention.     Disumonists 

disappointed, 

'July  9,  Death  of  Taylor  and  inauguration  of 

Fillmore, 

September,   Passage  of  the   compromise 

measures,  (viz.,) 


Page! 


455 


456 
456 

457 

461       r 


457 


457 


464 


463 


465 


465 


1.  California  (rejecting  slavery)  is  admitted. 

2.  Utah  made  a  territory.  )     Slavery  optional 

3.  N.  Mexico  made  a  territory—  \  with  the  inhabitants 
Texas  receiving  ten  millions  for  her  claim. 

4.  Slave-trade  abolished  in  District  of  Columbia 
5!  A  new  fugitive-slave  law  passed. 

850    Dec.  16,  America  honored  by  Switzerland, 
«       American  colonization  in  Liberia  prosperous 
«       Population,  resources,  and  prosperity  in  l»ol 

according  to  the  census  of  1850,  •        40» 


.466 

467 
468 


HISTORY 

OF   THE 

UNITED    STATES. 

OR, 

REPUBLIC  OF  AMERICA. 


PART    FIRST. 


Name. 


INTRODUCTION. 

CHAPTER. I. 

Name — First  Peopling — Traditionary  and  probable  Accounts. 

The  country  of  which  our  history  treats,  is  that  comprised  chap,  i 
within  the  extensive  boundaries  of  the  United  States  of  v-i^v-^ 
A-merica. 

This  appellation  we  shall  exchange  as  the  convenience  of 
language  may  require,  for  that  of  the  Republic  of  America, 
or  the  simple  name  America.  This  single  expression  is  the 
style  assumed  in  the  bill  of  rights,  the  first  act  of  our  country's 
sovereignty ;  and  it  forms  the  only  part  which  is  a  proper 
name  of  that  used  in  every  state  paper  promulgated  since. 
At  home  we  are  called  Americans  in  contradistinction  from 
Canadians,  Texians,  and  Mexicans ;  and  abroad,  the  public 
functionaries  of  this  nation  alone  are  distinguished  as  Amer- 
ican ambassadors.  It  is  therefore  concluded  that  the  name 
of  this  country  is,  and  is  to  be,  America. 

Concerning  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  vast  region  to  which 
this  name,  in  its  more  limited  extent,  now  applies,  authentic 
history  reaches  no  farther  back  than  to  its  European  discove- 
ry and  settlement.  Some  probable  conjectures  may  however 
be  formed  from  the  antiquities  and  traditions  of  the  aborigines, 
combined  with  the  course  of  events  upon  the  other  continent, 
as  known  from  Holy  Scripture  or  profane  record. 

Noah,  the  second  father  of  the  human  family,   emerged 
from  the  terrors  of  the  deluge  in  Western  Asia.     At  Bhering's 
Straits  only,  do  the  two  continents  approach,  and  the  earliest    Supposed 
inhabitants  found  here  by  Europeans,  bore  a  resemblance  to  to^be^from 
the  Tartars  of  Eastern  Asia.     Hence  the  conclusion,  that       "" "" 
America  was  peopled  from  that  direction. 


Early  saT- 

Lge  inhaiit 
antJi 


Eastern 


2  MIGRATION    OF    SUCCESSIVE    RACES 

CHAP.  I  But   evidence  exists,  in  the  ruins  of  fortifications   and  m 

^•^^'^r^^^  anatomical  and  other  relics  dug  from  ancient  mounds,  that 
another  and  more  civilized  race  had  preceded,  and  occupied 
the  basin  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  same  evidence,  we  are  told,  exists  that  Tartary  has 
once  been  the  seat  of  a  civilization,  superior  to  that  of  ila 
present  inhabitants.     It  would  seem,  then,  that  a  race,  which, 
from  their  antiquities,   may  be   compared    with  the  ancient 
Egyptians,  left  in   early  ages  the  primitive  stock,  wandered 
east,  crossed  Bhering's  Straits,  and  continued  their  migratory 
course  till  they  rested  on  the  broad  vales  of  the  jVIississippi 
and  its  tributary  streams;  but  that  ruder  and   fiercer  tribes 
TxpSled  a^  had  followed  in  their  train,  and  expelled  them    from   those 
more  civil-  fertile  regions.     And  since  a  people  were  found  in  the  more 
ired  people   southern    climes   of    Mexico,    Central    America,   and   Peru, 
from  the     whose  crania,  and  works  of  art,  resemble  those  discovered 
same  direc-  here,    it   seems  altogether  probable,  that  to  those  countries, 
^^^'       the  earlier  and  more  civilized  race  migrated;  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  Natchez,  and  perhaps  the  ancestors  of  the  Mo- 
bilian  race.     This  supposition  is  strengthened  by  the   tradi- 
tions of  savage  tribes  found  here  by  Europeans,  and  called 
by  them  Indians,    they  having  given  to   the  whole  country 
the  indefinite  appellation  of  the  West  Indies. 
The  That  extensive  family  of  tribes  found  east-  of  the   Missis- 

Algonquin  gippi  which,  accordino^  to  tradition,  descended  from  the  Lenni 
language,      rr  '  '  &  .  .        'v  ,      ,  .... 

Lenape,  spoke,  though  in  various  dialects,  one  primitive  lan- 
guage, called  by  the  French  the  x^lgonouin.  Hence  this  terra 
in  nearly  its  whole  extension, -has  been  applied  to  that  race, 
which  has  since  received,  also,  the  name  of  Delawares. 

The  Indians  possessed  no  books,  or  written  manuscripts. 
All  their  literature  consisted  of  traditionary  tales,  and   a  few 
war  songs.     According  to  these,  the  great  nation  of  the  Lenni 
Lenape     Lenape,    once  dwelling  far    to   the    west,  moved  eastward, 
and        and  after  travelling  a  great  distance,  arrived  on  the  borders 
Mengwe     ^^  ^^le  Mississippi.     Here  they  met  with  the  Mengwe  or  Iro- 
quois, another  powerful  people,  who  with  similar  objects  had 
also  emigrated  from   a  far  distant  western  country,  and  had 
reached  the  same  river  somewhat  nearer  its  source. 

The  territory  east  of  the  Mississippi    was   inhabited   by 
the  AUegev/i,  a  powerful  nation,  who  had  many  large  cities 
and  whose  warriors,  says  the  tradition,  were  of  gigantic  sta- 
ture.    The  Lenape  requested  permission  to  settle  in  their 
country,  but  were  refused.     Determined  to  force  their  way, 
wbdae  the  they  entered  into  an  alliance  with  the  Mengwe.    The  AUegewi 
AJlegewn,    f^j-tiflg^j  ^j^gj^  towns,  and  made  a  brave  resistance.    Mary  great 
battles  were  fought,  and  the  slain  laid  in  heaps,  and  covered 
with  mounds  of  earth.     The  Allegewi,  at  length,  totally  over- 
come, fled  down  the  Mississippi,  and  never  returned, 
and  divide        The  two  victorious  nations  now  divided  the  country  be- 
ihe territory,  twecn  them.     The  Iroquois  took  possession  of  that  along  the 


FROM    THE    WEST    TO    THE    EAST.  3 

lakes,  and  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  extended  themselves  by    chap.  i. 
degrees  tlirough  the  valleys  of  their  tributary  streams  ;  w^hile  ^— ■^v-"^> 
the  Lenape  sent  forth  some  of  their  more  enterprising  hunts- 
men, who  crossed  the  mountains,  and  discovered  noble  streams 
running  to  the  south  and  east.     These  they  traced  to  the  At- 
lantic, or  Salt  Water  Lake.     To  the  Delaware  they  gave  the 
name  of  Lenapehittuck,  or  the  rapid    river  of  the  Lenape.    Location 
Making  this  their  centre   of  communication,  they  extended      of  ihe 
themselves   to   the    Potomac,    Susquchannah,     and    Hudson.       ^^*f^ 
In  process  of  time,  they  divided  into  three  tribes,  the  Turtle, 
Turkey,  and  Wolf.     The  two  former  occupied  the  ground  be- 
tween the  sea-coast  and  the  mountains,   while   the  Wolf  or 
Minsi  tribe,  held  their  council-fire  at  Minisink,  about  twenty- 
five  miles  west  of  Newburgh  on   the  Hudson.     But  when 
those  regions  became  peopled  by  Europeans,  the  Delawares 
gradually  drew  off  towards  the  west,  and  about  1770  their 
seat  of  empire  was  in  the  eastern  parts  of  Ohio. 

With  these  confederacies  others  were  allied  :  as  the  Mohi- 
canni  or  Mohegans,  Avho  spread  themselves  east  of  the  Hud-  „ 
son,  and  those  branches  which  extended  to  the  southern  and  v.ho  styled 
eastern  shores  of  New  England,  who  were  all  styled  the  grand-  themselves 
children  of  the  original  Lenape.     This  nation  also  extended  *  cliildren 
its  tribes  southerly,  and  gave  rise  to  the  powerful  confedera- 
cies which  occupied  the  country   bordering  on  the  Chesa- 
peake. 

In  the  meantime  the  Mengwe,    or  Iroquois,  who  at  first 
settled  along  the  lakes,  had  extended  their  borders  until  they     [fo^uois 
approached  in  many  points  near  to  the  Lenape.     They  con- 
quered a  powerful  nation  called  Hurons,   Adarondacks,   or  ConquerrLe 
Wyandots,  which  are  the  only  people  on  the  eastern  coast,     Hurons*. 
says  the  Indian  tradition,  who  were  not  descendants  of  che 
Mengwe  and  Lenape. 

Disputes  at  length  arose  between  the  Delawares  and  Iro- 
quois, and  a  war  ensued,  of  which  different  accounts  are  giv- 
en by  the  two  nations.     This  singular  fact  appears  in  authen- 
tic history,  that  the  Delawares,  though  greatly  respected  and  ^^.^^^^^^j}J^' 
honored  with  the  appellation  of  grandfather  by  many  tribes,  aiv-aJestobe 
were  yet,  by  their  own  acknowledgment,  reduced,  in  regard  the  Women, 
to  making  war,  to  the   condition   of  women.     The   Iroquois     ^^^^  -^^7 
boasted  that  their  prowess  had  obliged  the  Delawares  to  as-  sen-epeao«. 
sume  this  feminine  state.     But  the  Delawares  gave  a  relation, 
which  seems  more  in  accordance  with  the  respect  voluntarily 
granted  them,  and  the  weight  given  to  their  counsels.     Griev- 
ous wars,  say  they,  had  wasted  both  nations,  and  the  Iroquois 
sent   them  this  message  :   "  It  is  not  profitable   that  all  the 
nations  should  be   at  war  with  each  other,  for  this  will  at 
length  be  the  ruin  of  the  whole  Indian  race.     We  have  there- 
fore considered  a  remedy.     One  nation  shall  be  the  woman. 
We  will  all  defend  the  woman.     She  shall  make  no  war,  but 
she  shall  speak  words  of  peace,  to  heal  the  disputes  of  those 


TRADITION    AND    HISTORY    COINCIDENT. 


Tanienend. 


Coincidence 
af  tradition 
and  proba- 
ble history. 


who  are  walking  in  foolish  ways.  The  men  shall  then  heai, 
and  obey  the  woman." 

The  Delawares  consented ;  a  counsel  followed,  in  which 
the  Iroquois  declared  in  their  figurative  style,  "  we  dress  you 
in  a  woman's  long  habit,  we  give  you  oil,  and  medicines ;  and 
a  plant  of  Indian  corn,  with  a  hoe.  To  your  care  we  commit 
the  great  belt  of  peace,  and  chain  of  friendship," 

Perhaps  we  may  refer  to  this  period  the  date  of  that  great 
and  good  traditionary  chieftain  of  the  Delawares,  who,  under 
the  name  of  Tamenend,  has  had  his  festivals,  even  recently, 
celebrated  in  "  Tammany"  Halls,  with  his  emblem,  the  tail  of 
the  buck,  worn  as  a  badge  of  party  distinction. 

Thus  far  we  follow  the  traditions  of  the  Indians.  Like 
those  of  other  barbarous  nations  they  probably  contain  a 
mixture  of  error  and  truth  ;  yet  there  is  a  simplicity  in  the 
story  which  favors  its  probability,  and  in  its  main  features  it 
coincides,  as  we  have  seen,  with  the  most  probable  hypothe- 
sis concerning  the  first  peopling  of  America :  the  Allegewi 
'^eing  supposed  a  former,  and  more  civilized  race,  who  came 
m  early  ages  through  Tartary,  Bhering's  Straits  and  the  north- 
ern part  of  this  continent  to  the  Mississippi  and  its  waters  ; 
and  the  Lenape  and  Mengwe,  those  more  barbarous  hordes 
who  following  in  their  train,  dispossessed  and  drove  them 
south,  probably  to  Mexico,  Central  America,  and  Peru 

This  argument  is  strengthened  by  the  discovery  that  the  lan- 
guages spoken  throughout  the  country  were  traceable  to  three 
primitive  stocks,  the  Algonquin,  Iroquois  andMobilian.  A  por- 
tion of  this  earlier  race  may  have  rested  on  the  vales  of  the 
1540.  Mobile  :  for  De  Soto,  in  1540,  found  there  a  people  who 
dwelt  in  cities,  and  who  were  more  cultivated  than  th^  sur- 
rounding savages.  And  while  attempts  to  civilize  iin  de- 
scendants of  the  Lenape  and  Mengwe  have  been  conj  ara- 
tively  inefTectual,  the  Mobilian  tribes  have  received  C  ■  ris- 
tianity  and  the  elements  of  modern  civilization.  But  our  i  wn 
nation,  wbich  has  imparted  them,  has  done  what  the  barb;*-  'an 
Lenape  failed  to  accomplish,  expelled  this  earlier  race  ltf>m 
the  homes  or  their  childhood,  and  from  the  cherished  grav.».g 
of  ancestors  more  remote  perhaps  than  those  of  any  people 
east  of  the  Mississippi.  Nor  are  we  entitled  to  assert  with 
confidence  that  the  Algonquins  might  not  have  been  Chris- 
tianized, had  the  efforts  of  the  apostle  Elliot,  and  those,  not 
less  devoted,  of  the  Moravian  missionaries,  been  properly 
seconded,  instead  of  having  been  rendered  abortive,  by  cruel 
treatment  to  the  unoffending  Indian  converts. 

Yet  before  the  Indians  are  entitled  to  complain,  they 
must  stop  their  own  barbarous  practices  ;  particularly  that  (X 
making  war  without  declaring  it. 


Mobilian 
tribes. 


ABORIGINES    OF   VIRGINIA.  5 

CHAPTER   II. 

The  Principa.  Indian  Confederacies  as  found  by  European  Disjovereis 

The  Lenni   Lcnape,   Delavvares,  or   Algonqiiins,  claimed    chap.  k. 
to  be  the  head  of  all  the  northern  nations  east  of  the  Missis-  <.^^-v-^«»^ 
sippi,  except  the  Mengvve  or  Iroquois,   since  called  the  Five 
Nations,  and  one  other  great  family,  at  the   head  of  which  Axgonquiiu 
stood  the  Hurons  or  Wyandots.     They  were,  it  appears,  that        •ui^. 
savage  race,  which  our  fathers  found  upon  the  shores  of  the    ^*°9""is. 
Atlantic  ;  whose  hospitality  sometimes  fed  them,  whose  sub- 
tlety and  vindictive  courage  kept  them  long  in  continual  alarm, 
and  more  than  once  threatened  them  with  extirpation. 

The  Indians  earliest  known  to  the  English  were  those  of 
Virginia.  When  the  first  effectual  settlement  of  that  colony 
was  made  in  1607,  the  country  from  the  sea-coast  to  the  1607 
mountains,  and  from  the  Potomac  to  the  most  southern  waters 
of  James  river,  was  occupied  by  more  than  forty  different 
tribes.  Those  on  the  lowlands  between  the  sea-coast  and  the 
falls  of  the  rivers,  formed  one  confederacy,  and  were  attached  Pow-hatans 
to  the  Powhatan  nation,  as  their  bond  of  union.  This  con-  ^^  ^^^^ 
federacy  consisted  of  thirty  tribes,  and  the  whole  number  is  the^'jl^e* 
calculated  at  8,000,  of  whom  three  tenths  were  warriors. 
The  territory  over  which  they  were  spread  contained  8000 
square  miles.  Thus,  in  this  region,  which  appears  to  have 
been  one  of  the  most  populous  parts  of  the  Indian  territory, 
there  was  only  one  person  to  every  square  mile.  Powhatan 
was  the  great  sachem  of  a  confederacy  which  was  kept  to- 
gether by  the  force  of  his  genius,  and  which  bore  his  name. 
The  seat  of  his  hereditary  dominions,  called  by  the  English 
Nonesuch,  was  on  the  Powhatan,  Afterwards  James  river, 
below  the  falls  and  near  the  beautiful  spot  where  Richmond  now 
stands.  This  was  the  native  land  of  Pochahontas,  the  most 
distinguished  woman  of  aboriginal  America. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Jamestown,  the  Indians,  who 
dwelt  on  the  highlands,  between  the  falls  of  the  rivers  and 
the  mountains,  were  divided  into  two  confederacies,  the  .Their  Snoa 
Monahoacks,  consisting  of  eight  tribes,  on  the  north,  and  the  'fedenll^ 
Monacans,  of  five,  stretching  southerly  into  Carolina.  After- 
wards, under  the  name  of  Tuscaroras,  the  latter  removed 
northerly  and  joined  the  Iroquois.  These  thirteen  tribes  were 
combined  against  the  Powhatans. 

Not  less  prominent  in  the  early  history  of  our  country,  are 
the  five  principal  New  England   tribes.     Of  these,  the  first 
known  was  that  of  the  Wampanoags    or  Pokanokets,  which  vvampuiw 
produced  the  two  most  remarkable    savage  chiefs  of  New       ag» 
England,  father  and  son ;  Massasoit,  distinguished  ^ot  wisdom 
3 


ABORIGINES    OF    NEW    ENGLAND 


their 
country 


Seat  of 

their 

aiichems, 


Hunt,  who 

commands  a 

vessel  of 

Captain 

Smith's 

squadron, 

kidnaps 

Tofthena- 

)ives. 

)ermer  re- 
tores  one. 

1619. 


oHAP.  11.  and  goodness,  and  Metacom  or  Philip,  for  heroic  valor 
^--•^v-"^-'  Their  subjects  inhabited  the  country  around  Cape  Cod, 
stretching  along  the  sea-coast  and  including  what  is  now  the 
southern  part  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  eastern  part  of 
Rhode  Island.  Several  tribes  living  upon  the  adjacent  isl« 
ands,  and  some  others,  whose  long,  uncouth  names  are  sjel* 
dom  met  in  history,  were  tributary  to  the  grand  sachem  of 
the  Pokanokets.  On  the  arrival  of  the  English,  this  dignity 
was  held  by  Massasoit,  whose  residence,  and  afterwards  thai 
of  his  son,  was  at  Montaup,  or  Mount  Hope,  near  Bristol 
in  Rhode  Island. 
1614.  In  1614  an  English  captain  by  the  name  of  Hunt,  touched 
upon  this  coast,  and  wickedly  kidnapped  twenty-seven  of 
the  unoflending  inliabitants,  carried  them  to  Malaga,  and  sold 
them  as  slaves.  Some  benevolent  monks  rescued  a  part 
of  them,  and  one  of  the  number,  Tisquantum  went  to  Eng- 
land, and  was  there  kindly  treated.  The  baseness  of  Hunt  was 
discovered  and  he  was  condemned  and  punished.  Tisquan- 
tum, after  he  had  learned  the  English  language,  and  become 
attached  to  the  people,  was,  by  a  captain  Dermer,  carried 
back  in  1619.  The  captain,  in  a  letter,  said  that  when  he 
first  arrived  at  the  native  country  of  his  savage,  though  he 
travelled  a  day's  journey,  "  he  found  all  dead."  Afterwards 
he  went  to  Pokanoket,  where  he  was  met  by  two  kings,  sup- 
posed to  have  been  Massasoit  and  his  brother,  with  a  guar-d 
of  fifty  armed  men.  These,  satisfied  with  what  the  savage 
"  discoursed  unto  them,"  gave  to  the  captain  "  content  in 
whatsoever  he  desired." 

The  Pokanokets,  with  the  other  New  England  tribes,  had 
suffered  a  plague  of  unexampled  mortality,  probably  the 
yellow  fever  ;  for  we  are  told  that  its  victims,  both  before 
and  after  death,  "were  of  the  color  of  a  yellow  garment." 
Not  less  than  nine  tenths  of  the  inhabitants  seem,  m  some 
parts  of  the  country,  to  have  been  destroyed  ;  divine  Provi- 
dence thus  preparing  the  way,  for  another  and  more  civilized 
race. 

Besides  the  Pokanokets,  the  other  principal  tribes  of  New 
England  were  the  PaAvtuckets,  the  Massachusetts,  the  Nar- 
ragansetts  and  the  Pequods. 

The  Pawtuckets  made  their  principal  seat  upon  the  Merri 
mack,  near  its  mouth,  and  extended  themselves  south  until 
they  met  the  territories  of  the  Massachusetts.     Their  num- 
ber, as  is  supposed,  was  once  3,000  ;  but  the  fatal  epidemic 
had  reduced  them  to  as  many  hundreds. 

The  Massachusetts  were  scattered  about  the  bay  whicli 
bears  their  name.  The  word  sis^nified  in  their  lancruage,  a 
hill  in  the  form  of  an  arrow.  Their  territories  extended  to 
the  Pawtuckets  on  the  north,  and  the  Pokanokets  on  the 
south.  The  authority  of  their  chief  sachem  Avas  acknow- 
ledged '  by    several   minor   tribes,    among   which    were   the 


Plague 
among  the 
aborigines. 


''hft  Paw- 
♦•>f,kets. 


rhe  Massa- 
chusetts. 


ABORICrNES    OF    NEW  ENGLAND. 


Neponsetts,  the  Nasliuas,  and  the  Pociimtiicks  of  Deerfield. 
Tliis  nation  also  suffered  by  the  fatal  epidemic  in  an  equal 
or  greater  degree  than  the  Pawtuckets.  The  principal  per- 
son of  this  confederacy,  as  found  by  the  English,  was 
the  squaw  sachem  or  "  Massachusetts  Queen."  She  was 
the  widow  of  a  powerful  chief  who  died  in  1619.  The 
royal  residence,  a  wigwam  on  a  platform,  was  visited  in 
1621  by  a  party  of  the  pilgrims  from  Plymouth,  and  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  located  on  a  hill  in  Milton.  The  good 
soil,  the  fine  harbors  and  the  picturesque  islands  at  their  en- 
trance, made  the  pilgrims  regret  that  they  had  not  settled  in 
this  territory,  which  now  contains  the  capital  of  New  England, 
and  the  most  beautifully  cultured  grounds  in  America. 

The  Narragansetts  held  their  chief  seat  and  the  resilience 
of  their  grand  sachem  on  the  island  of  Canonicut,  in  the  bay 
which  still  bears  their  name.  Westerly,  they  extended  to 
within  four  or  five  miles  of  the  Paucatuck  river,  where  their 
territories  met  those  of  the  Pequods.  On  the  east  they  joined 
the  Pokanokets.  By  the  epidemical  disease  their  number  of 
warriors  had  been  diminished  from  five  to  one  thousand. 
Their  country  was  well  adapted  to  the  Indian  mode  of  life. 
Alternate  woods  and  waters  afforded  plenty  of  game  and  fish, 
and  allowed  them  their  favorite  mode  of  travelling,  by  the 
canoe.  Possessing,  in  a  greater  degree  than  many  of  the 
other  tribes,  the  means  of  happiness,  they  appeared  less  fero- 
cious in  their  character. 

Their  aged  sachem  Canonicus,  the  benefactor  of  Rhode 
Island,  was,  in  one  respect,  a  personage  of  greater  dignity  than 
any  other  among  the  savages,  being  the  only  Indian  chief  who 
had  any  claims  to  a  pedigree.  His  grandfather,  it  was  said,  not 
being  able  to  find  equal  matches  for  his  only  two  children,  a 
son  and  a  daughter,  married  them  together.  From  this  couple 
sprung  Canonicus,  and  also  the  father  of  the  princely  Mian- 
tonomoh.  The  latter  was  the  associate  of  Canonicus,  and  the 
commander  of  his  warriors. 

The  more  barbarous  Pequods  occupied  the  eastern  portion 
of  Connecticut,  their  lands  meeting  those  of  the  Narragansetts, 
The  residence  of  their  grand  sachem,  Sassacus,  was  on  the 
heights  of  Groton,  near  the  river  then  called  the  Pequod, 
since,  the  Thames.  The  Mohegans,  under  Uncas,  whose 
seat  was  where  Norwich  now  stands,  were  subject  to  the 
haughty  chief  of  the  Pequods  ;  but  they  bore  his  yoke  with 
impatience,  and  when  he  made  war  upon  the  whites,  Uncas 
took  part  against  him. 

The  Indians  of  northern  New  England,  under  various 
names— often  preserved  in  those  of  rivers  and  lakes,  had  yet 
the  general  appellation  of  Tarenteens  or  Abenakis.  They 
stretched  along  the  coast  of  Maine,  and  extended  into  New- 
Hampshire,  and  were  peculiarly  ruthless  in  character.  Their 
bloody  night  attacks  were  long  the  terror  of  New  England, 


1621. 

Visilod  by 
the  pilgrimt, 


The  Nam 
gai'.setu. 


Theirbeauli 
fill  location. 


Their  great 

sachem, 
Canonicus. 


Pequodr 
Sasuacus 


Aocnakift 


a 


ABORIGINES  OF  NEW  YORK  AND  THE  SOUTH. 


CHAP.    II. 


Pennicooks 


iroquois 

become  the 
Five  Na- 
tions. 

Settle  in 

northern 

New  YorL 


They 
(iecome  the 
most  power- 
ful of  aU  the 
savage 
tribes. 


Creeks, 
Cherokee^, 

Natchez. 


Shawanese. 
Tecumsek 


particularly  during  their  alliance  with  the  French  in  Canada. 
Among  the  tribes  of  New  Hampshire,  the  Pennicooks  became 
noted,  from  their  grand  sachem  Passaconaway,  who  was  held 
in  great  fear  on  account  of  his  supposed  powers  of  sorcery. 

The  Iroquois,  Mengwe  or  Mingoes,  were  found  by  their 
earliest  discoverers,  the  pioneers  of  the  settlements  in  Canada, 
inhabiting  the  shores  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  At  first  they  ap- 
pear to  have  been  less  warlike  than  the  confederacy  by  which 
they  were  surrounded,  and  by  whom  they  were  attacked. 
These  tribes  were  called  by  the  various  appellations  of  Hu- 
rons,  Wyandots,  and  Adarondacks.  The  Iroquois,  pressed  by 
them,  receded  from  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  divi- 
ding into  five  tribes,  the  Senecas,  Cayugas,  Onondagas,  Onei- 
das  and  Mohawks,  they  spread  themselves  by  degrees  east 
of  Lake  Erie,  and  south  of  Ontario,  along  the  romantic  waters 
of  northern  New  York,  to  which  they  have  left  their  bold  and 
harmonious    names. 

Here  they  made  a  stand,  and  becoming  the  most  fear^ 
less,  subtle,  and  powerful  of  savages,  they  overcame  the 
Hurons,  fought  the  Delawares,  put  in  fear  all  the  surrounding 
tribes,  and  finally  in  the  contests  between  France  and  England, 
they  were  courted  by  both  parties  as  allies,  and  dreaded  by 
both  as  foes.  Of  the  Five  Nations,  the  Mohawks  were  the 
most  warlike.  Their  chief  seat  was  at  Johnstown,  on  the 
beautiful  river  which  still  bears  their  name.  From  this  region 
they  sent  out  their  tribute  gatherers  far  east,  and  south ;  and 
when  among  the  more  peaceful  Indians  on  the  Connecticut 
river,  one  or  two  of  their  old  warriors  appeared  shouting,  "  we 
are  come  to  suck  your  blood  I"  there  was  a  fearful  cry, 
"The  Mohawks,  the  Mohawks!"  and  all  fled,  or  submitted. 

Of  the  southern  Indians,  the  most  extensive  and  powerful 
confederacies  were  the  Creeks,  situated  mostly  in  Georgia ; 
the  Cherokees  in  the  mountainous  region  north  and  west;  and 
the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws,  nearer  to  the  Mississippi. 

The  Natchez  have  excited  much  interest  on  account  of  the 
difference  of  their  language  from  that  of  the  surrounding 
tribes.  Their  chief  was  called  "  the  Great  Sun  ;"  and  like 
the  Peruvians,  they  had  fire  which  they  regarded  as  sacred 
and  perpetually  watched.  Natchez,  on  the  Mississippi,  marks 
their  location. 

The  Shawanese,  the  native  tribe  of  Tecumseh,  once  re- 
sided on  the  banks  of  the  Suwaney  river  in  Florida,  and  from 
thence  migrated  northward,  first  to  Pennsylvania,  and  after- 
wards to  Ohio. 


PART  I, 


FROM   1492  TO    1643 


PERIOD    I  . 


THE     DISCOVERY     01'  (  1-492       AMERICA    BY    COLUMBUS. 


THE    FIRST    PATENT     GRANTED 
BY  AN  ENGLISH  SOVEREIGN  TO 


157§. 


LANDS    IN   AMERICA — GIVEN   BY  Q. 
ELIZABETH     TO     SIR    H.    GILBERT. 


CHAPTER  I. 

First  Discovery — Columbus,  &c. 

We  have  now  taken  a  brief  view  of  the  country  as  occii-  , 
pied  by  its  aboriginal  proprietors.     We  are  soon  to  behold  it 
usurped  by  the  sovereigns  of  Europe,  from  the  mere  circum- 
stance, that  vessels  sailing  under  their  protection  discovered  it. 

That  human  arrogance  should  ever  have  iisen  to  such  a 
pitch,  is  astonishing.  There  is,  however,  a  consoling  reflec- 
tion. The  hand  of  a  wise  Providence  is,  in  these  events,  clear- 
ly discernible,  overruling  even  the  injustice  of  man  to  the  ful- 
fillment of  its  designs,  for  the  progressive  improvement  of  the 
world.  To  this  benevolent  intent,  it  was  doubtless  necessary 
that  the  western  continent  should,  in  the  fullness  of  time,  be 
discovered  and  settled  by  a  civilized  people  ;  and  these  would 
not  have  braved  the  dangers  of  the  ocean,  and  the  hardships 
of  a  savage  country,  unless,  from  a  previous  belief,  that  they 
had  a  right  to  the  territory  which  they  should  discover  and  settle. 

Many  thousand  years  had  elapsed  since  the  creation  of  the 
world,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  eastern  hemisphere  were  yet 
ignorant,  that,  on  the  face  of  the  planet  which  they  inhabited, 
was  another  continent  of  nearly  equal  extent.  Nor  did  they 
become  acquainted  with  this  fact  by  any  fortunate  accident ; 
but  they  owed  its  proof  to  the  penetration  and  persevering 
efforts  of  a  man,  as  extraordinary,  as  the  discovery  which 
he  made. 

This  was  Christopher  Columbus,  a  native  of  Genoa,  born 
in  1437.  In  him  were  united  a  rare  combmation  of  extraor- 
dinary qualities.  He  possessed  a  teeming  imagination,  an 
ardent  courage  a  glowing  zeal,  and  all  those  energetic 
impulses  of  the  soul  which  lead  to  high  achievement ;  and, 
with  these  noble  qualities,  he  combined  judgment  the  most 
grave  and  solid,  prudence  and  patience  the  most  steady  and 
unoffending,  piety  the  most  devout,  and,  what  chiefly  ensured 
his  success,  the  most  untiring  perseverance  ever  manifested  by 
man 


PART.  I. 


Supposec 

right  of 

discovery. 


New  WorlH 

not 

discovered 

by  accidett. 


1437. 

Birth  and 
rare  talent* 
ofColum'jui 


10  COLUMBUS. 

PART  I.         Science  was  beginning  to  arouse  from  the  long  shimber  of 
PERIOD  I.   the  middle  ages.    The  magnetic  needle  had  been  invented,  and 
CHAP.  I.     the  mariner  no  longer  kept  cautiously  along  the  shore;  bu* 
^-^''v^**-^   trusting  to  this  guide,  he   boldly  steered  his   bark  through 
The  spirit  of  trackless  oceans,  in  search  of  unknown  countries, 
the  times.        Columbus  had  married  the  daughter  of  one  of  the   Portu- 
guese discoverers,  then  deceased  ;  whose  widow,  finding  with 
what  avidity  her  son-in-law  sought  such  sources  of  informa- 
tion, gave  to  him  all  the  maps,  charts,  and  nautical   papers, 
Columbus   which  had  belonged  to  her  husband.     Marco  Polo,  a  Venetian, 
believes  the  had  travelled  to  the  east,  and  returned  with  glowing  descrip- 
earth  is      tions  of  Cathay  and  the  island  of  Cipango,  called,  generally, 
expects  to    the  East  Indies,  and  now  known  to  be  China  and  Japan.    The 
find  the  East  rotundity  of  the  earth  was  a  fact   admitted  by  a  few  of  the 
sjSkg^Je^st  learned,  and  fully  believed  by  Columbus,  on  the  evidence  of 
*  its  figure,  exhibited  in  eclipses  of  the  moon.     Hence,  he  be- 
lieved that  those  rich  countries,   concerning  which  Marco 
Polo  had  inflamed  his  imagination,  might  be  found  by  sailing 
•yvest ; — and  by  a  false  estimate  of  their  situation,  he  supposed 
they  would  be  reached  by  sailing  one  half  the  real  distance. 
Columbus  believed  that  great  advantages  would  accrue  to 
the  nation  who  should  patronize  his  undertaking ;  and,  with 
Offers  his    filial  respect,  he  first  ofiered  his  services  to  his  native  state, 
services  Jo  j^^yt  j^g^^j  ^|^e  mortification  to  find  them  rejected.     He  then  ap- 
toverei^s.  plied  successively,  to  John  II.  of  Portugal; — through  his  brother 
Bartholomew,  to  Henry  VII.  of  England  ;— -and  personally  to 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  king  and  queen  of  Spain.     But  none  of 
these  monarchs  manifested,  at  first,  sufficient  reach  of  thought 
to  comprehend  his  schemes,  or  generosity  to  encourage  them. 
At  the  court  of  Spain,  he  had  spent  two  years  in  a  succes- 
sion of  mortifying  repulses  ;   and  at  length,  quite  discouraged, 
They       be  was  preparing  to  follow  his  brother  to  England,  when  he 
^fiSSla.   ^^^  recalled  by  a  mandate  from   Isabella.     Of  all  the  sove- 
reigns of  Europe,  this  woman  was  the  only  one  whom  he 
could  move  to  friendship,  and  confidence  in  the   success   of 
his  plan  ;  and  to  the  latest  day  of  his  life,  he  regarded  her  as 
the  first  and  best  of  his  friends. 

Not  knowing  how  to  raise  the  sum  of  money  requisite  for 
&ne  offers   defraying  ihe  expenses  of  the  voyage,  the  queen  determined 
her  jewe\s.  ^^  sacrifice  her  jewels  ;  but  this  was  prevented  by  the  extra- 
ordinary exertions  of  her  ministers. 

Columbus  made  his  first  voyage,  the  most  interesting  of  any 

Columbus    ^^  ^1^®  annals  of  navigation,  in  1492  ;   and  discovered  the  first 

discovers  the  found  land  of  the  New  World,  on  the  eleventh  of  October. 

New  World,  jj  ^^g  ^^^  Island  called  by  the  natives    Guanahani;  but  to 

which  he  piously  gave  the  name  of  San  Salvador,  the  Holy 

Saviour. 

In  his  third  voyage  he  discovered  the  continent  on  the  coast 

it  chains,    of   South   America,   fourteen  months   after  the   Cabots  had 

reached  its  shores  in  the  north-east.     By  the  ingratitude  of 


HIS    ILL-TREATMENT. DISCOVERIES     OF    OTHERS. 


11 


Ferdinand,  he  was,  like  a  malefactor,  sent  home  in  chains, 
from  the  world  which  his  genius  had  given  to  the  Spanish 
Monarchy.  Amcricus  Vcsputius,  an  ambitious  Florentine, 
having  lollowcd  him  in  the  career  of  discovery,  received 
from  the  public,  an  honor  which  belonged  to  Columbus,  that  of 
giving  a  name  to  the  continent.  In  1502,  the  great  discoverer 
made  his  fourth  and  last  voyage,  when  having  returned  to 
Spain,  his  vialroness  dead,  his  just  claims  disregarded,  and 
himself  neglected,  he  sank  beneath  his  sufferings,  and  died, 
in  the  69th  year  of  his  age  His  history  affords  one  proof 
among  many,  that  the  divine  plan  of  retributive  justice  is  not 
fully  carried  out  here,  but  is  to  be  completed  hereafter. 

Other  individuals  now  became  desirous  to  share  with  Co- 
lumbus the  honor,  and  other  nations  to  divide  with  Spain  the 
profit  of  the  great  discovery.  Many  attempts  were  made  to 
show  that  the  country  had  been  previously  discovered.  The 
Welsh  brought  forward  the  story  of  Madoc,  son  of  Owen 
Gwyneth,  who,  in  the  twelfth  century,  had  sailed  west,  dis- 
covered a  country,  and  afterwards  conducted  a  colony  thither, 
which  was  heard  of  no  more.  If  this  story  be  true,  there 
exists  no  proof  that  the  region  found  was  America. 

The  Norwegians  discovered  Iceland  and  Greenland,  during 
die  ninth  century,  and  there  established  colonies.  Biorn,  or 
Biron,  an  Icelander,  in  a  voyage  to  Greenland,  during  the 
eleventh  century,  was  driven  south-west  in  a  storm,  and  found 
a  region  which,  from  its  great  number  of  vines,  he  called 
Vineland  ;  but  here,  also,  proof  fails,  that  the  place  found  had 
its  locality  on  the  American  coast. 


PART 


Unjustly 

doprivf^fl  of 

thr;  iionur  of 

narniiig  th» 

country 

He  (lies  av 

Valladolid  lo 

Spnin. 

15C«. 


Twelfth 
century. 

Welsh 
story  of 

Madoc 


Norwegian 
claims  on 
account  of 
Vineland. 


CHAPTER  II. 


English  Discoveries — French. 


The   principal  European  nations  who  first  discovered  and 
colonized  our  country,  are, 
I.     The  English, 
^I.     The  French, 

III.  The  Spanish 

IV.  The  Dutch. 

It  was  under  the  reign  of  the  politic,  though  cruel  Henry  VII. 
of  England,  that  the  shores  of  the  United  States  were  discov- 
ered. The  names  of  the  Cabots,  should  be  remembered  by 
American  citizens,  with  that  of  Columbus  ;  for  they  equally 
form  connecting  links  between  our  history  and  that  of  Europe. 
John  Cabot,  a  native  of  Venice,  had,  with  his  family,  settled 
in  England.  He  and  his  renowned  son,  Sebastian,  were  men 
of  ^reat  learning,  enterprise,  and  ability.  By  a  commission 
of  Henry  VII.,  dated  March  5th,  1496,  (the  oldest  American 
3* 


John  and 
Sebastian 

Cabot 

1196 

Receive  a 

commission 

from  Henrv 

VII      ' 


12 


THE    CABOTS. VERRAZANI. CARTIER. 


PART  I. 
PERIOD  I 

CHAP.    II. 


State  paper  of  England,)  they  had  authority  lo  discover  any 
heathen  countries  not  before  known  to  Christians.  They,  de- 
fraying the  expenses  of  the  voyage,  were  to  possess  these 
countries  as  the  king's  lieutenants,  paying  him  one-fifth  of  all 


Cabots 
iscover  the 
Continent. 
1497. 


Sebastian 
Cabot  the 
supposed 
discoverer  of 
our  coast. 
149$. 


Francis  I. 
sends  out 
Verrazani. 

1524. 


His 

description 

•>f  the  natives 

on  the  coast 

of  North 

Carolina. 


Visits  the 
harbor  of 
Newport. 


1534. 

James 
Cartier 

discovers 
UiegulfofSt. 

Lawrerce. 


They  sailed  from  England  in  May,  1497,  and  in  June,  dis- 
covered the  Island  of  Newfoundland,  which  they  called 
Prima  Vista.  Steering  northward,  they  made  the  first  discov- 
ery of  the  continent,  on  the  coast  of  Labrador,  in  latitude 
about  55°.  On  their  return  they  pursued  a  southerly  direc- 
tion to  an  uncertain  distance. 

Sebastian  Cabot  sailed  a  second  time, — reached  Labrador 
in  latitude  58°,  thence  turning  southerly,  he  became  the  dis- 
coverer of  the  coast  of  the  United  States  ;  along  which,  he 
proceeded  as  far  as  to  the  southern  latitude  of  Maryland.  It 
is  much  to  be  regretted  that  so  few  particulars  remain  on 
record,  of  these  two  voyages,  which  form  so  fundamental  a 
portion  of  our  history. 

Smitten  by  the  common  passion  of  the  sovereigns  of  Europe, 
for  American  discovery,  Francis  I.  of  France  turned  aside 
alike  from  his  elegant  and  his  warlike  pursuits,  and  one  year 
before  his  defeat  at  Pavia,  he  found  for  his  service  another 
Italian  discoverer.  This  was  John  Verrazani,  a  Florentine, 
who  reached  the  continent  in  the  latitude  of  Wilmiui^^ton, 
North  Carolina.  He  then  sailed  fifty  leagues  south,  but  find- 
ing no  convenient  harbor,  he  returned  and  cast  anchor  ;  being 
the  first  European  who  had  afforded  the  astonished  natives 
the  spectacle  of  the  white  race.  They  were  received  with 
rude,  but  fearless  hospitality.  The  color  of  the  Indians,  the 
French  compared  to  that  of  the  Saracens.  They  looked  with 
wonder  upon  their  wild  costume,  made  of  the  skins  of  ani- 
mals, and  set  off  by  necklaces  of  coral  and  garlands  of  feath- 
ers. As  they  again  sailed  northward  along  the  coast,  theii 
senses  were  regaled  by  the  verdure  of  the  forests,  and  thfc 
perfume  of  the  flowers  which  they  scented  from  the  shores. 

At  a  fine  harbor,  supposed  to  be  that  of  Newport  in  Rhode 
Island,  Verrazani  remained  fifteen  days,  and  there  found  "the 
goodliest  people  he  had  seen."  From  thence  he  followed  the 
north-eastern  shore  of  New  England,  finding  the  inhabitants 
jealous  and  hostile.  From  the  peninsula  of  Nova  Scotia,  he 
returned  to  France,  and  wrote  a  narrative  of  his  voyage,  which 
is  the  earliest  original  account  of  the  coast  of  the  United  States, 

James  Cartier  was,  however,  the  mariner  to  whose  discov- 
eries the  French  trace  the  extensive  empire  which  they  pos- 
sessed in  North  America.  Cartier,  after  a  prosperous  voyage 
of  twenty  days,  made  Cape  Bonavista,  the  most  easterly  point 
of  Newfoundland.  Sailing  around  the  north-eastern  extrem- 
ity of  the  island,  he  encountered  severe  weather  and  icy  seas. 
Then  stretching  to  the  south-west,  he  discovered,  on  St 
Lawrence's  dav,  the  noble  gulf  which  bears  ihe  name  of  that 


ROBERVAL.    --COLIGNI    SENDS    RIBAULT. 


13 


saint.  In  July,  fee  entered  a  bay  which,  from  the  heats  of  the 
rapidly  changing  season,  he  named  Des  Chaleurs.  Coasting 
thence  to  the  small  bay  of  Gaspe,  he  there  landed  and  reared  a 
cross,  upon  which  he  hung  a  shield  bearing  the  arms  of  France, 
in  token  that  the  country  was  thenceforth  a  part  of  its  domain. 
Boisterous  weather  soon  obliged  him  to  return. 

In  1535,  he  sailed  on  a  second  voyage,  entered  the  gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence,  proceeded  up  the  river,  to  which  he  gave  the 
same  name,  and  anchored  at  an  island,  which,  abounding  in 
grapes,  he  named  Bacchus  Isle,  now  the  Isle  of  Orleans.  He 
continued  his  voyage  to  the  island  of  Hochelaga  ;  when  mount- 
ing on  an  eminence  where  his  spirit  was  gladdened  by  the 
actual  view  of  a  beautiful  region,  he  had  before  seen  in  vision, 
he  gave  it  the  name  of  Mont  Real.  It  was  then  the  resort  of 
native  tribes,  whose  language  proved  them  to  be  Hurons. 

He  returned  to  isle  Bacchus,  built  a  fort,  and  there  suffered 
not  only  the  unwonted  rigors  of  winter,  but  the  attacks  of  the 
scurvy,  a  terrible  malady,  to  which  many  of  his  company  fell 
victims.  He  returned  in  the  spring  with  dreary  accounts  of 
the  country,  which,  however,  he  named  New  France.  It  was 
also  called  Canada,  but  at  what  time,  or  whether  from  any 
significancy  in  the  w^ord,  is  not  known. 

France  now  possessed  a  country  in  the  New  World,  through 
which  flowed  a  river,  more  majestic  than  any  in  Europe.  To 
hold  sway  over  so  extensive  a  region,  though  a  wilderness, 
seemed  to  Francis  De  La  Roque,  of  Roberval,  more  honorable 
than  to  govern  a  small  and  cultured  domain  in  Picardy ;  and 
he  obtained  from  the  king  full  authority  to  rule,  as  viceroy,  the 
vast  territory  around  the  Bay  and  river  of  St.  Lawrence. 
Cartier  w^as  necessary  to  him,  and  received  the  title  of  chief 
pilot  and  captain-general  of  the  enterprise.  The  prisons  were 
thrown  open  to  find  persons  willing  to  become  their  colonists. 

Nothing  good  could  be  expected  from  such  beginnings. 
Cartier  sailed  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  built  a  fort  near  the  site 
of  Quebec,  and  there  spent  a  winter,  in  which  he  had  occa- 
sion to  hang  one  of  his  company,  put  several  in  irons,  and 
"  whip  divers — women  as  well  as  men."  In  the  spring  he 
took  them  back  to  France;  just  as  Roberval  arrived  with 
supplies  and  fresh  emigrants.  By  him,  however,  nothing 
permanent  was  effected  ;  and  after  a  year,  he  abandoned  his 
viceroyalty,  and,  cured,  at  least  for  a  time,  of  his  inordinate 
ambition,  he  returned  to  Picardy. 

France  was  now  approaching  the  terrible  crisis  of  the  mas- 
sacre of  St.  Bartholomew.  The  feeble  Charles  IX.  was  the 
nominal  sovereign,  while  his  perfidious  mother,  Catharine  De 
Medicis,  possessed  the  real  authority.  Coligni,  the  distin- 
guished high  admiral  of  the  realm,  was  the  friend  of  the 
Huguenots,  a  name  given  to  the  French  Protestants.  These 
were  objects  of  hatred  and  fear  to  the  monarchs  ;  and  when  a 
project  \f as  formed  bvthe  admiral  to  plant  with  them  a  colony  ic 


PART  I. 

PERIOD  I 

CHAP.    II. 


1535. 

Discovem 

St. 

Lawreaoe 

river. 


Builds  a  fort 

on  Isle 

Bacchus. 


The  lord  of 
Robei-val 

made 
viceroy  of 
N.  France. 


May, 
1541. 

Cartiei 
builds  a  fori 
near  the  sito 
of  Quebec. 


1562. 

Catharine  (to 
Medicis. 

Coligni. 


J4 


THE    HUGUENOTS  GO  FIRST    TO  S.  C,    THEN    TO    FLORIDA 


PART 


Coligni 
sends  out  a 

colon}^  of 

French 

Protestants 

under 

Ribault. 

1504. 


They 

are  carried  to 

England. 


1566. 

A  second 
French 
colony 
build  fort 
Carolina  in 
Florida. 


America,  it  found  ready  favor.  He  therefore  sent  out,  under 
the  command  of  John  RibauU,  distinguished  as  a  brave  and 
pious  protestant,two  ships  laden  w^ith  conscientious  Huguenots, 
many  of  whom  were  of  the  best  families  in  France.  They 
made  land  in  the  delightful  clime  of  St.  Augustine  ;  and  on  the 
first  of  May  discovered  the  St.  John,  which  they  called  the 
river  of  May.  Sailing  along  the  coast  north-easterly,  they  at 
length  fixed  on  Port  Royal  entrance.  There  they  built  a 
fort,  and  in  honor  of  the  king  of  France,  called  it  Carolina,  a 
name  which  is  preserved  in  the  appellation  of  two  of  our 
States.     Ribault  left  there  a  colony,  and  returned  to  Franco. 

The  commander  of  the  fort  provoked  a  mutiny,  and  was 
slain.  The  colonists  longed  for  home.  They  put  to  sea 
without  suitable  provisions,  and,  forlorn  and  famishing,  wore 
found  by  a  British  vessel  and  carried  to  England. 

The  persevering  Coligni  soon  after  sent  out  another  colony 
under  Laudonniere,  a  seaman  of  worth  and  intelligence.  Upon 
the  banks  of  the  river  of  May,  with  psalms  of  thanksgiv- 
ing, they  made  their  dwelling-place  and  erected  another  fort, 
called  also  Carolina.  The  next  year  Ribault  arrived  with 
vessels  containing  emigrants  and  supplies  ;  and  taking  the 
command,  the  colony  seemed  happily  planted. 


Knowledge 
diminishes 

the 
marvellous. 


Ponce  de 

liCon  seeks 

the  fountain 

of  life. 

1512 


discovers 
Floridtt. 


CHAPTER   III. 

Spanish  Discoveries — Adventures    and    Cruelties. — St.    Augustine,    the   first 
permanent  settlement  in  the  United  States. 

To  bring  together  the  discoveries  of  the  same  nation,  we 
go  back  lifty  years  in  the  order  of  time. 

It  is  impossible  at  this  day  to  conceive  how  much  our 
knowledge  of  the  geography  of  the  earth  has  diminished  the 
marvellous,  so  rife  in  the  times  of  which  we  treat.  Wonder- 
ful discoveries  were  continually  expected,  for  such  had  already 
been  made,  and  human  hope  is  ever  in  advance  of  reality. 

John  Ponce  de  Leon,  a  Spanish  soldier  who  had  once 
voyaged  with  Columbus,  had  received  an  impression  common 
in  those  times,  that  there  existed  in  the  New  World  a  foun- 
tain whose  waters  had  power  to  arrest  disease,  and  give 
immortal  youth.  The  aged  Ponce  set  forth  to  seek  it,  and  to 
conquer  a  kingdom.  He  searched  among  the  Bahama  Islands, 
then  steered  to  the  north-west.  On  Easter  Sunday,  called 
by  the  Spaniards  Pascua  Florida,  and  a  little  north  of  the 
latitude  of  St.  Augustine,  he  discovered  what  he  deemed- a 
land  of  flowers,  so  brilliant  were  the  forest  trees.  The  foun- 
tain of  life  was  not  there  ;  but  Ponce  took  possession  of  the 
country  in  the  name  of  the  Spanish  king,  and  called  it  Florida 


DE  AYLLON    NARVAEZ. DE  SOTO.  15 

The  part  of  South  Carolina  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Comba-     FART  I. 
bee  river,  was  soon  after  visited  by  a  Spaniard,  Vasquez  De 
Ayllon.     The  country  was  named  Chicora,  and  the  river,  the 
Jordan.     De  Ayllon  had  two  ships.     He  invited  the  natives 
to  visit  them,  and  while  the  unsuspecting  throngs  stood  upon 
his  deck,  he  hoisted  sail,  and  in  a  moment  they  became  mis-      1520. 
erable   slaves,   torn    from   their   families,  and  condemned  to  Wickedncsj 
ceaseless  toil.     De  Ayllon  obtained  afterwards  a  commission   *^e  Ayllon* 
to  conquer  the  country,  but  the  hostility  of  the  natives  could 
not  be  overcome,  and  numbers  of  Spaniards  perished  in  the 
fruitless  attempt. 

By  an  unsuccessful    effort  oi    the    Spaniards   under  the      152§. 
adventurer  Narvaez,   to  conquer  Florida,   and  the  adjoining 
country,  an  army  of  three  hundred  Spanish,  partly  mounted  Unsuccess 
cavaliers,    wasted  away  till  but  four  or  five  returned ;  and   *^Narvaez.* 
those  not  until  after  incredible  wanderings  and  hardships. 

They  however  insisted  that  Florida  was  the  richest  country 
in  the  world  ;  and  Ferdinand  De  Soto,  already  famous  as  the  De  Soto  aids 
companion  of  Pizarro,  the  cruel  conqueror  of  Peru,  and  am-       ^\e^s°t   f 
bitious  to  be  in  conquest  equally  great,  listening  to  the  marvel-        pem. 
lous    tales    of  the   wanderers,  obtained    a  commission    from 
Charles  V.  to  conquer  Florida  at  his  own  cost.     His  reputa- 
tion gave  him  followers;  and  with  high  hopes  he  sailed  to  Cuba, 
of  which  he  had  been  made  orovernor  ;  and  there   addin^^  to      1539. 

T  1       ■ 

his  armament,  he  landed  in  1539  at  Espirito  Santo  in  Florida,  t.,^^""^  "?. 

with   SIX  hundred   soldiers;  an  army  greater  and  better  ap-     goo  men 

pointed  than  that  with  which  Cortez  conquered  Mexico.     He 

expected  to  find  mines  and  cities  of  gold  ;  and  being  from  time 

to  time  deluded  by  the   natives,  he   pursued  these  shadows, 

which  ever  lied  as  he  approached.     He  went  north,  crossed 

the  Alleghany  moimtains,  then  marched  southerly  to  Mobile, 

where  he  fought  a  bloody  battle   with  the  people  of  a  walled 

city  containing  several  thousand  inhabitants.     At  Pensacola 

he  met  ships  from  Cuba,  with  supplies  for  his  exhausted  army ; 

and  too  proud  to  be  wise,  he  still  pursued  a  phantom,  rather 

than  retrace  a  false  step. 

The  hope  of  the  precious  metals  still  lured  him  on,  and  he   April  25th, 
now  bent  his  course  to  the  north-west,  and  in  latitude  34°  dis-     ■^,^J*-^-  ^ 
covered  the  majestic  Mississippi.     He  continued  west  until   "^^ihe 
he  reached  the  Wachita,  when,  becoming  at  length  dispirited,  Mississ!}>pi. 
he  turned  homewards  his  course,  descended  that  stream  to  its 
junction  with   the   Red  river,  and  thence  down  its  current ; 
and  where  the  Red  mingles  its  waters  Avith  the  Mississippi,     i^jo' 
there  he  died  ;  and  his  body,  inclosed  in  a  hollow  oak,  was     j^g  jies! 
committed  to  the  broad  stream,  from  the  discovery  of  which 
he  derives  his  unenviable  fame. 

The  officer  who  succeeded  him  in  command,  conducted  Rgji^nant  of 
the  poor  remains  of  the  army  down  the  Mississippi,  seek- his  army  go 
ing  a  place,  where,  no  longer  perpetually  watched  by  con-  to  Cuba. 


16 


HUGUENOTS    MASSACRED ST.    AUGUSTINE    FOUNDED. 


PART  I. 


Sept.  8, 
1565. 

He  founds 

St. 
AuKustine. 


Sept.  21, 
He  destroys 
fort  Carolina 

and  900 
Husuenots. 


August  22, 
1567. 

The 

massacre 

avenged  by 

the  chevaher 

(rouges. 


First  colony 

within  the 

U  S. 


cealed  savage  foes,  he  might  once  more  "  sleep  out  his  full 
sleep." 

When  the  news  reached  Spain  that  Florida  had  been  coloni- 
zed by  French  Huguenots,  Philip  II.  found  in  Pedro  Melendez 
de  Aviles  a  fit  agent  of  his  own  bigoted  spirit ;  and  he  gave  him 
the  double  commission  to  take  possession  of  that  country,  and 
to  destroy  the  heretics.  More  than  five  hundred  persons 
accompanied  Melendez,  among  whom  were  men  with  their 
families,  soldiers,  mechanics  and  priests.  Coming  upon  the 
coast  south  of  the  settlement,  ho  discovered  the  harbor  of  St. 
Augustine  on  the  day  of  that  saint ;  and  here  was  now  laid 
the  foundation  of  the  city  of  that  name,  the  oldest  by  more 
than  forty  years,  of  any  within  the  limits  of  our  republic. 

The  French  had  received  from  Melendez  the  terrible  notice, 
that  he  had  come  to  destroy  every  person  who  was  not  a 
catholic.  Ribault,  supposing  that  the  Spaniards  would  make 
the  attack  by  sea,  embarked  to  meet  them.  A  tremen 
dous  storm  drove  him  from  his  track,  and  shipwrecked  his 
whole  fleet.  The  Spaniards,  meantime,  crossed  the  forest 
and  attacked  by  land.  Unprepared  and  surprised,  the  defense- 
less fort  soon  surrendered ;  when  cruel  bigotry  performed  her 
murderous  work  upon  all, — without  distinction  of  age  or  sex. 
The  shipwrecked  mariners  were  afterwards  found,  feeble  and 
exhausted  upon  the  shore.  Melendez  invited  them  to  come 
to  him  and  trust  to  his  compassion  ;  they  came — and  he  slew 
them  ' 

When  the  news  of  this  massacre  crossed  the  Atlantic,  a  cry 
of  vengeance  reached  the  French  monarch,  for  the  blood  of 
nine  hundred  of  his  slaughtered  subjects,  but  it  was  unheeded. 
That  a  government  which  seven  years  afterwards  executed, 
on  St.  Bartholomew's  day,  the  most  horrible  of  massacres, 
should  have  omitted  to  notice  this  base  destruction  of  those 
whom  they  wished  to  annihilate,  is  not  surprising.  Yet  so 
deep  was  the  feeling  among  the  people  of  France,  that  three 
years  afterwards,  individuals  headed  by  the  gallant  chevalier 
Gouges,  made  a  descent  on  the  settlement  of  Florida,  and  put 
to  death  two  hundred  Spaniards. 

The  Spanish  colony  was  thus  checked,  but  it  was  not 
destroyed  ;  and  it  proved  to  be  the  first  permanent  settlement 
made  by  Europeans  upon  the  shores  of  our  republic. 


PERIOD    II. 


F  ROM 
riTSXT   GRANTED  BY  QUEEN  ELIZ-  \  1578,  I  ABETH    TO    SIR    H.     GILBBBT 


LANDING   OF   THE   PILGRIMS  |  1620.  |  AT     NEW     PLYMOUTH. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Unsuccessful  attempts  of  Gilbert,  Raleigh,  and  others. 

The  history  of  English  colonization  in  America  begin.*, 
with  two  remarkable  men,  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  and  hie 
brother-in-law,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  The  English  monarchy 
claiming  the  country,  in  virtue  of  the  discovery  of  Sebastian 
Cabot,  Queen  Elizabeth,  the  reigning  sovereign,  gave  to  Six 
Humphrey  Gilbert,  in  1578,  by  an  open  or  patent  letter,  "all 
such  remote,  heathen,  and  barbarous  lands,"  as  he  should 
discover  in  North  America,  and  of  which  he  should  take  pos- 
session ;  these  lands  not  having  been  before  occupied  by  any 
other  Christian  power.  She  vested  in  him  and  his  heirs  the 
full  right  of  property  in  the  soil,  and  also  the  complete  right 
of  jurisdiction  over  those  countries,  and  the  seas  adjoining 
them  ;  declaring  that  all  who  should  settle  there  should  enjoy 
the  privileges  of  free  citizens  and  natives  of  England :  and 
finally,  she  prohibited  all  persons  from  attempting  to  settle 
within  two  hundred  leagues  of  any  place  which  Sir  Humphrey, 
or  his  associates,  should  have  occupied  for  the  space  of  six 
years.  For  these  privileges,  the  patentee  was  to  acknowledge 
the  authority  of  the  crown  of  England  as  supreme;  and  pay 
to  the  sovereign  one  fifth  of  all  the  gold  and  silver  which 
should  be  obtained  from  these  countries. 

In  the  first  attempt  made  by  Gilbert  to  plant  a  colony,  he 
put  to  sea,  but  was  obliged  to  return.  In  the  second,  he  reached 
St.  John's,  in  Newfoundland,  where  he  took  possession  of  the 
country  for  his  sovereign,  by  raising  a  pillar  inscribed  with  the 
British  arms.  He  next  sought  means  to  secure  to  the  Eng- 
lish the  fisheries  on  the  banks,  which  were  now  so  valuable 
as  to  be  contested  by  diflierent  European  nations.  From 
thence  he  sailed  south-wes-terly,  till  he  reached  the  latitude  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec.  Here  the  largest  of  his  three 
vessels  struck,  and  all  her  crew  perished.  Gilbert  now  find- 
ing it  impossible  to  proceed,  set  his  face  towards  England, 
keeping  in  the  smallest  of  his  remaining  vessels,  a  barge  of 
only  ten  tons  ;  for  his  generous  heart  refused  to  put  any  to  a 


FART  1. 


1578. 

Queen 
i^Iizabeth'* 
patent  to 

Gilbert 


1579 

to 
15§3. 

Gilbert's  tvrt 
voyages. 


18 


GILBERT  S    DEATH. RALEIGH  S    EFFO^KTS. 


PART  I. 

PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.    I 


15§4. 

Raleigh 

obtains  a 

patent. 


H?  sends 

Amidas   and 

Barlow, 


Beautiful 
example  of 

native 
hospitality. 


Queen 

Elizabeth 

names 

Virginia. 


^  1585. 

Seven  ships 

under 

Grenville. 


peril  he  was  himself  unwilling  to  share.  The  passage  was 
stormy,  but  his  pious  mind  found  comfort  in  the  reflection 
which,  as  he  sat  reading  in  the  stern  of  his  barge,  he  uttered  to 
his  companions  in  the  larger  vessel;  "we  are  as  near  heaven 
at  sea,  as  on  land  ;"  and  he  might  have  added  in  the  words  of 
that  book  which  was  doubtless  in  his  hand,  "Ye  shall  seek 
me  in  the  morning  but  I  shall  not  be ;"  for  in  the  night  the 
lights  of  his  little  bark  suddenly  vanished,  and  he  was  heard 
of  no  more. 

The  bold  and  energetic  Raleigh,  who  had  in  France  been 
a  pupil  of  Coligni,  pursued  with  unabated  ardor  the  great 
career,  in  which  Gilbert  had  wasted  his  fortune,  and  lost  his 
life.  From  his  courtly  demeanor,  and  brilliant  genius,  Sir 
Walter  had  made  himself  a  favorite  with  the  stately  Queen ; 
and  he  readily  gained  from  her  a  patent,  with  privileges  no 
less  ample  than  those  which  she  had  granted  to  his  brother. 

Raleigh  had  learned  from  the  unsuccessful  emigrants  of 
France,  the  superior  mildness  and  fertility  of  the  south ;  and 
thither  he  dispatched  two  vessels,  under  Philip  Amidas,  and 
Arthur  Barlow.  They  approached  the  shore  at  Pamlico 
Sound,  and  according  to  their  florid  descriptions,  were  regaled 
with  "  the  delicate  smell  of  the  flowers  "  far  off  at  sea ;  and 
on  landing  in  Ocracok  or  Roanoke  Island,  they  found  the 
grapes  so  abundant  on  the  coast,  that  the  surges  of  the  sea 
often  washed  over  them. 

The  natives  were  as  kindly  as  their  climate  and  soil.  The 
king's  son,  Granganimo,  came  with  fifty  of  his  people,  and  re- 
ceived them  with  distinguished  courtesy.  He  invited  them  to 
his  dwelling  at  twenty  miles  distance  on  the  coast;  but  when 
they  went,  it  chanced  he  was  not  at  home.  His  wife  came  out 
to  meet  them,  and  with  a  hospitality  which  no  instanc  of 
civilized  life  can  surpass,  she  ordered  some  of  her  peo  to 
draw  their  boat  ashore  to  preserve  it,  and  others  to  bring  the 
Encrlishmen  on  their  backs  throusfh  the  surf.  Then  conduct- 
ing  her  guests  to  her  home,  she  had  a  fire  kindled,  that  they 
might  dry  their  clothes,  which  were  wet  with  rain  ;  while  in 
another  room  she  spread  a  plentiful  repast  of  fish,  venison, 
esculent  roots,  melons  and  fruits.  As  they  were  eating,  sev- 
eral Indians,  armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  entered.  She 
chid  them,  and  sent  them  away,  lest  her  visiters  should  suffer 
from  alarm. 

When  the  navigators  returned  to  England,  and  made  to 
Elizabeth  their  report  of  this  delightful  region,  she  was  indu- 
ced to  give  it  the  name  of  Virginia,  as  a  memorial  that  th© 
happy  discovery  had  been  made  under  a  Virgin  queen.  The 
name  soon  became  general  throughout  the  coast. 

Raleigh  now  found  many  adventurers  ready  to  embark  in 
his  project;  and  in  1585,  he  fitted  out  a  squadron  of  seven 
ships,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Richard  GreuAdlle,  who  fol- 
lowed the  course  of  Amidas  and  Barlow,  and  touched  at  the 


RALEIGH'S    ATTEMPTS    UNSUCCESSFUL.  19 

same  islands  ;  in  one  of  which  he  cruelly  burned  a  village,  PART  I. 
because  he  suspected  an  Indian  of  having  stolen  a  silver  cup.  teriod  n 
He  then  left  a  colony  under  Captain  Lane,  at  the  island  of  chap,  i 
Roanoke.  The  colonists,  reduced  to  great  distress  for  want  v-^-v-^^ 
of  provisions,  the  next  year  were  carried  to  England  by  Sir  Colony  at 
Francis  Drake,  who  was  returning  from  a  successful  expedi-  unjer^Lane 
lion  against  the  Spaniards  in  the  West  Indie? 

Soon  after  their  departure,  they  were  sought  by  a  ship 
which  had  been  sent  by  Raleigh  with  supplies,  and  afterwards 
by  Sir  Richard  Grenville.  He  not  finding  them,  most  un- 
wisely left  fifteen  of  his  crew  to  keep  possession  of  the  island.  Fifteen  men 
and  then  returned  to  England.  Of  this  small  lumiber  nothing  ^"s^- 
was  afterwards  heard.  Probably  they  were  destroyed  by  the 
injured  and  revengeful  savages. 

In  1587,  Raleigh  again  sent  out  a  colony  of  one  hundred  1587. 
and  fifty  adventurers  to  the  same  island,  under  Captain  White,  2d  Roanoke 
who,  remaining  but  one  month,  returned  to  England  to  solicit  ^^  ^''^' 
supplies  for  the  colony.  Before  he  departed,  his  daughter,  yirginin 
Mrs.  Dare,  gave  birth  to  a  female  infant,  the  first  child  of  Eng-  D:ire°  fiisi 
lish  parents  born  in  America.  The  infant  was  baptized  by  the  ^^'i^-'y^ 
name  of  Virginia. 

The  attempts  made  by  Raleigh  for  the  relief  of  this  colony 
were  unremitted,  but  unsuccessful ;  for  at  this  time  the  Span- 
ish Armada  threatened  to  overwhelm  England  itself;  and 
three  years  elapsed  before  he  could  procure  the  means  of 
sending  Captain  White  to  their  relief.  It  was  then  too  late.  Raleigh's 
Not  one  remained ;  nor,  though  repeatedly  sought,  has  any  lost  colony 
clue  to  their  fate  ever  been  found.  Appalled  and  in  danger  of 
perishing  himself.  White  returned,  without  leaving  one  Eng- 
lish settler  on  the  shores  of  America. 

In  consequence  of  the  unfortunate  issue  of  these  attempts,      15§9. 
Raleigh  was  easily  induced  to  assign  his  right  of  property,      Raleigh 
together  with   all  the  privileges  contained  in  his  patent,  to  a  ^^j^^"^^^J^  {j]J 
company  of  merchants  in  London.     This  company,  satisfied      London 
with  a  paltry  trafiic  with  the  natives,  made  no  attempt  to  take    Company. 
possession  of  the  country. 

In  1602,  Bartholomew  Gosnold,  with  thirty-two  men,  sailed     1602. 
from  Falmouth,  and  steering  due  west,  he  was  the  first  Eng-     Gosnold 
lish  commander  who  reached  the  country  by  this  shorter  and    "^^^J^^^^*® 
more  direct  course.     He  approached  the  coast  near  Nahant,     England 
biii  failing  to  find  a  good  harbor,  he  bore  to  the  south,  discov-      coast. 
ered  and  gave  name  to  Cape  Cod,  which  was  the  first  ground 
in  New  England  ever  trod  by  Englishmen.     Thence  sailing 
round  Nantucket,  he  discovered  and  named  Martha's  Vineyard, 
entered  Buzzard's  Bay,  and  finding  a  fertile  island,  he  gave  it, 
in  honor  of  the  Queen,  the  name   of  Elizabeth.     Near  its 
western  shore,  on  an  islet  in  a  lake,  he  built  a  fort  and  store- 
house, and  prepared  to  leave  there  a  small  colony.     But  the     jjativcj 
natives  became  hostile,  and  his  intended   settlers   would  not      hostio 
remain.     Having  freighted  his  vessel,  mostly  with  sassafras 


'^0 


PLYMOUTH  AND  LONDON  COMPANIES. 


PART  I. 


1603. 

Henr>'  IV. 

*f  France 

grants 

Acadia. 


De  Monts 

accompa- 
nied by 

Champlain 
founds  Port 
Royal,  i.  e. 

Annapolis. 


1606. 

From  88° 
to  41°  the 
same  grant- 
ed to  both : 
but  wher- 
ever one 
made  a  set- 
tlement, the 
other  might 
not  settle 
within  100 
miles. 


The 
Plymouth 
company 
attempt  a 
•ettlemenc  at 
Kennebec. 


root,  then  much  esteemed  in  pharmacy,  he  hoisted  sail  and 
reached  England  with  all  his  men,  after  a  passage  of  five 
weeks,  the  shortest  then  known. 

France,  wasted  by  the  wars  of  the  league,  had  now  for  fifty 
years  neglected  her  claims  to  territory  on  the  western  conti- 
nent. At  length  the  commanding  genius  of  Henry  IV.  awoke 
to  feel  the  importance  of  the  subject;  and  in  1603,  by  letters 
patent,  he  granted  to  the  Sieur  de  Monts,  the  country  called 
Acadia,  extending  from  the  40th  to  the  46th  degree  of  North 
latitude,  with  the  sole  jurisdiction.  The  next  year  De  Monts 
sailed  from  France,  taking  Samuel  Champlain  as  his  pilot ; 
and  having  doubled  Cape  Sable,  he  entered  an  extensive  bay, 
which  they  called  La  Baye  Francaise,  (Bay  of  Fundy,)  and  on 
whose  eastern  side,  he  founded  Port  Royal.  Proceeding  to  ex- 
amine this  bay,  they  discovered  and  named  the  rivers  St.  John 
and  St.  Croix,  and  sailed  along  the  coast  as  far  as  Cape  Cod. 

The  English  becoming  alarmed  at  this  encroachment  on 
territory  which  they  claimed,  James  L,  the  successor  of  Eliz- 
abeth, divided  that  portion  of  North  America  which  lies  be- 
tween the  34th  and  45th  degree  of  North  latitude  into  two 
districts  nearly  equal ;  granting  the  southern  part,  or  first 
colony  of  Virginia,  included  between  the  34th  and  41st  degrees, 
to  a  company  of  merchants  called  the  London  Company  ;  and 
the  northern  or  second  colony  of  Virginia,  included  between 
the  38th  and  45th  degrees,  to  another  corporation,  called  the 
Plymouth  Company.  The  king  authorized  these  companies 
to  make  settlements,  provided  they  were  not  within  one  hun- 
dred miles  of  each  other,  and  vested  them  with  a  right  of  land 
along  the  coast,  fifty  miles  each  way,  and  extending  into  the 
interior  one  hundred  miles  from  the  place  of  settlement. 

The  London  and  Plymouth  companies  prepared  to  take 
possession  of  the  lands  which  had  been  assigned  to  them. 
The  first  vessel  fitted  out  by  the  Plymouth  Company,  in  1606, 
was  taken  by  the  Spaniards.  In  1607  they  sent  out  Admiral 
Raleigh  Gilbert,  with  a  hundred  planters,  under  Capt.  George 
Popham,  their  president.  They  landed  at  the  mouth  of  Ken- 
nebec river,  where  they  built  and  fortified  a  storehouse  ;  but 
in  two  or  three  months,  the  ships  returned  to  England,  leaving 
only  forty-five  men.  The  sufl'erings  of  the  Sagadahoc  colony, 
under  Capt.  Popham,  were,  through  the  winter,  very  severe. 
They  lost  their  storehouse  by  fire,  and  their  president  by 
death,  and  the  next  year  returned  to  England,  considering  the 
country  "  a  cold,  barren,  mountainous  desert,"  where,  in  the 
quaint  language  of  that  period,  they  declared,  "  they  found 
nothing  but  extreme  extremities."  This  was  the  first  and 
only  attempt  to  settle  this  part  of  the  country,  till  1620. 

Thus,  after  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  ten  years,  from  the 
time  that  Cabot  discovered  North  America,  and  twenty-four 
years  after  Raleigh  planted  the  first  colony,  there  was  not,  io 
1607,  an  Englishman  settled  in  America. 


FIRST    EFFECTUAL    ENGLISH    SETTLEMENT,  21 

CHAPTER  II. 

First  settlement  of  Virginia. 

Is  1G07,  the  London  Company  sent  out  Captain  Christopher 
Newport,  with  three  ships  and  one  hundred  and  five  men, 
among  whom  was  the  navigator,  Gosnold,  and  Captain  John 
Smith,  the  Father  of  Virginia.  He  was  already  celebrated 
for  his  daring  and  chivalrous  exploits,  to  which  he  was  led  by 
the  love  of  adventure,  and  of  glory;  and  by  a  desire  to  serve  1607 
both  God  and  man.  In  boyhood  he  fought  for  freedom  in 
Holland ;  and  thence  travelled  over  France,  Egypt  and  Italy. 
In  Hungary  he  bravely  met  the  Turks  in  battle,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  command.  In  presence  of  the  ladies  particularly,  smitlT 
he  ever  showed  himself  a  brave  knight,  and  was  often  con- 
queror in  single  combats.  He  was  repeatedly  taken  prisoner, 
and  already,  both  in  Turkey  and  in  Russia,  had  been  rescued 
from  destruction  by  female  benevolence. 

The  fleet    sailed  by  the   West  Indies,  and  being  driven, 
north  of  Roanoke  by  a  storm,  an  accidental  discovery  was  chesapeaKe 
thus  made  of  the  entrance  of  the  Chesapeake  bay,  the  boun-  bay  discor. 
daries  of  which  were  now  named  Capes  Charles  and  Henry,       ^^^ 
in  honor  of  the  king's  sons. 

Stretching  at  once  into  the  noble  bay,  the  adventurers  sailed 
up  the  Powhatan  river,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  the 
James,  and  upon  its  banks,  fifty  miles  from  its  mouth,  they  fixed  Settlement 
their  residence,  and  raised  a  few  huts.     The  place  was  called  ^\  ^^^ 
Jamestown,  an  appellation  which  it  still  retains  ;  and  though       ^3^^^ 
it  has  never  risen  to  wealth  or  distinction,  and  is  now  only  dis- 
cernible by  a  few  falling  ruins,  still  it  was  the  first  of  the  Eng- 
lish settlements  in  the  New  World  ;  and  hence  has  all  the 
honor  among  the  American  states,  that  antiquity  can  confer. 

The  colony  was  under  charter  government,  the  instru- 
ment having  been  drawn  up  by  the  pedantic  James  himself. 
It  did  not  give  to  the  proprietors  the  power  to  govern  the  Bad  fonn  d 
people  who  should  settle  the  country,  but  the  right  of  juris-  government, 
diction  was  reserved  to  the  king.  To  the  colonies  no  assur- 
ance was  given,  but  the  vague  promise,  that  they  should 
continue  to  be  Englishmen.  Religion  was  established  by  law, 
according  to  the  forms  and  doctrines  of  the  church  of  England. 
There  was,  for  the  present,  no  division  of  property ;  and,  for 
five  years,  all  labor  was  to  be  for  the  benefit  of  the  joint  stock. 

The  government  was  to  be  administered  by  a  c  nmcil  nom- 
inated by  the  king,  but  to  reside  in  the   colony.     As  soon  as 

the  emigrants  landed,  the  king's  commission,  according  to  his    ^mgfieM 
,.         .   ^  11°  .,  •       1°       1  President 

direction,  was  -pened;    the   council  was   organized,   and  a 

governor   elected.      They   chose    Edward   Wingfield,   their 
4 


22 


CAPTAIN    SMITH  S    MENTAL    RESOURCES 


PART    L 


1607. 

Succeeded 
by  Smith. 


Aug.  22. 
Death  of 
Gosnold. 


Smith  sets 
ant  to  ex- 
plore. 


16©7-§. 

IPowhatan. 


Indi&ns  cap- 
ture Smith. 


worst  man  ;  while  Smith,  their  best,  was,  from  envy,  to  be  ex- 
cluded even  from  a  seat  in  the  council,  although  he  was  one 
whom  the  king  had  nominated.  Gathering  misfortunes  how- 
ever, and  the  kindly  influence  of  their  good  clergyman,  Robert 
Hunt,  reversed  this  sentence;  and  made  the  colonists  glad  to 
submit  to  the  man,  whose  talents  and  zeal  for  the  settlement 
marked  him  as  their  natural  head. 

The  neighboring  Indians  soon  annoyed  .he  colony  by  their 
petty  hostilities.  Their  provisions  failed,  und  the  scanty  al- 
lowance to  which  they  were  reduced,  as  well  as  the  influence 
of  a  climate  to  which  they  were  not  accustomed,  gave  rise 
to  disease,  so  that  the  number  of  the  colonists  rapidly  dimin- 
ished. Sometimes  four  or  five  died  in  a  day,  and  there  was 
not  enough  of  the  well  to  give  decent  burial  to  the  dead. 
Fifty  perished  before  winter,  among  whom  was  the  excellent 
Gosnold.  The  energy  and  cheerful  activity  of  Smith  threw 
the  only  light  which  glanced  upon  the  dark  picture.  He  so 
managed  as  to  awe  the  natives,  and  at  the  same  time  to  con- 
ciliate and  obtain  from  them  supplies  of  food;  Avhile,  among  the 
emigrants,  he  encouraged  the  faint-hearted,  and  put  in  fear  the 
rebellious. 

Winter  at  length  came,  and  with  it,  relief  from  diseases  of 
climate,  and  plentiful  supplies  of  wild  fowl  and  game. 

The  London  company,  with  an  ignorance  of  geogra-phy, 
which  even  then  was  surprising,  had  given  directions  that 
some  of  the  streams  flowing  from  the  north-west  should  be 
followed  up  in  order  to  find  a  passage  to  the  South  Sea. 
Smith  was  superior  to  the  company  in  intelligence,  but  he 
knew  the  duties  of  a  subordinate,  and  he  therefore  prepared 
to  explore  the  head  waters  of  the  Chickahominy,  which  an- 
swered as  nearly  as  possible  to  their  description. 

Powhatan,  the  chief  or  emperor  of  the  savage  confederacy 
inhabitinsf  or  wandering  about  the  waters  of  the  James  and  its 
tributaries,  had  been  visited  by  the  colonists  early  after  their 
arrival.  His  imperial  residence  consisted  of  twelve  wig- 
wams near  the  site  of  Richmond.  Next  to  him  in  power  was 
his  brother,  Opechacanough,  who  was  chief  of  the  Pamunkies 
on  the  Chickahominy.  Smith  embarked  in  a  barge  on  that 
river,  and  when  he  had  ascended  as  far  as  possible  in  this 
manner,  he  left  it,  with  the  order  that  his  party  should  not 
land  till  his  return ;  and  with  four  attendants  he  pursued 
his  objects  twenty  miles  farther  up  the  river.  The  Indians 
had  watched  his  movements,  and  when  the  men  left  in  the 
barge,  disobeying  his  order,  had  landed,  they  fell  upon 
them,  took  them  prisoners,  and  obliged  them  to  discover  the 
track  of  their  captain.  He,  in  pursuit  of  game,  soon  found 
himself  hunted  by  swarms  of  savage  archers.  In  this  ex- 
tremity he  bound  to  his  breast,  as  a  shield,  an  Indian  youth 
who  was  with  him ;  and  then  shot  three  Indians,  wounded 
others,  and  kept  the  whole  party  at  bay.     Attempting  to  re- 


INDIAN    CHARACTER    AND    CUSTOMS. POCIIAHONTAS. 


23 


His  treat- 
ment by  the 
savages. 


treat  to  his  canoe  while  yet  watching  his  foe,  suddenly  he 
sank  to  his  middie  in  an  oozy  creek.  The  savages  dared  not 
even  then  touch  him,  till,  perishing  with  cold,  he  laid  down 
his  arms  and  surrendered. 

They  carried  him  to  a  fire,  near  which  some  of  his  men  had 
been  killed.  By  his  Indian  guide  and  interpreter  he  then  called 
for  their  chief.  Opechacanough  appeared,  and  Smith  politely 
presented  to  him  his  pocket  compass.  The  Indians  were  con- 
founded at  the  motions  of  the  tly-needle,  which,  on  account 
oi^  the  mysterious  glass,  they  could  see,  but  could  not  touch. 
He  told  them  wonderful  stories  of  its  virtues,  and  proceeded, 
as  he  himself  relates,  "  by  the  globe-like  figure  of  that  jewel,  His  addrea* 
to  instruct  them,  concerning  the  roundness  of  the  earth,  and 
how  the  sun  did  chase  the  night  round  about  the  world  con- 
tinually," by  which  his  auditors  were  filled  with  profound 
amazement. 

Their  minds  seemed  to  labor  with  the  greatness  of  the 
tliouglu,  that  a  being  so  superior  was  in  their  power  ;  and 
they  vacillated  in  their  opinion  whether  or  not  it  was  best  to 
put  him  to  death  ;  and  as  often  changed  their  conduct.  They 
took  him  to  Powhatan,  thence  led  him  round  from  one  wonder- 
ing tribe  to  another,  until,  at  the  residence  of  Opechacanough, 
these  superstitious  dwellers  of  the  forest  employed  their  sor- 
cerers or  powows  for  three  days  to  practice  incantations,  in 
order  to  learn,  from  the  invisible  world,  whether  their  pris- 
oner wished  them  Avell  or  ill. 

The  decision  of  his  fate  was  finally  referred  to  Powhatan. 
At  his  residence  that  majestic  savage  received  him  in  state, 
but  he  condemned  him  to  die.  His  warriors  were  around, 
and  his  women  sitting  near  him.  All  were  painted  with 
gaudy  colors  and  adorned  with  feathers.  The  queen  of  Apa- 
mattuck  brought  the  captive  water  to  wash  in,  and  another 
Indian  queen,  feathers  to  serve  as  a  towel.  Others  gave 
him  food,  as  for  a  feast.  Then  two  stones  were  brought  and 
laid  before  the  chief,  and  two  savages  stood  with  uplifted 
war-clubs.  Smith  was  dragged  to  the  spot,  and  his  head 
{)Iaced  upon  the  stones.  Pochahontas,  his  daughter,  of  ten- 
der age,  rushed  forward,  and  with  cries  and  tears  begged  of 
Powhatan  to  spare  him.  He  refused.  The  devoted  girl  then 
ran  and  knelt  beside  the  victim,  and  laid  her  young  head  upon 
his.     Then  the  stern  savage  relented,  and  Smith  was  saved. 

Smith  having  now  learned  much  of  the  Indians,  their  coun- 
try, modes  of  warfare,  dispositions  and  language,-  and  having 
also  by  his  great  address  and  honorable  bearing,  won  their 
aiTection  and  confidence,  his  captivity  proved,  under  divine 
Providence,  a  means  of  establishing  the  colony.  During 
his  absence,  however,  there  had  been  disorder  and  misrule  ; 
and  when  he  returned  to  Jamestown  he  found  only  thirty- 
eight  persons  remaining.  The  spirits  of  the  people  were 
broken;  and  all,  filled  with  despondency,   were  anxious  to 


His  rescue 
by  Pocha- 
hontas 


160§ 


State  of  th« 
colon? 


24  COLONY  DISCOURAGED. LON.  CO.  SEND  OUT  A  SQUADRON. 

PART  1.    leave  a  coimtry  so  inhospitable.     He  prevailed  upon  them, 
PERIOD  II.  however,  partly  by  force  and  partly  by  persuasion,  to  remain 
CHAP.  III.    till   the   next  year,     when  Newport  arriving  from   England 
v--^-v-^*^  M'ith  some  supplies  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  emigrants 
hope  again  revived. 
160§.         During  the  year  1608,  Captain  Smith  explored  the  Chesa 
peake  bay  to  its  head,  discovered  its  fine  streams,  and  gained 
Smith  ex-   new  information  concerning  the  native  productions  and  in- 
plores  the    habitants  of  the  country.     In  an  excursion  which  he  made  up 
Chesapeake^  the  Rappahannock,  he  had  a  skirmish  with  the  Mannahoacks, 
a  tribe  descended  from  the  DelaAvares,  and  took  prisoner  a 
brother  of  one  of  their  chiefs.     From  him  he  first  heard  of 
the  Iroquois,  who,  the  Indian  told   him,  "  dwelt  on   a  great 
water  to  the  north,  had  a  great  many  boats,  and  so  many  men 
that  they  waged  war  with  all  the  rest  of  the  world." 

Immediately  on  his  return  he  was  chosen  j)resident  of  the 
council.  He  found  the  recent  emigrants  "  goldsmiths  and 
gentlemen."  But  he  promptly  gave  them  their  choice,  to 
His  decision  labor  for  six  hours  a  day,  or  have  nothing  to  eat.  He  repre- 
WIS  ora.  ggj^|gj_|  jQ  ^Y^Q  council  in  England  that  they  should  send  labor- 
ers ;  that  the  search  of  gold  should  be  abandoned,  and  that 
"  nothing  should  be  expected  except  by  labor." 


CHAPTER   III. 

Early  Settlement  of  Virginia — continued. 


The  London  Company  had  gradually  become  enlarged  by 
accessions  of  men  of  influence,  some  of  whom  were  of  tho 
nobility  and  gentry.     Without  at  all  consulting  the  wishes, 

Mew  form  of  ^^^  against  the  interests  of  the  colony,  they  now  obtained  a 
'  new  charter,  by  which  they  were  to  hold  the  lands  in  fee, 
and  all  the  powers  of  government  formerly  reserved  to  tho 
crown  were  hereafter  to  vest  in  the  company.  The  council 
in  England,  chosen  by  the  stockholders,  was  to  appoint 
a  governor,  who  was  to  rule  the  colonists  with  absolute  sway. 
The  company  now  collected  five  hundred  adventurers,  many 
of  whom  were  men  of  desperate  fortunes  and  abandoned 
1609       characters.     They  appointed  as  governor  for  life  the  excellent 

Lord  Deia-  Lord  Delaware,  and  freighted  with  the  emigrants  nine  ships, 
ware.  of  which  Capt.  Newport  was  to  take  the  command.  As  Lord 
Delaware  was  not  ready  to  embark  with  the  fleet,  the  ad- 
miral. Sir  Thomas  Gates,  and  Sir  George  Somers,  were 
empowered  to  govern  the  colony  until  his  arrival.  Newport 
look  into  his  own  ship  Gates  and  Somers.  Arriving  at  the 
Bermudas,  a  terrible  storm  separated  the  fleet.  The  admiral's 
vessel  was  stranded  on  the  rocky  shores  of  Bermuda,  a  small 


Pocahontas. 


SMITH   LEAVES   VIRGINIA. DISTRESS   OF  THE   COLONY.  25 

ketch  perished,  and  only  seven  of  the  vessels  reached  James- 
town. 

Smith  now  found  himself  without  authority  ;   and  the  three 
persons  who  alone  possessed  it,  were  perliaps  in  the  depths 
of  the  ocean.     His  genius,  however,  sustained   him,  and  ho     X609 
compelled  to  submisision  the  disorderly  gallants  who  had  just 
arrived. 

Pocahontas  repeatedly  saved  the  life  of  Smith,  and  pre- 
served this  earliest  English  settlement  from  destruction.  In 
the  various  fortunes  of  the  colony,  she  was  its  unchanging 
friend,  often  coming  with  her  attendants  to  bring  baskets  of 
provisions  in  times  of  scarcity,  and  sometimes  giving  notice 
of  hostile  designs.  On  one  occasion,  when  Captain  Smith, 
with  a  considerable  escort,  had  visited  her  father,  and  was  to 
be  feasted,  she  came  privately,  and  told  him  that  a  great  num- 
ber of  Indians  would  be  sent  to  bring  in  his  food,  and  would, 
if  possible,  such  was  the  plot,  murder  him  and  his  company  Generous 
at  table,  with  their  own  arms.  Otherwise  it  was  intended  ^evotion  of 
to  kill  them  in  the  night.  Smith  was  penetrated  with  grati- 
tude, that  she  had  again  saved  him,  and  wished  to  give  her 
some  testimonial.  She  turned  away  with  tears,  saying  it 
would  but  betray  her,  and  she  was  suspected  already. 

At  length,  a  calamity  deprived  the  colony  of  its  father.     An 
accidental  explosion  of  gimpowder  so  injured  Smith,  that  no 
medical  skill  there,  was  adequate  to  the  treatment  of  his  case  ; 
and  delegating  his  authority  to  George  Percy,  brother  to  the  Smithlearcs 
Earl  of  Northumberland,  he  returned  to  England.     After  his     Virginia, 
departure,  all  subordination  and  industry  ceased  among  the 
colonists.     The  Indians,  ever  on  the  watch,  harassed  them 
with  hostilities,  and  withheld  their  customary  supplies.     Their  ^^^^^  ^^^^*"' 
stores  were  soon  exhausted.     The  domestic  animals,  which     distress, 
had  been  sent  to  breed  in  the  country,  were  taken  and  de- 
voured :    and,  in  the  extremity  of  their  distress,  they  even 
perpetrated,  in  two  instances,  the  act  of  feeding  on  human 
flesh.     Smith  left  four  hundred  and  ninety  persons.     In  six 
months,  anarchy  and  vice  had  reduced  the  number  to  sixty, 
and  those  so  feeble  and  forlorn,  that  in  ten  days  more  they 
must  all  have  perished. 

In  the  meantime  Sir  Thomas  Gates  and  his  companions, 
who  had  been  wrecked  on  the  rocks  of  Bermuda,  had  found 
there  the  means  to  construct  a  vessel  ;  and  now  approaching 
Jamestown,  they  anticipated  a  happy  meeting  with  their 
friends.  How  were  their  hearts  smitten  as  they  beheld 
the  meagre  spectres  of  famine  and  death  which  met  them. 

hey  were  obliged  to  yield  to  the  universal  cry,  desert  the  ^^^^^^^J^ 
Bettlement  and  re-embark  with  the  Avhole  colony.     They  de- 
parted in  the  morning,  and  falling  down  the  stream  with  the       june, 
tide,  they  desciy,  at  evening,  near  the  river's  mouth,  three     1610. 
ships  ;  and  Lord  Delaware,  their  paternal  governor,  arrives, 
supplies  their  wants,  and  turns  their  hearts  to  the  pious  and 


Its  return 


•26  POCAHONTAS HER  CAPTIVITY HER  MARRIAGE. 

PART.  I.  consoling  thought  that  God  had  delivered  them.  And  then 
PERIOD  11  this  residue  returned,  a  chastened  and  a  better  people.  Thus 
CHAP.  III.  Providence  prevented  a  dissolute  band  from  becoming  the 
^g^-v-"^^'  founders  of  our  first  settled  state ;  and  gave  a  better  seed. 

The  colony  again  became  comparatively  flourishing,  bu   ir 
March,   1611,  the  governor's  health  unfortunately  declined, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  country.     On  the  departure 
1611.     of  Lord  Delaware,  Percy  was  again  at  the  head  of  the   ad- 
May  10.     ministration,  until  the  arrival  of  Sir  Thomas  Dale,  in  May. 
OaJeTrive?  ^^^^-  ^^^^  received  from  the  company,  power  to  rule  with  mar- 
tial law,  which  he  exercised,  but  with  such  moderation,  that 
good  order  and  industry  prevailed.     The  state  of  the  colony, 
however,  was  not  flourishing,  and  Dale  immediately  wrote  to 
England  for  aid.     In  less  than  four  months,  Sir  Thomas  Gates 
arrived,  with  six  ships  and  three  hundred  emigrants. 

After  Captain  Smith's  departure,  Captain  Argall,  at  the 
head  of  a  foraging  party,  learned  that  Pocahontas  was  for  a 
season  with  the  family  of  Japazaws,  the  chief  of  the  Poto- 
macs.  Him,  Argall  bribed,  with  a  kettle  of  shining  copper,  to 
betray  the  Indian  princess,  whom  for  interested  motives  he 
wished  to  make  prisoner.  Japazaws  concerted  with  his  wife, 
that  she  should  appear  to  be  seized  with  an  invincible  desire 
to  visit  Argall's  vessel  lying  in  the  river.  He  was  to  affect 
anger,  and  threaten,  but  at  length  so  far  to  relent,  as  to  en- 
Pocahontas  gage  to  take  her  to  the  vessel,  if  her  friend  Pocahontas  would 
is  made  accompany  her.  The  plot  succeeded,  and  thus  the  English, 
by  the  goodness  of  her  heart,  ensnared  and  made  prisoner  their 
benefactress. 

When  she  was  taken   to  Jamestown,    an   unceremonious 

message  was  sent  to  Powhatan,  that  he  must  ransom  her  with 

certain  men  and  articles,  which  he  was  accused  with  having 

taken.     To  this  the  dignified  old  chieftain  made  no  reply  for 

three  months.     In   the  meantime  an   English  youth  of  the 

1613.     colony,  John  Rolfe,  wooed  the  Indian  maiden,  and  obtained 

She  mairies  her  consent  to  marriage.     All  were  pleased,  and  the  connex 

Rolfe.       ^^jj  proved  a  bond  of  union  during  the  life  of  Powhatan. 

Pocahontas  received  Christian  baptism  under  the  name  of 
Rebecca;  after  which  she  went  with  her  husband  to  England, 
Eaptism  of  ^"^^'^''^  special  attention  was  paid  her  by  the  ki  ig  and  queen,  at 
Pocahontas,  the  instigation  of  Smith.  She  had  been  told  that  he  was  dead, 
and  Avhen  he  came  to  see  her  she  turned  away,  and  for  a  time 
could  not  or  would  not  speak  He  kindly  soothed  her,  and  at 
length  she  addressed  him  as  her  father,  and  endearingly  re- 
called the  scenes  of  their  early  acquaintance.  Having  gi/en 
birth  to  a  son,  she  was  about  to  return,  vdien  she  sickened 
and  died,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  Her  son  survived  and 
reared  an  ofl'spring,  which  being  perpetuated  in  some  of  the 
best  families  of  Virginia,  they  boast  their  descent  from  one 
who  ranks  high,  not  merely  on  the  roll  of  savages  and  of 
women,  but  of  humanity  itself 


THE    FIRST    GENERAL    ASSEMBLY    OF    VIRGINIA- 


27 


In  1617,  Captain  Argall  was  made  acting  governor  of 
Virginia.  Lord  Delaware  having  attempted  to  reach  the 
Bettloment,  died  on  the  passage.  Argall  governed  with  so 
much  rigor  as  to  excite  universal  discontent,  and  the  first  com- 
plaint of  mal-administration  ever  sent  to  England,  was  by  a 
man  whom  he  had  unjustly  condemned.  Not  only  did  he 
play  the  tyrant  over  the  colonists,  but  he  who  had  not  hesi- 
tated to  make  Pocahontas  prisoner  for  the  advantage  of  the 
company,  did  not  now  scruple  to  cheat  them  for  his  own. 
The  rumor  of  his  oppressions  made  emigration  unpopular. 
By  the  inlluence  of  the  good  Sir  Edwin  Sandys,  the  benevo- 
lent Yeardly  was  sent  over  to  take  his  place. 

The  same  year.  Governor  Yeardly  called  the  first  general 
assembly  which  was  held  in  Virginia,  consisting  of  represen- 
tatives, chosen  from  among  the  people,  who  were  to  act  con- 
jointly Avith  the  governor  and  council  appointed  by  the  com- 
pany, in  all  matters  of  importance.  The  colonists,  who,  till 
then,  had  been  nothing  more  than  the  servants  of  the  company, 
were  thus  raised  to  the  distinction  and  privileges  of  freemen. 

In  this  assembly,  which  met  at  Jamestown,  eleven  boroughs 
were  each  represented  by  two  burgesses.  For  this  cheering 
dawn  of  civil  liberty,  the  colonists  expressed  to  the  company 
"  the  greatest  possible  thanks,"  and  forthwith  "  fell  to  build- 
ing houses  and  planting  corn." 

In  order  to  attach  the  colonists  more  entirely  to  their  new 
settlements,  about  this  time  there  was  sent  out,  by  the  advice 
of  Sandys,  a  considerable  number  of  young  women  of  humble 
birth,  but  of  unexceptionable  character,  who  were  sold  to  the 
young  planters  as  wives.  The  price  was  at  first  one  hundred, 
and  afterwards,  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  tobacco.  To 
fail  of  discharging  debts  so  incurred,  was  esteemed  particu- 
larly dishonorable. 

About  this  time  were  introduced  also  "into  the  colony,  by 
order  of  King  James,  many  idle  and  dissolute  persons,  then 
in  custody  for  their  offences.  They  were  dispersed  through 
the  colony,  and  employed  as  laborers. 

A.  Dutch  ship  from  Africa  arriving  at  Jamestown,  a  part  of 
her  cargo  of  negroes  was  purchased  by  the  colony.  This  is 
the  commencement  of  negro  slavery  in  the  United  States. 


PART  L 


1617 

Argall's  rxM 
duct. 


1619. 

The  first 

general  as 

sembly  ia 

Virginia 


Vodng 

women  sent 

as  wives 


1620. 

Convicts 

sent  to  the 

colony. 

Shiver)- 
commences 


CHAPTER   IV. 

Ducovery  of  the  Hudson.— Smith  and  Argall  at  the  North. 


In  1609,  occurred  the  discovery  of  the  Hudson  river,  which 
has  proved  the  finest  for  navigation  of  any  in  republican  Amer- 

ca ;    and  under  circumstances  which,  giving  to  two  nations 

4*  '  o        o 


1609 


HENRY    HUDSON. CHAMPLAIN    FOUNDS    QUEBEC 


PART  I. 


160§ 

Ghamplain 
founds  Que- 
bec. 

1609 

Discovers 
Lake  Cham- 
plain. 


1614 

Smith  in 
N    Englai.d. 


Irgau  sup 

dues  the 

French  and 

Dutch. 


claims  to  its  waters,  and  their  adjoining  country,  became 
the  occasion  of  subsequent  wars.  Henry  Hudson,  ihe  dis- 
coverer, was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  but  was  in  the  service 
of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company.  The  next  year,  the  Dutch 
sent  ships  to  this  river,  to  open  a  trade  with  the  natives,  but 
the  Court  of  England  disowned  their  claim  to  the  country. 
The  Dutcli,  however,  followed  up  their  good  fortune,  and 
soon  erected  forts  Orange  and  Manhattan,  near  the  sites  oJ 
Albany  and  New  York. 

In  1608,  Champlain,  under  De  Monts,  conducted  a  colony 
to  America,  and  founded  Quebec.  Wishing  to  secure  the 
friendship  of  the  adjacent  natives,  he  consented,  the  next 
year,  to  accompany  them  on  an  expedition  against  the  Iro- 
quois, with  whom  they  were  at  war.  They  entered  upon  the 
lake  which  now  bears,  in  honor  of  its  discoverer,  the  name 
of  Champlain,  and  traversed  it  until  they  approached  its  junc- 
tion with  Lake  St.  Sacrament,  now  Lake  George.  Here,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Ticonderoga,  a  bloody  engagem.ent  took  place, 
in  which  Champlain  and  his  allies  were  victorious. 

The  Plymouth  Company,  after  the  Sagadahoc  settlement 
was  relinquished,  attempted  nothing  further  for  some  time, 
except  a  few  fishing  voyages  to  Cape  Cod,  or  a  small  traffic 
with  the  natives  for  oil  and  peltry.  At  length  Captain  Smith, 
after  his  return  from  Virginia,  being  desirous  to  explore  the 
north-eastern  coast,  engaged  himself  as  a  partner,  with  four 
other  private  adventurers,  who  fitted  out  a  trading  squadron  of 
two  ships.  Smith  sailed  in  the  largest,  and  the  other 
was  commanded  by  Captain  Hunt,  before  mentioned.  He, 
while  Smith  was  exploring  the  coast,  made  a  descent  upon 
the  country  of  the  Pokanokets,  and  kidnapped  more  than 
twenty  of  the  subjects  of  Massasoit.  Smith  accurately  exam- 
ined the  shore,  with  its  bays  and  rivers,  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Penobscot  to  Cape  Cod,  and  having  drawn  a  map,  he  laid 
it,  on  his  return,  before  Prince  Charles,  with  a  hint,  that  so 
beautiful  and  excellent  a  country  deserved  to  bear  an  honora- 
ble name.  The  Prince  listened  to  his  suggestion,  and  de- 
clared  that  it  should  thereafter  be  called  New  England. 

The  French  having  established  themselves  within  the  lim- 
its of  the  northern  colony  of  Virginia,  Captain  Argall  was 
sent  from  Jamestown  to  dispossess  them.  He  destroyed  Pon 
Royal,  and  all  the  French  settlements  in  Acadia.  On  his 
return  he  visited  the  Dutch  at  Manhattan,  and  demanded  pos- 
session of  the  country,  in  the  name  of  the  British  sovereign. 
The  Dutch  traders  made  no  scruple  to  acknowledge  the 
supremacy  of  King  James,  and,  under  him,  that  of  the  gov 
emor  of  Virginia 


PERIOD    III 


FROM 
THE     LANDING  [  1620    )  OF  THE  PILGRIMS, 


THE   COMMENCEMENT    OF 
TUE   CONFEDEKACY, 


TO 

1613. 


BY   THE   UNION   OF   THE 
NEW  ENGLAND   COLONIES. 


CHAPTER  I 


Ajicient  Civilization — Christianity — Puritanism — Robinson  and  his  Church. 

We  have  now  arrived  at  a  period  in  our  history,  when  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers  of  New  England,  moved  by  religious  devotion, 
and  sustained  by  Providence,  planted  themselves  upon  the 
desert  shores  of  Massachusetts. 

At  a  period  when  ancient  civilization  had  attained  its  full 
growth,  Christianity  arose,  and  introduced  a  moral  elem«mt 
wholly  at  variance  with  its  principles.  For  while  the  Empe- 
ror of  Rome,  its  head,  was  dwelling  in  splendid  palaces, 
commanding  armies,  avenging  himself  of  his  foes,  and  extend- 
ing his  bloody  conquests  over  the  unoffending,  Immanuel, 
with  the  moral  glory  of  divine,  but  suffering  virtue,  made  his 
advent  in  a  manger,  and  his  exit  on  a  cross. 

As  long  as  the  followers  of  Christ  v/ere  a  persecuted  and 
afHicted  band,  they  preserved  his  religion  in  its  purity.  But 
when  an  attempt  M^as  made  to  blend  the  heavenly  with  the 
human  principle, —  and  the  Roman  Constantine  placed  Chris- 
tianity upon  an  earthly  throne,  then  its  primeval  lustre  became 
obscured.  After  this  period,  ancient  civilization  was  broken 
up.  The  barbarians  of  Sarmatia  and  Scandinavia  came 
down  upon  the  Roman  empire,  wrested  it  from  its  masters,  and 
rent  it  into  fragments.  National  authority  was  annihilated, 
and,  in  the  anarchy  that  prevailed,  brute  force,  the  lowest  of 
all  appeals,  stood  chief  umpire. 

Then  arose  forms  of  political  power,  which,  though  bad, 
were  yet  improvements.  The  chieftain  who  had  an  organized 
band,  perpetuated  his  military  arrangements.  He  gave  oat 
his  conquered  lands  to  his  great  captains,  and  they  divided 
them  into  lesser  portions,  to  their  own  retainers.  But  all  held 
their  territories,  on  condition  of  military  service.  Thus  cen- 
tral and  southern  Europe  was  owned  by  chiefs,  whose  power, 
nay,  whose  very  existence,  depended  upon  a  state  of  war: 
and  the  blood  of  the  people  dyed  the  earth,  as  those  steel-clad 
giants  of  the  dark  ages  strode  over  its  surface,  crushing 
whatever  came  m  their  way. 

The  course  of  this  feudal  tyranny  was  arrested  by  another. 


PART  I. 
PERIOD  in 

CHAP.    I. 


Ancirnt 
civiliaaiiOD 


Christianity 


A.  D. 

2(1,  3d,  and 

4lh_ 
centuries 


The  feudal 

system. 


The  dark 
ages,  from 
'h^  4th  cen 
tuy  to  tJbe 


30 


HENRY    VIII. EDWARD   VI. MARY. 


PART  I. 


Popery. 


The 

Reformation 

in  the  15th 

and  IGth 

centuries. 


Progress  of 

the 
reformation 
in  England. 


1534. 

Henry  VIII. 

aead  of   the 
church  in 
England. 


1553. 

Edward   VI. 

English 
Liturgy. 

1553. 

Mary  per- 
secutes the 
protestants 
of  the 
English 
churches. 


Puritans 
divide  from 
the  English 

Church. 


1556. 

Death  of 

Mary,  and 

access'op  oi 

Elizabeth. 


which,  injurious  as  it  became,  yet  did  service  in  its  day.  This 
was  popery,  which  carried  human  authority  to  an  extent 
ahogether  unexampled ;  for  it  assumed  the  power  of  God, 
and  do  ^-''  d  the  lull  obedience  of  the  mental  and  moral,  as 
well  as  liiC  physical  man.  Secret,  efficient,  and  unscrupu 
lous  in  its  measures,  it  awed  to  submission  the  proud  and  the 
violent ;  and  the  comparative  calm  of  despotism  succeeded 
to  the  depopulating  storm  of  anarchy. 

Profiting  by  repose  and  leisure,  the  monks  now  sought  out 
the  remnants  of  ancient  literature  ;  and  men  soon  began  to 
examine  the  position  which  they  occupied  in  the  natural,  the 
moral,  and  the  political  world.  Light  broke  in  upon  the  dark- 
ness of  ages.  The  discovery  of  the  magnetic  needle  led  the 
way  to  that  of  new  continents  ;  and  the  invention  of  printing 
to  the  Reformation. 

It  had,  however,  little  influence  in  England,  until  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  the  monarch  under  whom  Sebastian 
Cabot  discovered  our  coast.  He  made  a  righteous  oppo- 
sition to  the  supremacy  of  the  Pope,  but  from  the  unright- 
eous motive,  that  he  might  be  divorced  from  a  virtuous  wife, 
to  wed  another,  more  young  and  beautiful.  The  Pope  refused 
to  grant  him  his  wish  ;  and  he,  after  keeping  Europe  in  a  broil 
for  several  years,  declared  the  English  Church  to  be  inde- 
pendent of  Rome,  and  himself  its  head  ;  thus  becoming  a 
lesser  pope  in  his  own  dominions.  But  the  minds  of  his  sub- 
jects had  received  an  impulse.  Free  inquiry  was  at  work  on 
the  continent.  Tyndal  and  Coverdale  translated  the  Bible  into 
English,  and  in  spite  of  the- tyrant,  the  Reformation  was  making 
progress.  As  soon  as  his  death  relieved  the  realm,  and  under 
his  vouno^  son,  Edward  VL,  the  English  church,  as  it  now 
exists,  took  its  form.  Its  liturgy  was  completed  ;  having  bee-n 
compiled  by  some  of  the  purest  and  best  of  the  reformers. 

Unhappily  Edward's  reign  was  short ;  and  Mary,  his  suc- 
cessor, was  full  of  bitter  prejudices  against  Protestantism,  re- 
garding it  as  the  author  of  her  mother's  miseries,  and  her 
own  early  degradation.  She  idolized  her  bigoted  and  cruel 
husband,  Philip  II.  of  Spain;  and  thus  she  naturally  became 
a  bloody  persecutor.  The  protestants  fled  on  all  hands;  and 
at  Geneva  with  Calvin,  at  Zurich,  at  Frankfort,  and  in  Hol- 
land, they  strengthened  their  faith  by  the  use  of  the  printed 
scriptures,  by  the  free  worship  of  God,  and  by  comnmnion 
with  kindred  spirits  among  men 

The  exiled  protestants  were  of  two  parties.  The  one  be- 
lieved that  the  English  reformers,  having  rejected  all  of  Ro- 
manism that  was  meretricous,  had  returned  to  primitive  Chris- 
tianity. Another  party,  who  were  called  Puritans,  believed 
that  the  church  of  England  had  stopped  short  in  the  Reforma- 
tion, and  left  remains  of  popery;  such  as  the  priests'  vest- 
ments, the  ring  in  marriage,  sponsors  in  baptism,  aiid  sundry 
uncommanded  ceremonies.     At  Frankfort  the  two  panics  had 


ELIZAUETH. INTOLERANCE    AND     PERSECUTION. 


31 


a  public  quarrel ;  and  when  the  doatli  of  Mary  allowed  the 
En<j;lisli  protestanls  to  return  to  their  country,  they  brought 
home  the  contention. 

Elizabeth  was  friendly  to  poj)ery,  but  she  found  on  her 
accession,  that  her  people  were,  in  the  mass,  protestants  ;  and 
hence  she  chose  that  Ibrm  of  protestantism  which  she  could 
briufT  the  nearest  to  papacy ;  she  being  herself  head  of  the 
church.  Her  obsequious  parliament  by  several  acts  declared 
her  supremacy,  enjoined  under  severe  penalties  strict  con- 
formity to  all  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  English  Church; 
and  finally  they  created  a  new  ecclesiastical  tribunal,  to  try 
oflenses  against  these  and  other  arbitrary  acts,  with  powers 
a^  much  at  variance  with  the  natural  riglits  of  man  as  those 
of  the  Spanish  Inquisition.  This  was  denominated  the  Court 
of  High  Commission. 

Examples  show  the  spirit  of  the  times.  Before  this  in- 
quisitorial tribunal  was  brought,  on  one  occasion,  Robert  Haw- 
kins, who,  with  about  twenty  others,  men  and  women,  had 
been  found  guilty  of  meeting  to  worship  secretly,  contrary  to 
tlie  law  against  "  private  assemblies,"  and  had  been  dragged 
to  prison  by  the  sheriff.  Bishop  Grindall,  who  presided,  dis- 
liked the  work  of  persecution,  to  which  dependence  on  the 
Queen  compelled  him,  and  he  sought  to  convince  the  com- 
pany of  the  error  of  their  opposition  ;  while  he  bore  with 
great  patience  the  unmannerly  plainness  wdth  which  the 
puritans  were  in  the  habit  of  reproving  persons  in  power, 
calling  it  "the  right  of  prophecying."  "You  should  not," 
said  the  bishop,  "  trouble  the  state  about  such  matters  as 
surplices  and  ceremonies.  In  these  indifferent  things,  you 
should  quietly  obey  the  civil  power,  and  submit  yourselves  to 
the  prince.  They  are  not  commanded  as  necessary  in  the 
church."  "You,"  said  Hawkins,  "  have  made  them  necessary, 
as  many  a  poor  man  doth  feel."  He  was  himself  imprisoned 
two  years  ;  and  it  was  this  tyrannical  assumption  of  making 
indilTerent  things  necessary,  which  the  puritans  resisted,  often 
to  the  death. 

Nor  was  this  all.  Others  held  that  in  church  affairs  it  was 
as  absolutely  sinful  to  go  farther  than  the  word  of  God  war- 
ranted, as  to  stop  short  of  all  which  it  required.  Those  were 
opposed  to  uniting  in  any  degree  with  the  church  of  England, 
and  hence  were  called  Separatists. 

Although  the  puritans  had  not  yet  arrived  at  an  enlightened 
religious  toleration,  yet  they  struck  out  its  principles.  In  1564, 
Sampson  and  Humphrey,  two  eminent  non-conforming  min- 
isters, explicitly  plead,  before  the  Court  of  High  Commission, 
the  rights  of  conscience.  "  Because,"  say  they,  "  these 
things  do  not  seem  so  to  you,  you  are  not  to  be  condemned  by 
us,  and  because  they  do  not  seem  so  to  us,  we  are  not  to  be 
condemned  by  you." 

But  the  Puritans  were   condemned.     The  clergy  by  hmi- 


par: 


Ari)itrarjr 
policy  of 
Elizabeth. 

Obsequious- 
ness of  the 

public 
aulhoritiea. 


Robert 

Hawkins 

and  Bishop 

Grindall. 


An  example, 

showi:.^ 

tilt;  sp<iC 

of  liie 

controversT 


Separatist* 


1564. 

Puritans 

plead 
religious 
tolsratioa. 


32 


SUFFERINGS     OF    ROBINSON    AND    HIS     CHURCH. 


PART  I.     dreds,  to  the  loss  of  their  places  ;  the   laity   with  them  to 
PERIOD  III  fines,    imprisonment  and  mutilation,  to  loss  of  country,   and 

CHAP.    II.      ^f    j-^-g^ 


CHAPTER  II 


Robinson  and  his  Church  remove  to  Holland. 


1592. 


John  Robin- 
son and  his 
congrega- 
tion. 


1607. 

Attempt  to 

leave 

England   for 

Holland. 


160S. 

Second 
attempt. 


Distress  ol 

the  Puritan 

women. 


In  1592,  a  law  was  passed  requiring  all  persons  to  attend 
the  established  worship,  under  penalty  of  banishment,  and' if 
they  returned,  of  death.  Among  those  who  could  not  con- 
scientiously comply  with  these  exactions,  were  JoSn  Robin- 
box  and  his  congregation,  of  the  sect  of  Separatists,  in  the 
north  of  England. 

To  enjoy  their  religion,  the  pastor  and  his  whole  flock  de- 
termined to  exile  themselves  to  Holland.  But  this  was  a 
difficult  undertaking.  Once  they  embarked  with  their  fam- 
ilies and  goods  at  Boston,  in  Lincolnshire.  But  the  treach- 
erous captain  had  plotted  with  English  officers,  who  came 
on  board  the  vessel,  took  their  effects,  searched  the  persons 
of  the  whole  company  for  money,  and  then,  in  presence  of  a 
gazing  multitude,  led  them  on  shore  and  to  prison.  They 
were  soon  released,  except  seven  of  the  principal  men,  who 
were  detained  and  brought  to  trial,  but  at  length  freed. 

Again  they  bargained  with  a  Dutch  ship-master  at  Hull, 
who  was  to  take  them  in,  from  a  common  hard  by.  At  the 
time  appointed,  the  women  and  children  sailed  to  the  place  of 
rendezvous  in  a  small  bark,  and  the  men  came  by  land.  The 
bark  had  grounded ;  but  the  Dutch  captain  sent  his  boat  and 
took  the  men  from  the  strand.  But,  in  the  meantime,  the 
authorities  of  Hull  had  notice  ;  and  the  Dutch  commander,  at 
the  sight  of  a  large  armed  company,  having  a  f\iir  wind,  with 
oaths  "hoisted  anchor  and  away;"  though  the  pilgrims  even 
wept,  thus  to  leave  their  wives  and  children.  Behold  these 
desolate  women,  the  mothers  of  a  future  nation,  their  hus- 
bands forcibly  carried  off  to  sea,  while  on  land  an  armed 
multitude  are  approaching!  They  are  taken,  and  dragged 
from  one  magistrate  to  another,  while  their  children,  cold  and 
hungry  and  affrighted,  are  weeping  and  clinging  around  them. 
But  their  piteous  condition  and  Christian  demeanor,  softened, 
at  length,  the  hearts  of  their  persecutors,  and  even  gained 
friends  to  their  cause. 

The  men,  in  the  meantime,  encountered  one  of  the  most 
terrific  sea-storms  ever  known,- continuing  fourteen  days,  du- 
ring seven  of  which  they  saw  neither  sun,  moon,  or  stars. 

At  length  tney  all  arrived  in  Holland.  They  settled  at  first 
in  Amsterdam.     They  did  not  however,  find  cause  to  be  satis 


CHARACTER    OF    THE    PILGRIMS.  33 

fied,  and  they  removed  to  Leyden.     Here,  by  hard  labor  and    PART  I. 
frugal  honesty,  they  lived  highly  respected  ;  but  after  a  few  peiuod  In. 
years   they   experienced   evils    which  made    them  think  of  chap.    n. 
another  removal.     Not  only  were  their  own  toils  constant  and   v^-»-v-«^^ 
severe,  but  they  were   obliged   to  employ  their  children,  so 
that  these  were  necessarily  deprived  of  education.     And  the  Reasons  for 
health  of   the   young  often   fell  a  sacrifice  to   the  length  of  re^io^jjilfroni 
time   and  coniuied  positions  in  which  they  labored.     Some 
died,  and  some   became  deformed.     Their  morals  also  were 
likely  to  suffer  from  the  habitual  profanation  of  the  sabbath, 
which  they  must  necessarily  witness,  and  especially  from  con- 
tact with  a  disbanded  soldiery,  at  this  time  residing  at  Ley- 
den.    The  Pilgrims  had  heard  of  America,  and  in  its  wil- 
derness they  believed  they  might  serve  God  unmolested,  and 
found  a  church,  where  not  only  the  oppressed   in   England, 
but  unborn  generations,  might  enjoy  a  pure  worship. 

The  Dutch  wished  them  to  colonize  under  their  govern- 
ment. But  they  loved  their  country,  though  she  had  shaken 
them  from  her  lap ;  and  they  sent  agents  to  England,  to  procure, 
by  the  influence  of  Sir  Edwin  Sandys,  a  patent  under  the  Vir- 
ginia Company. 

For  the   encouragement  of  this  company,  almost  disheart- 
ened by  the  repeated  failures  at  Chesapeake  Bay,  Robinson, 
and  Brewster,  the  ruling  elder  of  his  church,   wrote  to  Sir 
Edwin,   showing,  in  five  particulars,  the  difference  of  their 
motives,  their  circumstances    and    characters,  from  those  of  Substance 
other  adventurers.     1 ,  "  We  verily  believe  the  Lord  is  with  us,  of  a  letter  to 
to  whose  service  we  have  given  ourselves,   and  that  he  will     Sandys^" 
graciously  prosper  our  endeavors,  according  to  the  simplicity  showing  the 
of  our  hearts  therein.     2.  We  are  all  well  weaned  from  the  fij'^p'j^^^  °^ 
delicate  milk  of  our  mother  country,  and  inured  to  a  strange 
and  hard  land,  where  we  have  learned  patience.     3.  The 
people   are   as  industrious   and  frugal  as  any  in  the  world. 
4.    We   are   knit  together  in   a   sacred  bond   of   the   Lord, 
whereof  we  make  great  conscience,  holding  ourselves  tied 
to  all  care  of  each  other's  good,  and  of  the  whole  by  every,  and 
80  mutual.     5.  It  is  not  with  us  as  with  other  men,  whom  small 
discontentments  can  discourage,  and  cause  to  wish  themselves 
at  home  again.     We  have  nothing  to  hope  for  from  England 
ox  Holland,  and  our  lives  are  drawing  towards  their  period." 

By  the  aid  of  Sandys,  the  petitioners  obtained  the  patent. 
But  they  needed  money.     To  provide  this,  their  agents  formed     Business 
a  stock  company,  jointly,  with  some  men  of  business  in  Lon-     .^°^'^''^']} 
don,  of  whom  Mr.  Thomas  Weston  Avas  the  principal ;  they  ^erchMitl* 
to  furnish  the  capital,  the  emigrants  to  pledge  their  labor  for 
seven  years,  at  ten  pounds  per  man ;  and  the  profits  of  the 
enterprise,  all  houses,  lands,  gardens,  and  fields,  to  be  divided 
at  the  end  of  that  time  among  the  stockholders,  according  to 
their  respective  shares.  August  3(L 

They  then  prepared  two  small  vessels,  the   May-Flower 


1630 


34 


PILGRIMS  LEAVE  HOLLAND. ARRIVE  AT  CAPE   COD. 


PART  I. 


1620 

The    parting 
at  Delft- 
Haven. 


Leave 
Holland. 
July  21. 


Their 
loading  men. 


Sept.  6. 

Final 
departure 

from 
England. 
Arrival  off 
Cape  Cod. 
Nov.  9th. 


Nov.  10. 


Nov.  11. 

Political 

coinpact 

signed  in  the 

Cabin  of  the 

May  t  lower. 


and  the  Speedwell ;  but  these  would  hold  only  a  part  of  the 
company,  and  it  was  decided  that  the  younger  and  more  ac- 
tive should  go,  while  the  older,  among  Avhom  was  the  pastor, 
should  remain.  If  they  were  successful,  they  were  to  send  for 
those  behind  ;  if  unsuccessful,  to  return,  though  poor,  to  them. 

Previous  to  their  separation,  this  memorable  church  wor- 
shipped together  for  the  last  time,  on  an  appointed  day,  when 
they  humbled  themselves  by  fasting,  and  "  sought  of  the 
Lord  a  right  way  for  themselves  and  their  children."  When 
they  must  no  longer  tarry,  their  brethren  accompanied  them 
from  Leyden  to  the  shore  at  Delft-Haven.  Here  the  ven- 
erable pastor  knelt  with  his  flock  upon  the  ground  ;  and  the 
wanderers,  while  tears  flowed  down  their  cheeks,  heard  for 
the  last  time,  his  beloved  voice  in  exhortation  and  in  prayer 
for  them.  "  But  they  knew  they  were  Pilgrims,  and  lifted 
up  their  eyes  to  heaven,  their  dearest  country,  and  quieted 
their  spirits."  From  Delft-Haven  they  sailed  to  Southamp 
ton  in  England. 

Among  the  leaders  of  the  party  was  Elder  Brewster,  who  al 
this  tinie  was  fifty-six,  but  sound  in  body,  as  in  spirit.  Of  the 
seven  who  were  taken  at  Boston,  it  was  Brewster  who  was 
most  severely  dealt  with.  John  Carver  was  near  his  age, 
beloved  and  trusted,  as  he  was  good  and  wise.  William  Brad- 
ford, was  strong,  bold,  and  enduring;  but  withal,  a  meek  and 
prudent  Christian.  Next  these,  in  honor,  superior  in  native 
endowments,  as  in  estate  and  family  descent,  was  Edward 
Winslow.  He  was  at  this  time  twenty-six  Bradford  was 
thirty-two.  Allerton  and  Hopkins  were  also  leading  men. 
Miles  Standish  had  been  an  officer  in  an  army,  sent  by  Eliza- 
beth to  aid  the  Dutch  against  the  Spaniards  ;  and  he,  as  was 
the  case  with  Winslow,  falling  in  with  Robinson's  people, 
about  three  years  before  their  removal>/rom  Holland,  accom- 
panied them  to  America. 

After  remaining  in  Southampton  a  fortnight,  the  Pilgrims  put  to 
sea.  But  misfortunes  befalling,  they  returned,  left  the  Speedwell, 
and  finally,  to  the  number  of  one  hundred,  they  set  sail  from 
Plymouth,  in  the  solitary  May-Flower.  On  the  6th  of  Sep- 
tember, they  took  their  last,  sad  look  of  their  native  shore. 
After  a  stormy  and  perilous  passage,  they  made  land,  on  the  9th 
of  November,  at  Cape  Cod.  The  mouth  of  the  Hudson  had 
been  selected  as  the  place  of  their  settlement,  and  they  accord- 
ingly steered  southerly ;  but  soon  falling  in  with  dangerous 
breakers,  and  all,  especially  the  women,  being  impatient  to  leave 
the  ship,  they  determined  to  return  and  settle  on  or  near  the 
Cape.  The  next  day  they  turned  the  point  of  that  singular 
projection,  and  entered  the  harbor  now  called  Provincetown. 

They  fell  on  their  knees  to  thank  the  kind  Power  who  had 
preserved  them  amidst  so  many  dangers,  and  then  "  they  did,' 
says  Cotton  Mather,  "  as  the  light  of  nature  itself  directed 
them,  immediately,  in  the  harbor  sign  an  instrument  ?s  the 


POLITICAL    COMPACT. EXPOSURES    AND    EXERTIONS.  35 

foundation  of  their  future  and  needful  government ;"  solemnly     PART  I^ 
combining  themselves  in  a  civil  body  politic,  to  enact  all  such  period  ni 
ordinances,  and  frame  all   such  constitutions  and  ofTices,  as    chap,    n 
from  time  to  time  should  be  thought  most  meet  and  convenient  ^-'-^v-^^^ 
for  the  general  good ;  all  which  they  bound  themselves  to  obey.      1620. 

This  simple,  but  august  compact,  was  the  first  of  a  scries  lir.portanc* 
by  which  the  fetters  of  a  vast  system  of  poUtical  oppression  °J,Jq®  [^^jJ^ 
have  been  broken.     Upon   some  parts  of    the  old  continent     rights  of 
that  system  still  remains  ;  building  upon  the  fiction,  that  sove-       ^^^ 
reigns    own  the   world   and  its  inhabitants,  having  derived 
all  from  God  ;    and  that  the  people  are  to  have  only  such  a 
measure  of  personal  freedom,  and  such  possessions  as  kings 
may  choose  to  bestow.     Here  was  assumed  for  the  first  time 
the  grand  principle  of  a  voluntary  confederacy  of  independent 
men  ;  instituting   government,   for  the  good,  not  of  the   gov- 
ernors, but  of  the  governed. 

There  were  the  same  number  of  persons  on  board  the  May- 
Flower  as  had  left  England  ;  but  one,  a  servant,  had  died,  and       of  the^ 
one,  a  male  child,  Peregrine  White,  was  born  on  the  passage.     Pilgrim*. 
Carver  was  immediately  chosen  governor,  and  Standish  captain. 

No  comfortable  home,  or  smiling  friends,  awaited  the  Pil-    ^  °i\ll^^' 
grims.     They  who  went  on  shore  waded  through  the  cold  surf  go  on  shore 
to  a  homeless  desert.     But  a  place  to   settle  must  be  found,    ^^^  *;''.'"® 
and  no  time  was  to  be  lost.     The  shallop  unfortunately  needed  which  the 
repairs,  and  in  the  meantime  a  party  set  out  to  make   discov-  conipact  is 
eries  by  land.     They  found  "  a  little  corn,  and  many  graves  ;"     "^'ir'"^^!- 
and   in  a  second   excursion  they  encountered  the   chilling     Shallop 
blasts  of  a  November  snow  storm,  w^hich  laid  in  some  the  ^excursions 
foundation  of  mortal   disease.        The    country  was  wooded,       made. 
and  tolerably  stocked  with  game. 

When  the  shallop  was  finished.  Carver,  Bradford  and  Wins-  pRj^^'g^^^j 
low,  with  a  party  of  eighteen,  manned  the  feeble  bark,  and  the  shalloQ 
set  forth.     Steering  along  the  western  shore  of  Cape  Cod, 
the}'  made,  in  three  days,  the   inner  circuit  of  the  bay.     "  It 
was,"  says   one   of  the   number,  "  very   cold  ;  for  the  water 
froze  our  clothes,  and  made  them  many  times  like   coats  of 
iron."     They  landed  occasionally  to  explore  ;  and  at  night, 
inclosed  with  only  a  slight  barricado  of  boughs,  they  stretched 
themselves  upon  the  hard  ground.     On  the  second  morning, 
as  their  devotions   closed,  they  received  a  shower  of  Indian  Attacked  by 
arrows  ;  when,  sallying  out,  they  discharged  their  guns,  and  ^  f^diana* 
tlie   savages   fled.     Again  they  offered  prayers   with  thanks-      Dec  8. 
giving ;    and    proceeding  on  their   way,   their    shallop   was 
nearly  wrecked  by  a  wintry  storm  of  terrible  violence.     Af-  ^f^^^^oTt^lie 
t9:  ui  speakable  dangers,  they  sheltered  themselves  under  the   loth,  hmd 
lee  of  a  small  island,  where,  amidst  darkness  and  rain,  they  ."^  Clark's 
land,  and  with  difficulty  make  a  fire.     In   the   morning  they  ^^^'\tliin  ?! 
find  themselves  at  the  entrance  of  a  harbor.     The  next  day     harbor. 
was  the  Sabbath.     They  rested,  and  kept  it  holy,  though  all  ^^  suq^i^y 
that  was  dear  tc  them  depended  on  their  promptness. 


36 


THE    LANDING    AT    PLYMOUTH. 


PART  I. 


1620. 

Dec.  12tli. 
Pilgrims 
land  on 

Plymoutk 
rock. 


he  pilgrims 
uffer  much, 
buf  repine 
not. 


April  5th. 
£621. 


The  next  day,  a  day  ever  to  be  observed  in  the  annals  o. 

New  England,  the  Pilgrims  landed  on  the  rock  of  Plymouth. 
Finding  the  harbor  good,  springs  abundant,  and  the  land  prom- 
ising for  tillage,  they  decided  to  settle  here,  and  named  the 
place  from  that  which  they  last  left  in  England.  In  a  fewr 
days  they  brought  the  May-Flower  to  the  harbor ;  and  on 
the  25th  of  December  they  began  building,  having  first  di- 
vided the  whole  company  into  nineteen  families,  and  assigned 
them  contiguous  lots,  of  size  according  to  that  of  the  family, 
about  eight  feet  front  and  fifty  deep  to  each  persoji.  Each 
man  was  to  build  his  own  house.  Besides  this,  the  company 
were  to  make  a  building  of  twenty  feet  square,  as  s*  common 
leGoptacle.  This  was  soonest  completed,  but  was  unfortu- 
nately destroyed  by  fire. 

Their  huts  went  up  but  slowly,  for  though  their  hearts  were 
strong,  yet  their  hands  had  grown  feeble,  through  fatigue, 
hardship  and  scanty  fare  ;  and  many  were  wasting  with  con- 
sumptions. Daily  some  yielded  to  sickness,  and  d?.ily  some 
sunk  to  the  grave.  Before  spring,  half  of  their  number, 
among  whom  were  the  governor  and  his  wife,  lay  buried  on  the 
shore.  Yet  they  never  repined,  or  repented  of  the  step  they 
had  taken ;  and  when,  on  the  5th  of  April,  the  May-Flower 
left  them,  not  one  so  much  as  spoke  of  returning  to  England* 
but  they  rather  confessed  the  continual  mercies  of  a  "  won- 
der-working  Providence,"  which  had  carried  them  through  sa 
many  dangers,  and  was  making  them  the  honored  inslrumentu 
oi  so  great  a  work 

Note.  The  dates  of  this  pnrtoi  History  a  m  of  coucse  given  according;  to  Old  Style  , 
since  New  Style  was  not  etiectivel^'  (uiopted  by  the  Enclish  government  until  132yeari 
after  the  date  of  the  Pilgrims'  Landing.  The  22d  of  Deceiiiher  has,  on  account  of  the 
change  of  style,  been  kept  as  the  anniversary  of  that  event,  instead  of  the  J2th.  But 
since  eleven  days  were  retrenched,  why  should  not  eleven  instead  of  ten  days  be  now 
added,  bringing  the  anniversary  to  the  23(1  ?  However,  that  is  of  little  moment.  If 
patriotic  feeling  is  excited,  by  the  remembrance  of  the  virtues  and  sutterings  of  our  an- 
cestors, the  end  is  attained. — On  the  subject  of  Style,  see  Webster's  Large  Dictionary. 


March  IG 

Visits  of 
Samosct, 


and 

MassasoJt. 


CHAPTER   III. 

The  Savages — Massasoit's  Alliance — "W  Inslow's  Visit  to  tlie  Pokanokets. 

The  Pilgrims  had  as  yet  seen  but  few  of  the  natives,  and  those 
hostile,  when  Samoset,  an  Indian,  who  had  learned  a  little  Eng- 
lish at  Penobscot,  boldly  entered  their  village,  with  a  cheerful 
"Welcome  Englishmen."  He  soom  came  again,  with  four  others, 
among  whom  was  Tisquantum,  who  had  spread  fevorable  reports 
of  the  English  among  his  countrymen,  and  was  afterwards  of 
great  service  as  an  interpreter.  They  gave  notice  that  Massasoit, 
the  sachem  of  the  Pokanokets,was  hard  by.  Appearing  on  a  hill, 
with  a  body  of  attendants,  armed,  and  painted  with  gaudy  colors, 
the  chief  desired  that  some  one  should  be  sent  to  confer  with 
him.  Edward  Winslow,  famed  for  the  sweetness  of  his  dispo- 
sition   and   behavior,    as    well   as    hv   talents,    courage,    and 


WINSLOW  S    EMBASSY.  37 

efficiency,    was    wisely    chosen.      Captain    Standish   found     PART  I. 
means,  (for  neither  civil  or  military  organization  had  been  neg-  period  hi. 
^ected,)  to  make  a  martial  show,  with  drums  and  trumpets,   ch.w.  m. 
wiiich  gave  the  savages  wonderful  delight.  ^--'►v-'^^ 

The  sachem,  on  coming  into  the  village,  was  so  well  pleased  pilgrim. 
with  the  attentions  paid  him,  that  he  acknowledged  the  au-  ter^into  alh 
thorily  of  the  king  of  England,  and  entered  into  an  alliance,    J"''^*  ^^'^^ 
offensive  and  defensive,  with  the  colonists,  which  remained   "  '^^'''^■'^"'  ■ 
inviolate  for  more  than  fifty  years. 

In  July,  Edward  Winslow  and  Stephen  Hopkins  went  on     1^21 
an  embassy  to  Massasoit,  at  Montaup.     Their  object  was  to  Ernlm'iyu 
■negotiate  a  traffic  in  furs,  and  to  preserve  amity  with  the  na-    Mussisoit 
lives.     Much  to  his  delight,  they  gave  the  sachem  a  red  coat,  '^y  "^'^J'slow 
from  Governor  Bradford,  who  had  succeeded  Carver.     They    "     op'"- 
hinted  that  his  subjects  were  somewhat  too  free   with  their 
presence    at    Plymouth,   though   himself  and  his   particular 
friends  should  always  be  welcome.     They  mentioned  that  on 
their  first  arrival  they  had  found  a  small  quantity  of  buried 
corn,  which  in  their  necessity  they  had  appropriated,  but  they 
now  wished  to   discover  and  remunerate  the  owners  ;  and 
dnally,  they  requested  that  the  Pokanokets  would   sell  their 
furs  to  the  colony. 

Massasoit  gathered   his   council.     "  Am  I   not,"  said   he,    Massasoit 
"^  commander  of  the  country  ?     Is  not  such  a  town  mine  ? —  consults  his 
and  such  an  one  ? — going  on  to  the  number  of  thirty, — and  ^r^anS^he^ 
finally,  should  not  all  bring  their  furs  to  him  if  he  wished  it  ?''  Indian  tradt 
The  Sannops  ejaculated  a  hearty  affirmative  to  each  succes- 
sive proposition,  and  the  matter  was  happily  adjusted.     The 
trade, thus  secured  to  the  colony, proved  of  great  consequence. 

The  ship  Fortune  arrived  in  November,  and  brought  over       Nov. 
thirty-five  persons  to  join  the  settlers.     The  corn  which  they  rlnune  i 
had  found  in  their  excursions  from  Cape  Cod  providentially      rives, 
preserved  them ;  for  they  had  planted  it,  and  the  crop  was 
iheir  dependence,   scanty  though  it  proved,   for  their  second 
winter. 

Massasoit  feared  the  Narragansetts,  and  was  doubtless  on 
that  account  desirous  of  cultivating  the  friendship  of  the  Eng- 
ish.     Canonicus,  the  old  hereditary  chieftain  of  that  confede- 
racy, perhaps  offended  at  this    intimacy,   or   regarding  the    Narragan- 
whites  as  intruders,  meditated  a  war  against  them :  which  he  setts  threat- 
openly  intimated  by  sending  to  Governor  Bradford  a  bunch  of     en  ^v^'^- 
arrows  tied  with  the  skin  of  a  rattlesnake.     Bradford  stuffed    i032. 
the  skin  with  powder  and  ball  and  sent  it  back ;  and  nothing 
•nore  was  heard,  at  that  time,  of  war. 

News  came  to  Plymouth  that  Massasoit  was  sick.     Accom-    1623. 
oanied  by  "  one  Master  John  Hampden,"  believed  by  some  March  isL 
to  be  the  celebrated  Englishman  of  that  name,  then  on  a  visit  ^lSs  Massa- 
lo  the  colony,  Winslow  taking  suitable  articles,  went  to  Mon-   soit  in  his 
luup.     He  found  the  Indians  bewailing,  and  practicing  their    sicknea* 
noisy  powows  or  incantations  around  the  sightless  chieftain. 


3S  FAVORABLE  CHANGE  IN  THE  AFFAIRS  OF  THE  COLONY. 

PART  I.  Affectionately  he  extended  his  hand  and  exclaimed,  ''  Art 
PERIOD  in.  thou  Winsnow  ?"  (He  could  not  articulate  the  liquid  1.)  "  Art 
CHAP.  III.  thou  Winsnow  ?  But,  0,  Winsnow  I  I  shall  never  see  thee 
v-^^-N'-'"^^  more."  Winslow  administered  cordials,  and  he  recovered. 
He  recovers  He  then  revealed  a  conspiracy  which  the  Indians  had  formed 
and  reveals  ^^^  requested  him  to  join,  "  But  now,"  said  he,  "  1  know 
^  ^  '^  ■       that  the  English  love  me." 

Agreeably  to  Massasoit's  advice,  that  a  bold  stroke  should 
be  struck,   and  the  heads  of  the  plot  taken  off,  the  intrepid 
Standish,  w4th   a   party  of  only  eight,  went  into  the  hostile 
Tlie  conspi-  country,  attacked  a  house  v/here  the  principal  conspirators 
raiorscutofr.  j^g^^  j^-^^^^  ^^^\  p^^  them  to  death.     In  justice  to  the  Indians,  it 
should  be  stated  that  they  were  provoked  to  this  conspiracy 
MasterWe?. '^y    ^^^^   lawless   aggressions    of   "Master    Weston's    men." 
ton-s  menl  These  were  a  colony  of  sixty  Englishmen,  sent  over  in  June, 
1622,  by  Thomas  Weston.     Though  hospitably  received  at 
[Weston    Plymouth,  they  stole  the  young  corn  from  the  stalk,  and  thus 
don   mer- "  brought  want  and  distress  upon  the  settlers,  the  ensuing  win- 
chant,  once  ter  and  spring.     They  then  made  a  short-lived  and  pernicious 
^^the'^Pu"^  settlement    at    Weymouth.      The    pilgrims  had    been    more 
grims.]      alarmed  at  this  Indian  conspiracy,  on  account  of  the  horrible 

news  from  Virginia,  of  the  great  Indian  massacre  there. 
1624.         Notwithstanding  all  the  hardships — all  thewisdom  and  con- 
to  stancy,  of  the  colonists,  the  partners  of  the  concern  in  London 
1.0^0.     complained  of  small  returns  ;  and   even  had  the  meanness  to 
The  proper-  send  a  vessel  to  rival  them   in  their  trade  with  the   Indians, 
ty  of  the  CO-  Winslow  went  to  England  and  negotiated  a  purchase  for  him - 
i°"win^sUw  ^^^^  ^^^  seven  of  his  associates  in  the  colony,  by  which  the 
and  others    pi"operty  was  vested  in  them  ;  and  they  sold  out  to  the  colony 
then  in  the  at  large,  for  the  consideration  of  a  monopoly  of  the  trade  with 
whole.      the  Indians  for  six  years. 

New  Plymouth  now  began  to  flourish.  For  the  land  being 
divided,  each  man  labored  for  himself  and  his  family,  and  not 
for  the  public,  or  for  distant  usurers.  Their  government  wa** 
ernmenr  ^  P"^®  democracy,  resembling  that  now  exercised  in  a  town 
meeting.  Each  male  inhabitant  had  a  vote  ;  the  governor  liaii 
two.  At  first  some  delicacy  was  felt,  as  they  had  no  cliarte^ 
being  north  of  the  bounds  of  the  Virginia  company,  but  at 
length  they  proceeded  to  the  exercise  of  all  the  powers  oi 
self-government.  After  the  establishment  of  the  Grand  Coun- 
cil of  Plymouth,  of  which  mention  will  soon  be  made 
He*  crarter.  they  received  from  it  a  charter,  by  which  they  exercised  these 
rights,  under  the  authority  of  England. 

Numbers  of  their  brethren  of  the  church  at  Leyden  came 
over  within  the  first  few  years  to  join  the  settlement ;  ana 
Winslow  relates  that  the  people  of  Plymouth  gave  a  thousand 
pounds  to  assist  them  to  emigrate.  But  the  good  Robinson 
D^^  of  ^^^  ^^^  permitted  to  enter  the  land  of  his  hopes  and  affections. 
Aobinson  He  died  in  Leyden,  1625,  to  the  great  grief  of  the  Pilgrims, 
who  had  kept  theii  church  without  a  pastor.  Elder  Brewster 


SIR    FERDINANDO    GORGES    AND    IIIS    ASSOCIATES.  39 

officiating,  in  hopes,  until  they  heard  of  his  death,   again  to     PARTI. 
enjoy  his  ministrations.  period  iil 

Ten  years  after  its  first   settlement,  New  Plymouth   had   chap.  iv. 
three  hundred  inhabitants  ;  and  had  no  other  colony  followed,  '^-^^v'v^ 
there   is  every  reason  to  believe  they  would  have  sustained 
themselves.     Their  history  forms  a  striking  contrast  with  that     ^^'^•^"  * 
of  colonies  where  men  were  sent  by  others  to  labor  in  distant  i^'^piymouUi. 
lands,  or    induced  by  worldly  motives    to  enlist  under    am- 
bitious leaders.     Like  the  Captain  of  their  Salvation,  the  Pil- 
grims were  self-devoted.     No  man  took  from  them,  but  they 
voluntarily  laid  down  what  pertained  to  this  life,  in  the  cheer- 
ful and  assured  hope  of  a  better.     Faithfulness  they  regarded 
as  their  concern ;  reward,  as  that  of  their  Heavenly  Master. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Grand  Council  of  Plymouth. — New  Hampshire. 

In  November,  1620,  the  same  month  in  which  the  Pilgrims     jg^O 
arrived  on  the  American   coast,   James  I.  issued  a  charter  to  Grand  coun 
ihe  duke  of  Lenox,  the  marquisses  of  Buckingham  and  Ham-  cil  of  Plym- 
ihon,  the   earls   of    Arundel   and  Warwick,  Sir   Ferdinando  ^"^^  receive 
Gorges,  and  thirty-four  associates,  styling  them  the  "Grand  i.asweeping 
Council  of  Plymouth,  for  planting  and  governing  New  Eng-    patent  of 
land,  in  America."     This  patent  granted  them  the  territory  ^^^^'g';^^^*^ 
between  the  "  fortieth  and  forty-eighth  degrees  of  north  lat-     England. 
itude,   and   extending  throughout  the  main  land   from  sea  to 
sea."     This  territory,  which  had  been  previously  called  North 
Virginia,  noAv  received  the  name  of  New  England,  by  royal 
authority. 

From  this  patent  were  derived  all  the  subsequent  grants, 
under  which  the  New  England  colonies  were  settled.  But 
either  from  sinister  motives,  sheer  ignorance  of  the  geogra- 
phy of  the  country,  or  reckless  disregard  to  consequences, 
the  affairs  of  this  corporation  were  transacted  in  a  manner  so 
confused,  that  endless  disputes  and  difficulties  were  occasioned. 

Sir  Ferdinando   Gorges  had  been  an  officer  in  the  navy  of  „  ^'''  ^• 
Elizabeth,  and  a  companion  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.     Various     Captli^ 
circumstances  had  bent  his  mind  strongly  to  the  ambition  of     Mason 
founding  a  colony  in  iVraerica.    Perhaps  he  imagined  it  would 
become  a   principality  or  a  dukedom.     He   was   hence   the 
pnme  mover  in  getting  up  the  Grand  Council  of  Plymouth  ; 
and  was  made  its  President.     Similar  motives  actuated  Cap- 
tain Mason,  and  he  became  its  Secretary.  1621. 

Mason  procured  from  the  Grand  Council  the  absurd  grant  ^^^[^^  9,^^- 
of  "all  the  land  from  the  river  of  Naumkeag,  (Salem,)  round  parent  called 
Cape  Ann  to  the  mouth  of  the  Merrimack,  and  all  the  country    Mari&na. 


4i) 


ENDICOT     BEGINS    A    SETTLEMENT     AT    SALEM. 


PART    I. 

PERIOD    III. 

CHAP.    V. 


1622 

Gorges  and 

Mason 

obtain  a 

charter  of 

Maine  and 

N.H. 


lying  between  the  two  rivers,  and  all  islands  withiln  three  miles 
of  the  coast."     The  district  was  to  be  called  Mariana. 

The  next  year,  Gorges  and  Mason  jointly  obtained  of  the 
Council  another  patent  of  "  all  the  lands  between  the  Mer- 
rimack and  Kennebec  rivers,  extending  back  to  the  great 
lakes,  and  river  of  Canada."  This  tract  received  the  name 
of  Lacaonia.  Under  this  grant  some  feeble  settlements  were 
made  at  the  mouth  of  the  Piscataqua,  and  as  far  up  the  river 
as  the  present  town  of  Dover. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 


From 
1603 

to 

1625. 

Mr.  White, 
of   Dorches- 
ter, England, 
the  active 
patron  of 
the  Massa- 
chusetts 
settlement. 

1623. 


162§ 

Patent  for 
Massachu- 
setts. 


June. 
John  Endi- 
cot  pioneer 
of  Salem, 
finds  Roger 
Coiiant  al- 
ready there. 


1629 

Koyal    char- 
ter to  the 
Massacnu- 
setts  lia.j 
Company. 


The  persecution  of  the  Puritans  continued  unabated  durmg 
the  reign  of  James  I.,  the  successor  of  Elizabeth,  and  many 
of  the  ablest  divines  of  England,  obliged  to  feel  the  rigor  of 
the  law  or  violate  their  consciences,  were  wandering  in  for- 
eign lands,  or  meditatingr  a  removal. 

Among  the  latter  was  Mr.  White,  a  minister  of  Dorchester, 
in  the  south  of  England — a  puritan,  though  not  a  separatist. 
Having  learned  what  godly  quietness  his  brethren  of  New 
Plymouth  enjoyed,  he  turned  his  eyes  in  that  direction,  and 
projected  another  colony  to  America.  Encouraged  by  him, 
as  early  as  1624,  a  few  persons  established  themselves,  first 
at  Cape  Ann,  and  afterwards  on  the  site  of  Salem. 

Their  representations  of  the  country,  together  with  the  so- 
licitation of  White,  induced  several  gentlemen  of  Dorchester 
to  purchase  of  the  Grand  Council  of  Plymouth,  in  1628,  a 
patent  "  of  that  part  of  New  England  which  lies  between 
three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimack  river,  and  three  miles  to 
the  south  of  Charles  river,  and  extending  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  South  Sea."  Thus  the  avaricious  Council  covered  by 
a  second  grant,  lands  which  they  had  already  conveyed  by 
a  former  one  to  Mason 

John  Endicot,  a  rugged  puritan,  was  the  leader;  and  in 
Salem,  began  the  "  wilderness-work  for  the  colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts." He  brought  over  his  family,  and  other  emigrants 
to  the  number  of  one  hundred.  Roger  Conant  and  two  oth- 
ers, from  New  Plymouth,  had  selected  for  him  this  spot,  then 
called  Naumkeag,  for  their  settlement,  and  Conant  was  there 
to  give  to  Endicot  and  his  party  such  welcome  to  the  New 
World  as  the  desert  forest  could  afford. 

The  next  year,  the  proprietors  obtained  of  King  Charles  a 
charter,  confirming  the  patent  of  the  Council  of  Plymouth, 
and  conveying  to  them  powers  of  government.  They  were 
incorporated  by  the  name  of  the  "  Governor  and  Company  of 


THE    ELDER    WINTIIROP. WILSON. SEVEN    CIIUR'JlIES.  41 

Massachusetts   Bay,  in   New   England."     The  first   general  J'AIlT  I. 
court  of  the  company  was  held  in  England,  when  they  fixea 
upon  a  form  of  government  for  the  colony,  and  appointed  En- 
dicot  governor. 

About  three   hundred  persons   sailed  for  America  durinij     1639 
this  year,   a  part  of  whom  joined  Mr.  Endicot  at  Salem,  and  Charlestowa 
he  remainder,   exploring  the  coast  for  a  better  station,  laid     founded. 
he  foundation  of  Charlestown. 

In  the   meantime  other  pious  puritans,  with  similar  views  noi??Hty°  and 
to  those  of  White,  were  meditating  similar  projects  in  other  gentry  favor 
and  opposite   parts  of    England.     The   pious   I'amily  of  the  ^-  Enelani 
Earl  of  Lincoln,  'in  the   North-East,  regarded  the   religious 
enterprise    with    enthusiastic    admiration ;  as  did   also  John 
Winthrop,  a  native  of  the  county  of  Suffolk,  and  others  of 
rank  and  fortune.  A  large 

A   more   extensive   emigration   was   now  thought  of  than   emigration 
had  been  before  attempted.     But  an  objection  arose  ;  the  col-  the^best"" 
ony  was  to  be  governed  by  a  council  residing  in  England. 
To  obviate  this  hindrance,  the  company  agreed  to  form  a  coun- 
cil of  those  who  should  emigrate,   and  who  might  hold  their 
sessions  thereafter  in  the  new  settlement.  • 

On  the  election,  the  excellent  John  Winthrop  was  chosen 
goveraor.      He  had   afterv/ards   for  liis   eulogy,  a  praise   be-    Winthrop. 
yond  that  of  any  other  person  in  the  colony.  ^  "  He  was,"  say 
they,  "  unto  us  as  a  mother,  parent-like  distributing  his  goods.      Sails 
and  gladly  bearing  our  infirmities,  yet  did  he  ever  maintain    ^Slil^^' 
the  figure  and  honor  of  his  place  with  the  spirit  of  a  true      piftfen' 
gentleman."     The  company  had  determined  to  colonize  only     hundred 
their  "  best."     Ei2:ht  hundred  accompanied  Winthrop,  and  du-      persons 
ring  the  season,  seventeen  vessels  were   employed,  bringing         ° 
over,  in  all,  fifteen  hundred  persons. 

Winthrop  and  his  friends  found  no  luxurious  table  spread  for 
them  in  the  wilderness ;  but  they  freely  imparted  the  stores 
which  they  brought,  to  the  famished  and  enfeebled   sufferers  Arrival  of 
whom  they  met.     Regarding  Salem  as  sufliciently  peopled,  ^g^gjg^'* 
the  newly-arrived  located  themselves  without  delay  beyond  its    June  21.' 
limits.     Their  first  care,  wherever  they  went,  was  to  provide 
for -the   ministration  of  the  gospel.     In  August,  Charlestown     i^oa 
had  a  church,  at  the  head  of  which  was  the  ardent,  eccentric,   ^ph^  sevea 
and  benevolent  Wilson, — ever  ready  to  encourage  the  despond-  churches  <^ 
ing,  either  in  poetry  or  prose.     Dorchester  soon   after  had  a  ^^^gg^j^^**' 
church,  gathered  by  Mr.  Warham,  who  afterwards  emigrated 
to  Windsor,  Connecticut.     Boston,  Roxbury,  Lynn,  and  Wa- 
tertown,   followed   in  their  order;  so  that  at  the  end  of  two 
years,  Massachusetts  had  seven  churches,  supplied  with  de- 
vout and  learned  ministers.  Hardships 

Unused,  as  many  of  this  company  of  settlers  were,  to  aught  endured 
but  plenty  and  ease,  the  hardships  before  them,  though  borne  Death  of 
with  a  willing  mind,  were  too  much  for  the  body,  especially  ^  ^saac^ 
in  the  case   of  women.     Many  died,  though  in  the  joy  and     Johnson. 


42  MASSACHUSETTS    REQUIRES    RELIGIOUS    CONFORMITY 

peace  of  believing.  Among  these,  was  the  beloved  Arbella 
Johnson,  of  the  noble  house  of  Lincoln.  Her  husband,  Isaac 
Johnson,  the  principal  of  the  emigrants  in  respect  to  wealth, 
felt  her  loss  so  severely,  that  he  soon  followed  her  to  the 
grave.  He  made  a  liberal  bequest  to  the  colony,  and  died  "  in 
sweet  peace." 

By  the  royal  charter,  the  colonists  were  empowered  to  elect 
from  among  themselves,  annually,  a  governor,  deputy-governor, 
Affairs  of    and   eighteen   assistants ;  and  to  hold   general   courts   every 
government,  y^^^^  ^qj.  ^^q  purpose  of  choosing  officers,  and  making  all  such 
necessary  ordinances   as  were  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  of 
England.     It  was  agreed  that  important  regulations  were  to 
be  enacted  in  an  assembly  of  all  the  freemen,  and  a  meeting 
was  convened  at  Boston,  in  October,   when  Winthrop  was 
re-elected  governor,  and  Thomas  Dudley,  who  had  been  a 
faithful   steward  to  the  earl  of  Lincoln,   was  chosen  deputy- 
governor. 
1631.         At  first,   those   not  members   of  any  church  were  allowed 
Church      to  vote.     But  in  May,  1631,  the  general  court  decided  that 
necessa^o^'to  church-membership  should  be  a  necessary  qualification.     For 
a  voter,      this,   Massachusetts  has   been   censured.     But  why,  it  was 
asked,  should  those  who  left  their  homes  for  the  express  rea- 
son that  they  wished  to  live  in  a  community  constituted  in  a 
certain  manner,  be  bound  to  admit  among  them  the  very  causes 
of  disturbance  which  they  had  ventured  their  lives  and  wasted 
their  fortunes  to  avoid  1     They  had  purchased  and  taken  to 
themselves  a  desolate  corner  of  the  earth,  and  felt  that  they 
Reasoning   had  a  right  to  enjoy  it  unmolested.     Although  this  reasoning 
plausible  but  jg  plausible,  yet  when   they   afterwards   attempted  to  carry 
out  their  principles  by  force,  they  were  led  to  such  unjustifi- 
able acts,  as  proved  it  to  be  unsound. 

To  believe   strongly  in  the  immutability  of  truth,   and  of 
right,  is  a  chief  element  of  moral  greatness,  and  one  to  which 
1G11       our   earliest  fathers   oWed  their  elevation   of   character  and 
_  ■     action.     They  assumed  not  to  judge  for  others  in  things  in- 

liams  first  to  difi'erent,  but  they  insisted  that  all  must  believe  the  true,  and 
teach  do  the  right,  not  considering  that  we  may  not  on  certain 
freedom  subjects  assume  to  judge  for  others  what  these  are.  But  it 
was  not  until  the  doctrines  of  Roger  Williams  were  promul- 
gated, that  religious  toleration  was  understood.  That  remark- 
able man  joined  the  settlement  in  1631,  and  was  soon  loca- 
ted at  Salem. 

This  year,  also,  some  of  the  most  renowned  of  the  Indian 
chiefs  visited  Boston  to  tender  their  allegiance.  From  the 
country  of  the  Narragansetts  came  the  grand  warrior  Mian- 
tonomoh,  associate  sagamore,  and  nephew  to  Canonicus  ;  and 
Uncas.  from  the  river  of  the  Pequods,  appeared  the  subtle  Uncas, 
]  032.  who  declared  to  the  authorities  that  "  his  heart  was  not  his 
own,  but  theirs." 

To  cultivate  friendship   with  the  pilgrims,  the   governor, 


GREAT  INCREASE  BY  EMIGRATION.  43 

with  the  excellent  Wilson,  now  become  pastor  of  the  church    PART. I. 
of  Boston,    went  on  foot  to  visit   New   Plymouth.     Bradford,  rEiiioD  iii 
still   the    governor,   and    Brewster,  the  ruling  elder,  met  and    chap.  v. 
conducted  them  to  their   homes.     Though  but  little   of  the  ^-^-v^> 
cheer  of  earth  could  be  furnished,  yet  they  partook  together  Ociober28. 
on   the    Sabbath,   of  "  the   heavenly   feast;"  and  each  of  the     pligr^^ 
parties  spoke  in  turn  of  the  glorious  things  pertaining  to  the 
inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light. 

The  northern  colonies  had  a  good  understanding  with  the 
Virginians,   receiving   from  them    supplies  of    corn.     They 
also  had  a  friendly  traflic  with  the  Dutch,  who  had  settled  at 
the  Hudson  river.     These  signs  of  prosperity  were  reported     1(^33 
in  England,  where   persecution  was  as  yet  unrelenting  ;  and     j^^    ^^^ 
the  consequence  was,  a  fresh  emigration.     The  Griffin  brought  Au^^ust.the 
over  a  noble  freight  of  three  hundred,  among  whom  were  the      Griffin 
fathers  of  Connecticut,  Hooker  and  Haynes  ;  and  the  pious    emigrant.-*. 
and  learned  Cotton.     The* latter  was  settled  in  Boston,  and 
there  became  inlluential  in  the  organization  of  the  churches. 

As  the  settlements  in  Massachusetts  had  now  become  nu- 
merous, and  had  already  extended  more  than  thirty  miles  from     1634. 
Boston,  it  became  impracticable  for  all  the  freemen  to  attend    i^jassachu- 
the  general  court.     This  led  to  an  innovation,  which  altered     setts  be- 
the  constitution  of  the   government  from  a  simple  to  a  repre-  comes  a  rep- 
sentative  democracy.     It  was  made  lawful  for  "  the  freemen  of  democracy 
every  town  to  choose   two  or  three  of  their  own  number,  to 
confer  of,  and  prepare  such  public  business  as  by  them  shall 
be  thought  fit  to  consider  of  at  the  next  general  court ;"  and 
it  was  ordained,  that  these  persons  should  have  the  fall  power 
and  voices  of  all  the  freemen,  for  whom  they  were  chosen  to  but  elections 
act.     An  exception  was,  however,  made  in  the  case  of  elec-  ^^^  ^      ^ 
tion  to  offices,  in  which  every  freeman  was,  as  heretofore,  to 
give  his  own  vote.     For  this  purpose,  the  whole  body  met 
once  a  year,  to  hold  the  court  of  election.     Besides  this,  three 
other  general  courts  were   holden    each  year  by  the  repre- 
sentatives, which  number  was,  however,  soon  limited.     The 
Mosaic  laws  were  made  the  basis  of  their  criminal  code.  1625. 

Charles  I.,  the  son  and  successor  of  James  I.,  was  no  less     James  I. 
violent  in  his  religious  and  political  despotism  ;  and  emigrants  by  claries  I 
continued  to  flock  to  New   England.     In  the  year  1635  not     ^^^55 
less   than  three  thousand  arrived,  among  whom  was  Hugh    aooo'cmi- 
Peters,  and  also  the  younger  Henry  Vane,  much  known  in  the  grate  to  N^jw 
subsequent  history  of  England  for  his  high  political  career,  „^"°jf" 

,       T.,,  i"^         •         ^    ^    r  r    ^  ■      •    1  c  c  HughPeters, 

for  his  able  and  consistent  defense  of  the  principles  ot  Iree-  Henry  Vane 

dom,  and  for  the  violent  death  which,  after  the  accession  of 
Chailes  II.,  he  suffered   with  such  unexampled  christian  tri- 
umph.    The  lofty  bearing  of  the  high  born  stranger,  his  pro-       ya^e 
found  religious  feeling,  and  his  great  knowledge,  so  wrought  in    is  chosen 
his  favor,  that,  disregarding  his  youth,  the  people  rashly  with-     SJ^^™^ 
drew  their  suffrages  from  the  good  Winthrop,  and  chose  Vane 
governor,  the  year  after  his  arrival. 
5* 


44  ROGER     WILLIAMS    EXPELLED     FROM    MASSACHUSETTS. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Rhode   Island  and  its   first  Founder. 

^PART  L         Roger  Williams  possessed  one  of  those  rare  minds,  which 
ERIOD  iiL  looks  upon  truth  with  an  eagle  gaze  ;  and  what  he  saw  clearly, 
CHAP.  VI.    ^Yia^  he  maintained  with  invincible  courage.     But  the  war  he 
^"'^''"^''"^*^  waged,  was  with  "  soul-oppression."     Having  been  a  puritan 
Wiufaras.    "minister,  he  had  been  driven  from  England   by  those  perse- 
cutions for  opinion,  which,  like  the  confusion  of  languages  at 
Hisamval,  Babel,   drove   men   asunder,   and  peopled  the  earth.     When 
1631   '  ^'^il^i^^s   arrived  in   Massachusetts,  he  proclaimed,  that  the 
His  views  of  Only  business   of  the  human  legislator  is  with  the  actions 
religious     of    man    as    they    aflect    his    fellow-man ;    but    as    for    the 
to  eration.    |-}^oughts   and  feelings  of  his  mind,  and  the  acts  or  omissions 
of  his  life,  as  respects  religious   worship,  the  only  lawgiver 
is  God  ;    and  the   only  human  tribunal,    a  man's   own  con- 
science. 

Hence  he   condemned   as  unjust  the   church-membership 
^^by^the'^    restriction  of  the  right  of  suffrage,  all  laws  to  compel  atten- 
authorities    dance  on  devotional  exercises,  and  all  taxation  to  support  pub- 
of  Massa-    \[q  worship      Great  was   the  astonishment   caused,   and  the 
disturbance  made,  by  what  was  called  this  "  ill  egg  of  tolera- 
1635.     tion."     Williams,  the  eloquent  young  divine,  frank  and  affec- 
He  is  settled  tionate,   had,   however,  won    the    hearts    of  the   people    of 
at  Salem.    Salem,  and  they  invited  him  to  settle  with  them  as  their  pas- 
tor.    The   general   court   forbade  it.     Williams  withdrew^  to 
with"he"^en-  Ply^i^outh,  where  he   remained  as  pastor  for  two  years,   and 
eral  court,    then  returned  to  Salem,  where  he  was  again  gladly  received 
by  the  people. 

The  court  punished  the  town  for  this  offense  by  withhold- 
ing a  tract  of  land  to  which  they  had  a  claim.     Williams 
wrote  to  the  churches,  endeavoring  to  show  the  injustice  ol 
this  proceeding ;  whereupon  the  court  ordered,  that  until  am- 
Salem  dis-  P^®  ^P^logy  was  made  for  the  letter,  Salem  should  be  disfran- 
franchised.   chised.     Then    all,    even    his  wife,  yielded   to  the    clamor 
against  him  ;  but  he   declared  to  the  court  before  whom  he 
was   arraigned,  that  he  was  ready  to   be  bound,  or  if  need 
were,  to   attest  with  his  life,  his  devotion  to  his  principles. 
^^^^T^/^  The  court,  influenced  by  Mr.  Cotton,  pronounced  against  him 
the  sentence  of  exile.     Winter  was  approaching,  and  he  ob- 
tained   permission  to  remain  till  spring.     The  affections  of 
his  people  revived,  and  throngs  collected  to  hear  the  beloved 
1636      "^oic^?  soon  to  cease  from  among  them.     The  authorities  be- 
.  came  alarmed,  and  sent  a  pinnace  to  convey  him  to  England  ; 

unsheltered  ^ut  he  had  disappeared, 
wanderer.        Now  a  wanderer  in  the  wilderness,  he  had  not,  upon  many 


THE  NARRAGA.NSETTS  THE  BENEFACTORS  OF  RHODE  ISLAND.  45 

a  Stormy  nigtit,  cither  "food,  or  fire,  or  company,"    or  bet-    pari  ] 
ter  lodging  than  the  hollow  of  a  tree.     At  last,  a  few  follow- 
ers having  joined  him,  he  fixed  at  Seckonk,  since  Rchoboth, 
within  the  limits  of  the  colony  of  Plymouth.     Winslo"'  was 
now  governor  there  ;  and  he  felt  himself  obliged  to  commu- 
nicate  to  Williams  that  his  remaining  would  breed   disturb-  jj^  ^^^^  ^ 
ance  between   the  two  colonies  ;  and  he  added  his  advice  to    the  Nan-a- 
that  privately  conveyed  to  Williams  by  a  letter  from  Winthrop      gansetts 
**  to  steer  his  course  to  Narragansett  Bay." 

Williams  now  threw  himself  upon  the  mercy  of  Canonicus. 
At  first,  the  sachem  was  ungracious.     The  English,  he   said, 
had  sought  to  kill  him,  and  had  sent  the  plague  among  his      JfoJTby^ 
people.     But  Williams  won  upon  him  by  degrees,  and  he   Canonicus. 
extended  his  hospitality  to  him  and  his  suflering  company. 
de  would  not,  he  said,  sell  his  land,  but  he  freely  gave  to 
Williams,  whose  neighborhood  he  now  coveted,  and  who  was 
favored  by  his   nephew,  Miantonomoh,  all  the  neck  of  land 
•between  the  Pawtucket  and  Moshasuck  rivers,  "that  his  people  Recen-es  a 
might  sit  down  in  peace  and  enjoy  it  forever."     Thither  they  '""^^^^  founds' 
went,  and  with  pious   thanksgiving  named  the  goodly  place  Providence. 
Providence.  1636. 

The  acquaintance  of  Williams  with  the  Narragansetts  was 
opportune  ;    for  by  its  means  he   learned  that  a  conspiracy 
was  forming  to  cut  off  the  English,  headed  by  Sassacus,  the 
powerful   chief   of   the    Pequods.     The    Narragansetts   had 
been  strongly  moved  by  the  eloquence  of  Mononotto,  asso- 
ciate chief  Avith  Sassacus,  to  join  in  the  plot.     They  wavered, 
but  Williams,  by  making  a  perilous  journey  to  their  country,     perilous 
persuaded  them  rather  to  unite  with  the  English  against  their    joumey  to 
ancient  enemies.     He  wrote  to  Governor  Winthrop,  who  im-   ^'iansettsT 
mediately  invited  Miantonomoh  to  visit  him  at  Boston.     That  to  sen-e  hi 
chieftain  went,   and  there   entered  into  a  treaty  of  peace  and  persecutor* 
alliance  with  the  English ;  engaging  to  them  the  assistance 
of  the  Narragansetts   against  the  Pequods,  should  they  per- 
sist in  hostility. 

Roger  Williams  became  a  Baptist;  and  founded,  in  Provi- 
dence, the  first  Baptist  church  in  America. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Connecticut  and  its  Founders. 


The  Dutch  and  English  both   claimed  to  be  the   original  The  Dut-.n 
discoverers  of  Connecticut  river,  but  the  former  had  probably  the  probable 
the  ju?ter  claim.     The  natives  along  its  valley  were  kept  in  o/connecti 
fear  by  the   more  warlike  Pequods  on  the  east,  and  the  terri-     cut  river 
ble  Mohawks  in  the  west ;  and  hence  they  desired  the  pres- 
ence of  the  English,  as  defenders.     As  early  as  1631,  ^Vah- 
.juimacut,  one  of  their  sachems,  being  pressed  by  the  Pequods, 


46 


VALLEY  OF  THE  CONNECTICUT. ITS  DIFFERENT  SETTLERS 


PART  I. 
PERIOD    III. 
CHAP.    VII. 


16311. 


Dutch  fix  at 
Hartford. 

October, 

1633. 

Plyrnovith 

people  at 

Windsor, 

erect  the  first 

house  in  the 

State. 


Patent  of 

Connecticut 

granted  to 

English 

noblemen. 


The  younger 
Winthrop 
their  agent. 


1631. 

Extent  of 
the  patent. 


1633. 

to 

1635. 

Thomas 
Hobker  and 
thers  of  the 
fiay,  deter- 
mine tj 
remove. 

A  party  in 

advance 
of  Hooker, 


went  to  Boston  and  afterwards  to  Plymouth,  earnestly  re- 
questing that  an  English  colony  might  be  sent  to  his  country, 
which  he  truly  described  as  a  delightful  region.  Governor 
Winthrop  declined  his  proposal ;  but  Edward  Winslow,  then 
governor  of  Plymouth,  favored  the  project,  and  visited  and 
examined  the  valley. 

The  Plymouth  people  had  been,  some  time  previous,  ad- 
vised by  the  Dutch  to  settle  on  Connecticut  river ;  and  they 
now  determined  to  pursue  the  enterprise.  They  fixed  on  the 
site  of  Windsor,  as  the  place  to  erect  a  trading-house.  But 
delays  occurred,  and  the  Dutch  having  repented  of  their  for- 
mer moderation,  and  now  anxious  to  secure  the  territory  for 
themselves,  erected  a  small  trading  fort,  called  the  house  of 
Good  Hope,  on  a  point  of  land  in  Sukeag,  since  Hartford,  at 
the  junction  of  the  Little  river  with  the  Connecticut. 

The  materials  for  the  Plymouth  trading-house  being  put  on 
board  a  vessel.  Captain  Holmes,  who  commande-d,  soon  ap- 
peared sailing  up  the  river.  When  opposite  to  the  Dutch 
fort,  he  was  commanded  to  stop,  or  he  would  be  fired  upon  ; 
but  he  resolutely  kept  his  course,  and  the  Windsor  house,  the 
first  in  Connecticut,  was  erected  and  fortified  before  winter. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  the  puritans  in  England,  and 
such  the  reputation  of  their  success  in  America,  that  even 
some  of  the  nobility  belonging  to  the  sect,  meditated  emigra- 
tion. The  Grand  Council  patented  Connecticut  to  the  Earl  of 
Warwick,  a  friend  and  frequent  hearer  of  Thomas  Hooker. 
That  nobleman  subsequently  transferred  his  patent  to  Lord 
Say  and  Seal,  and  Lord  Brooke,  with  others.  John  Winthrop, 
a  son  of  the  worthy  governor  of  Massachusetts,  a  man  in 
whom  high  natural  endowments  had  received  the  teachings 
of  science  and  religion,  having  been  sent  to  England  on  busi- 
ness for  Massachusetts,  took  an  agency  for  the  two  Lords 
patentees,  and  was  directed  by  them  to  build  a  fort  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Connecticut  river,  and  within  it,  houses  proper 
for  persons  of  rank,  as  well  as  those  for  laborers. 

The  patent  granted  all  that  part  of  New  England  which  ex- 
tends "  from  N'arragansett  river  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
on  a  straight  line,  near  the  shore,  towards  the  south-west,  as 
the  coast  lies  toward  Virginia,  and  within  that  breadth,  from 
the  Atlantic  ocean  to  the  South  Sea." 

Before  Mr.  Winthrop's  commission  was  known,  Thomas 
Hooker  and  his  church  had  determined  to  leave  Newtown, 
since  Cambridge,  and  plant  themselves  upon  Connecticut  river; 
having  obtained  for  that  object  a  reluctant  permission  from  ^'he 
general  court  of  Massachusetts. 

Other  parties  around  the  Bay  were  also  in  motion.  In 
August,  a  few  pioneers  from  Dorchester  selected  a  place  at 
Windsor  near  the  Plymouth  trading-house  ;  and  others  from 
Watertown  fixed  on  Pyquag,  now  Wethersfield. 

Having  made  such  preparations  as  they  were  able,  a  paii.y 


FIRST    WINTERS    HARDSHIP. THOMAS    HOOKER. 


47 


Intending  to  be  in  advance  of  Hooker,  set  out  in  October, 
with  their  famihes,  amounting  in  all  to  sixty  persons,  men, 
women  and  children.  To  proceed  rapidly  across  a  trackless 
wilderness,  through  swamps  and  over  mountains,  was  impos- 
sible, and  when  the  tedious  journey  was  accomplished,  win- 
ter was  at  hand  ;  and  it  set  in  earlier  tlian  usual,  and  was 
uncommonly  severe.  They  not  only  lacked  comfortable 
dwellings,  but  having  sent  their  furniture  and  provisions  round 
by  shipping,  storms  had  delayed  or  wrecked  their  vessels. 
After  enduring  such  hardships  as  human  nature  shudders  to 
contemplate,  most  of  the  party,  to  save  life,  got  on  board  a 
vessel,  and  at  length  reached  Massachusetts.  A  few  re- 
mained, who  lived  on  malt  and  acorns.  Their  cattle,  too,  fared 
hardly,  browsing  in  the  woods  ;  and  numbers  of  them  died 
from  starvation.  The  resolute  puritans  were  not  however 
discouraged,  but  most  of  those  who  left  the  settlement  in  the 
winter,  returned  in  the  spring  wdth  Hooker  and  his  company. 

Winthrop  in  the  meantime  arrived  with  his  commission, 
and  commenced  building  the  projected  fort.  A  few  days  af- 
terwards, a  Dutch  vessel,  which  was  sent  from  New  Neth- 
erlands, appeared  off  the  harbor  to  take  possession  6f  its 
entrance.  The  English  having  by  this  time  mounted  two 
pieces  of  cannon,  prevented  their  landing;  and  proceeded  to 
complete  the  fort,  which  was  named  after  the  two  Lords  pat- 
entees, Say-Brook. 

Engaged  as  were  all  parties  concerned,  in  planting  the 
wilderness  for  the  same  object — the  unmolested  enjoyment  of 
a  common  religion — the  ample  subjects  of  contention,  now 
opened  by  conflicting  claims,  w^ere  all,  though  not  without  dif- 
ficulty, peaceably  adjusted.  The  Pilgrims,  in  the  exercise  of 
their  wonted  virtues,  sold  their  claim  to  lands  at  Windsor,  to 
the  people  of  Dorchester ;  and  the  patentees  were  content 
that  the  Massachusetts  settlemcii^  should  proceed. 

Thomas  Hooker  is  regarded  as  the  principal  founder  of 
Connecticut.  In  him  a  natural  " grandeur  of  mind"  was  cul- 
tivated by  education;  and  chastened  by  religion  and  adver- 
sity. Although  commanding  and  dignified  in  his  ministerial 
office,  he  was  in  policy,  an  overmatch  for  the  crafty.  In  pri- 
vate life  he  was  generous,  compassionate,  and  tender.  So 
attractive  was  his  pulpit  eloquence,  from  "  the  fervor  with 
vvhich  he  breathed  out  his  holy  soul,"  and  from  the  great  flex- 
ibility of  his  manner,  tones,  and  copious  imagery,  by  which 
he  adapted  himself  to  all  subjects  and  all  occasions,  that  in 
England  he  drew  crowds,  often  from  great  distances,  of  no- 
ble, as  well  as  plebeian  hearers.  And  when  for  his  conscien- 
tious non-conformity,  not  to  the  doctrines  of  the  English 
church,  but  to  the  legal  imposition  of  its  rites  and  ceremonies, 
the  ecclesiastical  authorities  silenced  him,  no  less  than  forty- 
seven  of  the  regular  clergy  remonstrated  ;  and  plead,  though 
vainly,  for  his  restoration. 


Ilanlships 
end  a  red. 


Rolum  to 
the  Bay. 


Winthrop 
builds  a  fort 
at  Say  brook. 


Dutch  attack 
it  and  are 
repulsed. 


Differences 
amicably 
adjusted. 


Thomas 
Hooker. 


His  chanM> 

ter  and 

pulpit 

eloqueno* 


48  JOHN    HAYNES. WISDOM,  UNION,    A^        ^ABOR. 

PART  I.         His   congregation  in  England  esteemed  his  ministry  as  so 

PERIOD  III.  great  a  blessing,  that  when   persecution  drove  him  from  his 

OHAP.    VIII.  native  land,  they  desired  still  to  be  with  him,  although  in  these 

"-**"'''"**-^  "  ends  of  the  earth."     A  portion  of  his  people  had  preceded 

1633.      him,  and  were  already  settled  at  Newtown,  since  Cambridge. 

^^^-th  r^-^"°  As  he  landed,  they  met  him  on  the  shore.     With   streaming 

church  at    eyes  he  pressed  them  to  his  bosom,  crying  out,  "  Now  I  live 

Boston,      if  ye  stand  fast  in  the  Lord  !" 

His  pervading  mind  had  been  active  in  planning  the  opera- 
tions of  the  preceding  year,  for  he  had  determined,  soon  after 
his  arrival,  on  taking  his  flock  to  a  separate  ground,  There 
P^  emovaf  remained  persecuted  friends  in  England,  who  were  yet  to 
join  them ;  and  for  their  sake,  he  deemed  it  wise  to  make 
more  extensive  room  ;  and  he  was  attracted  by  the  locality  of 
the  broad  and  beautiful  valley  of  the  Connecticut. 

Associated  with  Hooker,  both  in  counsel   and  action,  was 
John       John  Haynes,  a  gentleman  of  excellent  endowments,  of  un- 
Haynes.     aflected   meekness,  and  possessed  of  a  very  considerable  es- 
tate.    So  desirous  were  the  people  of  Massachusetts  to  detain 
him,  that  they  made  him  their  governor  ;  but  he  would  not 
lisifi      separate  himself  from  his  friend  and  pastor. 
Hooker  and       Warned  by  the  calamities  of  the  preceding  autumn,  Hooker 
his  church    would  not  delay,  although  his  wife  was  so  ill  as  to  be  carried 
journey      q^  ^  lit^er  ;  but  the  company  departed  from  Newtown  early  in 
wilderness.   June,  driving  their  flocks  and  herds.     Many  of  them   were 
accustomed  to  affluence  ;  but  now,  they  all,  men,  women  and 
little    children,    travelled   on   foot,   through    thickets,   across 
stieams  and  over  mountains,  lodging  at  night  upon  the  unshel- 
tered ground.     But  they  put  their  cheerful  trust  in  God,  and 
we  doubt  not  the  ancient  forest  was,  night  and  morning,  made 
vocal  with  His  praise. 

At  length  they  reached  their  destined  location,  which  they 

named  Hartford.     The  excellent  Haynes  was  chosen  chief 

magistrate  ;  and  the  soil  was  purchased  of  the  natives.     The 

succeeding  summer  was  one  of  the  utmost  exertion.     Houses 

Settle  at     were  to  be  built,  lands  cleared,   food  provided  for  the  coming 

Hartford  and  winter,  roads  made,  the  cunning  and  terrible  savage   to  be 

by  sood  con-  oruarded   against,  and,  chiefly,  a  church  and  state  to  be  or- 

fluct     insure   ^       ,  o  '  '  •/  ' 

Ru'cccss.      ganized.     All  was  to  be  done,  and  all  was  accomplished  by 
wisdom,  union,  and  labor. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Connecticut. — The  Pequod  Wat 


Hovv  firmly  the  little  state  had  become    established    in    a 
short  time,  is  shown   from  the  shock  which  it  now  met  and 


THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  PEQUODS  BECOMES  NECESSARY.        49 

repelled.     The  Pequotls  were  endeavoring  to  unite  the  Indian    PARtj. 
tribes  in  a  plot  to  exterminate  the  English,  especially  those  of  rKuiOD  iii 
this  colony,  named  from   its   river,  Connecticut.     They  had  chap.  vm. 
sought,  as  we  have  seen,  the  alliance  of  their  former  enemies,  ^— -v^-"*.^ 
the  Narragansetts,  but  through  the  influence  of  Roger  Wil-     1G36. 
liams,  ^  Miantonomoh,  the  war-chief  of  that  nation,  remained  ThePcquod.^ 
true  to  the  whites.     Uncas,  the  Mohegan  sagamore,  formerly   .he  Narra-" 
a  vassal,  and  of  the  same  family  with  Sassacus,  was  now  his     gimsetts 
inveterate  foe. 

The  Pequods  murdered  Captain  John  Oldham,  near  Block  „  "^^^7' 
Island.     They  made   other  attacks,   and  carried  away  some  the  Pequods. 
prisoners.     They  cut  off  stragglers  from  Saybrook,  and  had 
become  so  bold  as  to  assault  the  fort,  and  use  impudent  and 
threatening  language.     Every  where  they  were,  or   seemed 
to  be,  lurking,  with  purposes  of  murder.     The   whole   settle-  Distress  ot 
ment,  men,  women  and  children,  were  in  the  feverish  condition  ^^  settlers. 
of  intense  and  continual  fear.     They  neither  ate,  slept,  or  la- 
bored, or  even  w^orshipped  God  in  the  sanctuary,  without  arms 
and  ammunition  at  hand.  ^S^^' 

A  general  court  was  called  on  the  last  of  May,  at  Hartford.  The  '«)uri 
Thirty  persons  had  already  been  killed,  and  the  evidence  was  declare  war 
conclusive  that  the  savages  designed  a  general  massacre,  ^pg^uod^*' 
The  court,  therefore,  righteously  declared  war. 

The   quota  of  troops   from  the   three   towns   now  settled, 
shows  the  rapid  progress  of  the  settlement.     Hartford  was  to 
furnish  ninety   men,    Windsor    forty-two,    and   Wethersiield  Route  of  the 
eighteen, making  one  hundred  and  fifty.     John  Mason  was  cho-  troops  under 
sen  captain.     The  troops  embarked  at  Hartford,  sailed  down         ^^°"' 
the  river,  and  along  the  coast,  to  Narragansett  Bay.     Miantono- 
moh furnished  them  two  hundred  warriors,  Uncas  sixty.    There 
were  actually  embodied  of  the  English,  only  seventy-seven,  of 
whom  twenty,  commanded  by  Captain  Underbill,  were  from 
Massachusetts.     Guided  by  a  Pequod  deserter,  they  reached     ^ 
Mystic,  one  of  the  two   forts   of  Sassacus,  at  daw^n  of  day.  The  Pequod 
Their  Indian  allies  showed  signs  of  fear,  and  Mason  arranging  fort  at  Mya- 
them  at  a  distance  around  the  fort,  advanced  with  his  own  little  ^^^  attacked 
army.    If  they  fell,  there  was  no  second  force  to  defend  their 
state,  their  wives  and  helpless  children.     As  they  approach,  a 
dog  barks,  and  an  Indian  sentinel  cries  out,  "Owannox,  Owan- 
nox!"  the  English!  the  English!    They  leap  within  the  fort. 
The  Indians  fight  desperately,  and  victory  is  doubtful.     Mason 
then  seizes  and  throws  a  flaming  brand,  shouting,  "  we  must 
burn  them."     The  light  materials  of  their  wigwams  were  in-  Is  burnt  with 

ill  its 

stantly  in  a  blaze.     Hemmed  in  as  the  Indians  now  were,     inmatfis. 
escape  was  impossible  ;  and  six  hundred,  all  who  were  within 
the  fort,  of  every  sex  and  age,  in  one  hour  perished. 

Three  hundred  Pequods  issuing  from  the  other  and  royal 
fortress  of  Sassacus,  pursued  Mason  with  infuriated  rage,  as 
ho  retreated  to  the   Pequod   river,  where    he   embarked  on 


50 


FOUNDATION-WORK. 


PART  I 
PERIOD  III 

CHAP.  VIII. 


163T. 

Sassacus 
killed 


Pequods 

pursued  and 

defeated  at 

Fairfield. 


The  Pe- 

quods  as  a 
tribe  extinct. 


First   public 
thanks- 
giving. 


1639. 

Constitution 

and  civil 
government. 


Their  civil 
order  and 
arrange- 
ments. 


more  perma 

nent  than 

in  the  other 

states. 


board  his  vessels  which  met  him  there.     Two  of  the  English 
were  killed,  and  twenty  wounded. 

The  subjects  of  Sassacus  now  reproached  him  as  the  au- 
thor of  their  misfortunes;  and  to  escape  destruction,  he  with 
his  chief  captains  fled  to  the  Mohawks  :  but  he  was  after- 
wards slain  by  a  revengeful  subject.  Three  hundred  of  his 
warriors,  having  burned  his  remaining  fort,  fled  along  the  sea 
coast.  Massachusetts  had  raised  a  body  of  men  to  aid  in  the 
war,  which  on  account  of  the  theological  disturbance,  arrived 
too  late  for  the  battle.  These,  under  Captain  Patrick,  now 
joined  with  forty  men  under  Mason,  pursued  the  fugitive 
savages,  traced  them  to  a  swamp  in  Fairfield,  and  there  fought 
and  defeated  them. 

Nearly  one  thousand  of  the  Pequods  were  destroyed  ;  many 
fled,  and  two  hundred,  besides  women  and  children,  remained 
as  captives.  Of  these,  some,  we  are  grieved  to  relate,  were 
sent  to  the  West  Indies  and  sold  into  slavery ;  and  the  re- 
mainder divided  between  the  Narragansetts  and  the  Mohe- 
gans.  The  two  Sachems,  Uncas  and  Miantonomoh,  between 
whom  was  mutual  hatred,  now  engaged  to  live  in  peace,  '^he 
lands  of  the  Pequods  were  regarded  as  conquered  territory, 
and  the  name  of  the  tribe  was  declared  extinct. 

The  prowess  of  the  English  had  thus  put  the  natives  in 
fear,  and  a  long  peace  ensued.  All  the  churches  in  New 
England  commemorated  this  deliverance,  by  keeping  a  day  of 
common  and  devout  thanksgiving. 

The  war  had  fallen  heavily  upon  the  colony.  Their  farm- 
ing and  their  finances  were  deranged;  but  order  and  industry 
restored  them.  In  1639,  they  formally  conjoined  themselves 
to  be  one  state  or  commonwealth,  "  to  maintain  the  purity  of 
the  gospel,  the  discipline  of  the  churches,  and  in  all  civil  af- 
fairs, to  be  governed  by  the  constitution  which  should  be 
adopted." 

This  constitution  ordained  two  annual  general  courts,  one 
to  be  held  in  May,  at  which  the  whole  body  of  freemen  should 
choose  a  governor,  deputy-governor,  six  magistrates,  and  other 
necessary  officers.  Church  membership  was  not  made  a  ne- 
cessary qualification  for  a  voter,  or  even  for  a  magistrate,  al- 
though it  was  for  the  office  of  governor.  The  towns  were  to 
send  deputies  to  the  general  assembly,  for  the  transaction  of 
all  business,  except  the  election  of  officers.  All  taxes  were 
to  be  apportioned  by  a  special  committee,  consisting  of  dele- 
gates from  the  several  towns.  The  governor  and  four  magis- 
trates might  constitute  a  general  assembly,  at  which  the  for 
mer  had  a  casting  vote.  So  wisely  was  the  "foundation- 
work"  of  a  public  organization  performed  by  the  fathers  of 
Connecticut,  that  less  has  been  found  to  alter  here  than  in  any 
other  state  ;  and  it  has  hence  been  called  throughout  the 
union,  "  the  land  of  steady  habits." 


DAVENPORT    AND    EATON. THEIR    FRIENDSHIP.  ^j 

CHAPTER  IX. 

New  Haven  and  its  Founders.  ' 

Theophilus  Eaton  and*  John  Davenport,  puritans  of  much  /  -— 
distinction  in  England,  were  regarded  as  the  Moses  and  Aaron  ^'^^^'^^'^  ^i' 
of  the  colony  of  New  Haven.  Eaton  had  been  deputy-governor  *  " 
of  a  company  for  trade  to  the  Baltic,  and  a  public  functionary  ""l*""""'"^'*^ 
at  the  court  of  Denmark ;  he  had  married  a  daughter  of  the  Eaton  I'man 
Bishop  of  Chester,  and  was  possessed  of  a  large  estate.  Da-  of  conse- 
venport,  the  son  of  an  Enoflish  lawyer,  was  early  pious;  and    q];'en«e  m 

.      •  1  •    •   .         1        u  ■'       •         .    •       T        1  England. 

entermg  the  ministry,  he   became   eminent  in  London   as  a 
preacher. 

In  attempting  to  dissuade  Cotton  from  puritanism,  Daven-  ,  ,     y. 
port  had  become  its  disciple,  and  thus  exposed  himself  to  per-  port  an  emi* 
secution.     He  believed  that  the  reformation  in  England  had  nent  divina 
stopped  short;  and  that  "the  ark  might  as  well  be  got  ofl'  from 
the  mountains  when  it  had  once  rested,  as  a   reformation  to 
be  reformed  where  it  had  once  stopped :"  and  hence  he  was 
seized  with  an  ardent  desire  to  realize  his  visions  of  perfec- 
tion in  church  organization,  which  he  thought  could   only  be  His  views  cf 
where  a  church  should  be  constituted  "  in  the  first  assay,"  in 
entire  accordance  with  the  scriptures  ;  and  Cotton  had  written 
to  him  from  America,  that  the  order  there  settled  "  brought  to 
his  mind  the  new  heavens  and  the  new  earth,  wherein  dwell- 
eth  righteousness." 

Among  the  serious  virtues  of  that  soul-expanding  day,  was 
one  little  known  in  times  when  a  paltry  spirit  of  levityprevails :  ^^ween  eL 
that  of  high  and  devoted  friendship.     Such  existed  between     ton  and 
Davenport  and  Eaton,   and  appears  to  have  been  the  main-  Davenport 
spring  in  producing  Eaton's  emigration. 

The  two  friends  collected  their  associates,  and  arrived  at      ,^q«' 
Boston,  July  26th,  1637.     Massachusetts  was  desirous  of  se-  rp^^     ^^-^^^ 
curing  such  settlers,  but  they  preferred  a  separate   establish-    at  Boston, 
ment ;  and  seeking  a  commercial  station,  they  explored  the      163§. 
coast,  fixed  on  Quinnipiac,  and  in  1638,  they  moored  their  They  reach 
vessels  in  its  harbor.     The   company  had   made  some  little  Quinnipiac. 
preparation  for  the  settlement  the  preceding  summer,  yet  many 
sufferings  were  to  be  endured.     The  spring  was  uncommonly 
backward ;    their   planted   corn   perished   repeatedly  in  the 
ground,  and  they  dreaded  the  utter  failure  of  the  crop  ;  but  at 
length  they  were  cheered  by  warm  weather,  and  surprised  by 
the  rapid  progress  of  vegetation. 

The  first  Sunday  after  they  arrived,  they  met  and  worship-     ^    -j  j^^ 
ped  under  a  large  tree,  when  Mr.  Davenport  preached  to  them 
concerning  the  temptations  of  the  wilderness.     On  the  4th  of 


52  THEOLOGICAL  DISTURBANCE  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 

PART  I.    June,  1639,  they  met  in  a  large  barn  belonging  to  Mr.  New- 
PERIOD  iiL  man,  when  they  formed  themselves  into  a  body  politic,  and 
CHAP.  X.    established  a  form  of  government,  blending  the  church  with 
>^'V^^  the  state.     Each  church  was  to  be  begun   by  seven  of  their 
1639.      best  and  most  pious  men,  called  "  the  seven  pillars  "  of  the 
June  4.     church,  who  were  to  be  selected   by  twelve  chosen  by  the 
Civil  and    people  at  large  for  the  purpose.    The  governor  and  magistrates 
government  were  to  be  elected  by  such  of  their  number  as  were  church 
established,  members  ;  and  were  to  hold  annually  a  general  court  to  regu- 
The  seven  ^^^^  the  affairs  of  the  colony.     The  planters  solemnly  bound 
pillars  of    themselves,  "  until  otherwise  ordered,  to  be  governed  in  all 
wisdom's    things,  of  civil  as  well  as  religious  concerns,  by  the  rules  which 
the  Scriptures  held  forth  to  them."     Eaton  was  chosen  go- 
Mr.  Eaton  vernor.     To  the  place,  which  they  held  by  purchase  from  the 
govern    .   jj^j-^gg^  ^^^y.  g^^g  ^^^  name  of  New  Haven. 


CHAPTER   X. 

Massachusetts. — Anlinomianism  and  Intolerance. 

As  long  as  the  Puritan  fathers  consisted  of  only  a  few 
united  brethren,  who  accorded  in  religious  views,  all  was  har- 
monious ;  and  the  error  which  aftervwards  led  to  intolerance^ 
remained  latent.  But  human  opinion  flows  on  like  a  river,  and 
its  course  cannot  be  stayed  by  human  means.     Already  had 

^rs.  Hutch-  ii^Q  theology  of  Geneva,  the  head-quarters  of  puritanism,  un- 
dergone a  change  ;  and  Vane,  recently  there,  had  come  over 
with  newer  lights  ;  and  at  this  time,  "  a  master-piece  of  wo- 
men's wit,"  Anne  Hutchinson,  of  Boston,  had,  by  her  powers 
of  reasoning,  and  eloquence  of  expression,  promulgated  opin- 
ions unthought  of  before,  and  highly  offensive. 
„  She  began   in  meetings  of  her  own  sex,  with  the  simple 

i^inions,  scriptural  proposition,  that  justification  is  of  faith,  and  not  of 
works — the  divine  life  formed  in  the  soul,  and  not  in  outward 
observances.  She  was  regarded  as  aiming  a  reproach  at  the 
sanctity  of  manners,  then  so  carefully   cultivated,  especially 

SiS^red  by  ^"^^ng  the  clergy.     These  censured,  but  failing  to  silence  her, 

the  clergy,  a  bitter  controversy  ensued.  At  last,  she  went  the  length  of 
denying  the  necessity  of  good  works,  even  as  an  evidence  of 
faith.  This  was  Anlinomianism,  and  it  was  regarded  as  a 
most  alarming  heresy;  and  so  many  had  embraced  it  that  the 
utmost  distress  pervaded  the  minds  of  the  puritans;  who 
'     seemed  now  destined  to  lose  that  great  blessing  of  gospel  pu- 

Vane  takes    ^'^^Y^  ^^^  which  they  had  sacrificed  so  nwich. 
her  part         Governor  Vane,  believing  Mrs.  Hutchinson  to  have  been 


FIRST     UNIVERSITY    IN    THE    COLONIES.  53 

wronged,  sought  to  defend  her,  by  pleading  the  just  principles  PART  I. 
of  religious  toleration.  Mr.  Cotton,  it  is  believed,  was  period  hi. 
touched  on  the  side  of  his  personal  vanity,  by  the  preference  chap.  x. 
which  the  eloquent  lady  gave  to  him  over  his  clerical  breth-  >--^-n^-^»^ 
ran.  It  is  certain  that  he  was  her  advocate,  as  was  also  her  Mr.  CoUoil 
brother-in-law,  Mr.  Wheelright,  who  was  a  minister,  and  Mr.  '^^^^ri^Xl"^^' 
Coddington,  a  respectable  magistrate,  and  many  others. 

The  wrath  of  the  opposition  was  especially  kindled  against 
Mr.  Vane  ;  and  although  he  was  the  idol  of  yesterday,  to-day     leST. 
he  was  denounced  as  a  heretic   and  a  hypocrite.     Such  ex-    Great  ex- 
citement prevailed  at  the  ensuing  election,  at  which  Winthrop     citement. 
was  reinstated  as  governor,  that  the  zealous  Wilson  climbed  Mr. Wilson's 
a  tree  to  harangue  the  people.     Even  the  call  made  by  Con- 
necticut in  her  distress,  for  assistance  against  the   Pequods, 
who  would,  if  they  destroyed  the  sister  colony,  be  next  with 
the  midnight  tomahawk  at  their  own  doors,  was  regarded  with 
less  interest  than  this  controversy  ;  and  hence  the  Massachu- 
setts troops,  whom  Wilson  was  to  accompany  as  chaplain,  did 
not  arrive  until   the  little   army  of  Mason  had   accomplished, 
against  fearful  odds,  the  reduction  of  the  Pequod  fort.  A  synod 

In  this    extremity,  a  synod  of   ministers   was   assembled,  condemn  the 
Mr.  Davenport  had  opportunely  arrived  from  London,  and  Mr.  Mrs^^Hutch- 
Hooker,  desirous  to  prepare  minds  for  political  as  well  as  reli-       inson. 
gious  union,   recrossed  the  wilderness  from  Hartford.     Vane 
had  returned  to  England  to  be  a  leader  and  champion  of  lib- 
erty in  the  long  parliament,  and  Cotton,  as  he  now  expressed  She  is  ban 
to  the  synod  his  views  of  the  controversy,  seemed   scarcely   '^"^^^^^th 
to  differ   from  his  brethren.     The  opinions  of  the  heresiarch    adherents, 
were  unanimously  condemned  by  the  synod,  and  herself  and 
the  most  determined  of  her  adherents  banished.  163S 

Mrs.   Hutchinson,    excommunicated  from   the    church,  an  to 

outcast  from  a  society  which  had  but  now  followed  and  flat-     1643. 
tared  her,  went  first  to  Rhode  Island,  to  join  the  settlement  Mrs.  Hutch- 
which  her  followers  had  there  made ;  thence  she  removed  with   slro^-ed^b" 
her  family  to  the  state  of  New  York,  where  she  met  death  in  Indians  in 
its  most  appalling  form — that  of  an  Indian  midnight  niassacre.    ^^^^  ^"^■^• 

Some  of  the  first  fathers  of  New  England,  especially  the 
clergy,  were   men  of  extensive  learning.     The  greater  num- 
ber of  these  had  been  educated  at  the  university  of   Cam- 
bridge ;  but  all,  of  every  rank  and  occupation,  held  learning 
in    profound    esteem.     Hence  some   of  their  earliest  cares    ^?^*^?' 
were  to  provide  the  means  of  instruction  for  their  children,   sotts  gives 
At  the  general  court  in   September,    1630,  the  sum  of  four  ^our  hundred 
hundred  pounds   was  voted  to  commence  a  college  building,   ^'^ijl^^  a^° 
and  Newtowm,  which  had  been   fixed  on  as  its  location,  re-     coflege. 
ceived  the  name  of  Cambridge.     In  1638,  Mr.  John  Harvard,     I63§. 
a  pious  divine  from  England,  dying  at  Charlestown,  left  to  the     Mr.  John 
college  a  bequest  of  nearly  eight  hundred  pounds  ;  and  grati-     ^^kes^ 
tude  perpetuated  his  name  in  that  of  the  institution.     All  the     bequesr 
several  colonies  cherished  the  infant  seminary  by  contributions ; 


54  CODDINGTON  AND  CLARKE.— WHEELRIGHT. 

PART  I.    regarding  it  as  a  nursery,  from  which  the  church  and  state 
were  to  be  replenished  with  quaUfied  leaders. 

Rhode  Island.     The  most  respectable   of  the   banished 

followers  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson  went  south,  headed  by  William 

1638.     Coddington  and  John  Clarke,  who,  as  a  baptist,  had  also  been 

Followers  of  persecuted;  and  by  the  influence   of  Roger  Williams    they 

Mrs.  Hutch-  obtained   from   Miantonomoh  the   noble   gift  of  the  island  of 

nson  obtain  Aquetneck,  called  Rhode  Island,  on  account  of  its  beauty  and 

IJhode  Isl-     ^    ^.,,  '  ,  ,T  1      1  ,         •'.       . 

and.  fertility.  Here  they  established  a  government,  on  the  princi- 
ples of  political  equality  and  religious  toleration ;  and  Cod- 
dington was  made  chief  magistrate. 

New   Hampshire.     Another    portion  of   the   disciples   of 
^i'hfand"  ^^^^-  Hutchinson,  headed  by  her  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Wheel- 
others  found  right,  went  north  ;   and  in  the  valley  of  the  Piscataqua  founded 
Exeter.     Exeter.     It  was  within  a  tract  of  country  lying  between  that 
river  and  the  Merrimac,  which  vVheelright  claimed  by  virtue 
1629.      ^^  ^  purchase  made  of  the  celebrated  Indian  sorcerer,  Passa- 
Wheelri'^ht's  conaway,  the   chief  sachem  of  the  Pennicooks ;  and  of  less 
Indian  pa-    powerful  chiefs  of  smaller  tribes.     This  claim  interfered  with 
^^^^-        that  conveyed  by  the  patent  to  Mason  and  Gorg°"^   and  was 
accordingly  disputed. 

In  the  meantime  small  independent  settlements  were  made 

along  the  water  courses,  by   emigrants  from  Massachusetts 

and  the  other   colonies  ;    but  they   did  not  flourish,   for  they 

1641      imprudently  neglected  the   culture  of  their  lands,  present  ne- 

New  Hamp-  ccssities  being  scantily  supplied  by  fish  and  game. 

Bliire  settle-      jjj    1641,   these  settlements,  induced  by  a  sense  of  their 

become'a    weakness,  petitioned  Massachusetts  to  receive  them  under  its 

part  of  Mas-  jurisdiction.     The   general   court  granted   their  request,  and 

ijachusetts.  ^jjgy  were  incorporated  with  that  colony. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Delaware — Maryland — Virginia. 
GusTAvus  Adolphus,  the  hero  of  his  age,  formed,  in  1627, 
162T.     *^^  project  of  sending  to  America  a  colony  of  his  subjects  from 
Swedes  and  Sweden   and  Finland.     About  ten  years  afterwards,  in  1638, 
6euTe  on*the  ^^^^^  ^^^'^''^  ^^^^  headed  by  Peter  Minuets,  and  settled  at  Chris- 
Delaware  iu  tina  Creek,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Delaware,  calling  that  river 
1G3  8.     Swedeland-stream,  and  the  country,  Nev/  Sweden. 

Though  this  was  the    first  effectual  settlement,    yet    the 

Dutch  had  in  1629  purchased  of  the  natives  a  tract  of  land 

^639.     extending  from  Cape  Henlopen  to  the  mouth  of  the  Delaware 

clafm  origi-  river.     A  small  colony  conducted  by  De  Vries,  came  from 

nates.  Holland,  and  settled  near  Lewiston.     They  perished  by  the 

1631.     savages  ;  but  the  Dutch  continuing  to  claim  the  country,  dis- 

Clayborne   sensions  arose  between  them  and  the  Swedish  emigrants. 

SlTySi^'S!;      Maryland.     In   1631,  William  Clayborne  obtained  from 

Island.     Charles  I.  a  license  to  traffic  in  those  oarts  of  America  foi 


GEORGE  CALVERT,  THE  FIRST  LORD  BALTIMORE. 


which  there  was  not  already  a  patent  granted.  Clayborne 
planted  a  small  colony  on  Kent  island,  in  Chesapeake  bay, 
opposite  to  the  spot  where  Annapolis  now  stands. 

George  Calvert,  afterwards  Lord  Baltimore,  had  repre- 
sented in  the  English  Parliament  his  native  district  of  York- 
shire. The  favor  of  the  monarch  and  the  principal  ministers 
had  been  manifested  by  influential  appointments  at  court ; 
but  these  he  resigned  to  make  a  public  profession  of  the 
Roman  catholic  faith.  To  enjoy  his  religion  unmolested,  he 
wished  to  emigrate  to  some  vacant  tract  in  America.  He  had 
fixed  on  Virginia  as  a  desirable  location,  and  accordingly 
made  a  visit  to  that  colony.  The  people  there  would  not  en- 
courage a  settlement,  unless  an  oath  was  taken,  to  which  he 
could  not  in  conscience  subscribe.  Finding  he  must  seek  an 
asylum  elsewhere,  he  explored  the  country  to  the  north,  and 
then  returned  to  England.  The  Queen,  Henrietta  Mariaf 
daughter  to  Henry  IV.  of  France,  gave  to  the  territory  the 
name  of  Maryland,  and  Lord  Baltimore  obtained  it  by  a  royal 
patent. 

He  died  at  London  in  1632,  before  his  patent  passed  to  a 
legal  form ;  but  his  son,  Cecil  Calvert,  the  second  Lord  Bal- 
timore, by  the  influence  of  Sir  Robert  Cecil,  obtained  the 
grant  intended  for  his  father. 

By  this  patent  he  held  the  country  from  the  Potomac  to 
the  40th  degree  of  north  latitude  ;  and  thus,  by  a  mere  act  of 
the  crown,  what  had  long  before  been  granted  to  Virginia, 
was  now  taken  away ;  as  what  was  now  granted  was  subse- 
quently given  to  Penn,  to  the  extent  of  a  degree.  Hence 
long  and  obstinate  altercations  ensued. 

Lord  Baltimore  appointed  as  governor  his  brother,  Leonard 
Calvert,  who,  with  two  hundred  emigrants,  sailed  for  Amer- 
ica near  the  close  of  1633,  and  arrived  at  the  Potomac  early 
in  1634.  Here  they  purchased  of  the  natives,  Yamaco,  one 
of  their  settlements,  to  which  was  given  the  name  of  St. 
Mary.  Calvert  thus  secured  by  a  pacific  course,  comfortable  hab- 
itations, some  improved  lands,  and  the  friendship  of  the  na- 
tives. Other  circumstances  served  to  increase  the  prosperity 
of  the  colony.  The  country  was  pleasant,  great  religious 
freedom  existed,  and  a  liberal  charter  had  been  granted,  which 
allowed  the  proprietor,  aided  by  the  freemen,  to  pass  laws, 
without  reserving  to  the  crown  the  right  of  rejecting  them. 
Emigrants  accordingly  soon  flocked  to  the  province  from  the 
other  colonies  and  from  England. 

Thus  had  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  beautiful  portion  of 
our  country  established  themselves,  without  the  suflferings  en- 
dured by  the  pioneers  of  former  settlements.  The  proprie- 
tary government,  generally  so  detrimental,  proved  here  a  nurs- 
ing mother.  Lord  Baltimore  expended  for  the  colonists, 
within  a  few  years,  forty  thousand  pounds  ;  and  they,  "  out 
of  desire  to  return  some  testimony  of  gratitude,"  voted  ic  their 

•  Maine  took  its  name  from  an  estate  in  France,  belonging  to  this  queen. 

6* 


PART  I. 


George 

Calvert,    the 

first  Lord 

Baltiraoro. 


1628. 

Visits 
Virgiria. 

Fixes  on 
i\Iaiyland, 
and  obtains 
a  patent. 
April  15. 

1632. 

Cecil  Cal- 
vert the  sec- 
ond Lord 
Baltimore, 
obtains  the 
same  patent 

Its   limits. 


Leonara 

Calvert 

sails,  Nov. 

1633. 

Arrives  at 
the  Chesa- 
peake. 
February, 

1634. 


Commences 
a  flourishing 
settlement 

on  the 
Potomac. 


Generosity 
of  the  pro- 
prie1ar>-,  and 
gratitude  of 
tJie  coionv. 


&6 


CECIL    CALVERT,  THE    SECOND    LORD    BALTIMORE. 


PART  I. 


1642. 

Lord  Balti- 
more invites 
the  puritans. 
Clayborne, 
the  evil  ge- 
nius of  Marj'- 
land. 
1635. 

to 

1643. 


1562. 

The  slave- 
trade  begun 
and  upheld 
by  the 
English. 


1620. 

Introduced 
into   Va. 

1621. 

Sir  Francis 

Wyatt. 

Improved 

constitution. 


Cotton  first 
planted. 


1622. 

Indian 
massacre. 


Three  hun- 

\lred  persons 

cruelly 

murdered. 


assembly,  "  such  a  subsidy  as  the  low  and  poor  estate  of  ^he 
colony  could  bear." 

Lord  Baltimore  invited  the  puritans  of  Massachusetts  to 
emigrate  to  Maryland,  offering  them  "free  liberty  of  religion." 
They  rejected  this,  as  they  did  a  similar  proposition  from 
Cromwell,  to  remove  to  the  West  Indies. 

The  restless,  intriguing  Clayborne,  the  evil  genius  of  Ma- 
ryland, had  been  constantly  on  the  alert  to  establish  a  claim 
to  the  country,  and  to  subvert  the  government  of  the  good 
proprietary.  In  his  traffic  with  the  natives  he  had  learned 
their  dispositions,  and  ne  wrought  them  to  jealous  hostility. 
In  England,  the  authority  of  the  long  Parliament  now  super- 
seded that  of  the  king,  and  those  who  derived  their  authority 
from  him  ;  and  of  this,  not  only  Clayborne,  but  other  disor- 
derly subjects  of  Lord  Baltimore,  were  inclined  to  take  undue 
advantaoje.  Thus  the  fair  dawn  of  this  rising  settlement  was 
early  overcast. 

Virginia.  England  was  interested  in  the  slave-trade  as 
early  as  1562,  when  Sir  John  Hawkins  took  by  fraud  a  cargo 
of  negroes  from  Africa,  and  sold  them  in  Hispaniola.  So  de- 
praved at  that  time  was  the  public  sentiment,  that  numbers  of 
the  most  consequential  persons  engaged  in  it ;  and  even  the 
Queen  herself  became  afterwards  a  party  to  this  atrocious 
merchandize. 

In  August,  1620,  a  Dutch  ship  brought  into  James  river 
twenty  negroes,  and  sold  them  as  slaves.  Thus,  and  on  so 
small  a  scale,  began  an  evil  so  vast  in  its  consequences,  and 
so  difficult  now  to  eradicate. 

In  1621,  Sir  Francis  Wyatt  arrived  as  governor,  bringing 
from  the  company  in  England  a  more  perfect  and  permanent 
constitution  for  the  colony.  The  power  of  making  laws  was 
vested  in  the  general  assembly.  No  regulations  however 
could  be  enforced,  until  they  had  received  the  sanction  of  the 
general  court  of  the  company  in  England.  At  the  same  time, 
the  orders  of  the  company  were  not  binding  upon  the  colony, 
without  the  sanction  of  their  assembly.  These  liberal  con- 
cessions not  only  gratified  the  settlers,  but  encouraged  emi- 
grants ;  and  a  large  number  accordingly  accompanied  Gov- 
ernor Wyatt  to  the  province. 

This  year,  cotton  was  first  planted  in  Virginia,  and  "  the 
plentiful  coming  up  of  the  seeds,"  was  regarded  by  the  plant- 
ers with  curiosity  and  interest. 

Opechancanough,  the  brother  and  successor  of  Powhatan, 
had  determined  to  extirpate  the  whites,  and  regain  the  country 
for  its  savage  lords.  For  this  purpose  he  formed  a  conspiracy 
to  massacre  all  the  English  ;  and  during  four  years,  he  was, 
with  impenetrable  secrecy,  concerting  his  plan.  To  each 
tribe  its  station  was  allotted,  and  the  part  it  was  to  act  pre- 
scribed. On  the  22d  of  March,  1622,  at  mid-day,  they  rushed 
upon  the  English,  in  all  their  settlements,  and  butchered  men. 


of  the 
whiles. 


1624. 

London  com 


HARVEY. WEST. WYATT.  — SIR    WILLIAM    BERKELEY.  57 

women,  and  children,  without  pity  or  remorse.     In  one  hour,    PART  I. 
nearly  a  fourth  part  of  the   whole   colony  was  cut  off.     The  period  m. 
slaughter  would  have  been  universal,  if  compassion,  or  a  sense    chap.  ii. 
of  duty,  had  not  moved  a  converted  Indian,  to  whom  the  se-  -— ""v^^^ 
cret  was  communicated,  to  reveal  it  to  his  master,  on  the  night 
before  the  massacre.     This  was  done  in  time  to  save  James- 
own  and  the  adjacent  settlements. 

A  bloody  war  ensued.  The  English,  by  their  arms  and  Retaliatioa 
discipline,  were  more  than  a  match  for  the  Indians,  and  they 
retaliated  in  such  a  manner  as  left  the  colonists  for  a  long 
time  free  from  savage  molestation.  They  also  received  con- 
siderable accessions  of  lands  by  appropriating  those  of  the 
conquered  natives. 

In  1G24  the  London  company,  which  had  settled  Virginia,  ""pany'dis 
was  dissolved  by  King  James,  and  its  rights  and  privileges  re-  solve(l,  and 
turned  to  the  crown.  The  pretext  for  this  unjust  stretch  of  gom^gg'^^^y] 
royal  authority,  was  the  calamities  which  had  befallen  the  al  province. 
province,  and  the  dissentions  which  had  agitated  the  company. 

James  now  appointed  commissioners  to  inquire  into  affairs  ta^tes^mTkin* 
in  Virginia,  that  he  might   frame  proper  regulations   for  the    a  code  for 
permanent  government  of  the  colony.     Pleased  with  such  an    ^^'■e""^ 
opportunity  of  exercising  his  talents  as  a  legislator,  he  began     1625* 
his  task, but  death  prevented  its  completion.  ■Bfi*?« 

The  Virorinians,  however,  continued  under  the  special  power     c^.    ,  ,  ' 

/•  1  •  /-.I       1        T  TT-  1  •  Sir  John 

01  nis  successor,  Charles  1.  His  arbitrary  measures  were  Harvey  dis- 
particularly  felt  during  the  administration  of  Sir  John  Harvey,  placed  by 
\vhom  in  1636  he  sent  over.  The  colonists  rose  in  opposi-  ^^^  People, 
lion  to  his  authority,  and  appointed  John  West  as  their  gov-  j^gpiaced  bv 
emor  ;  but  the  king,  highly  offended  at  their  conduct,  restored  the  king. ' 
Harvey  to  his  office,  with  powers  more  ample  than  before. 

Sir  Francis  Wyatt  superseded  Harvey  in  1639.     In  conse-     1639. 
quence  of  English  laws   restricting  the  culture  of  tobacco.  Sir  Francis 
which  was  not  only  the  staple  commodity,  but  the  circulating   j,  f^^"j- 
medium  of  the  colony,  it  was  now  much  raised  in  price  :  and  nar>'  law  to 
the  legislature  passed  a  law  that  no  man  need  "  pay  more  regulate  the 
than  two  thirds  of  his  debt  during  the  stint."  i^«^^'^' 

After  two  years.  Sir  William  Berkeley  was  sent  over  to  sue-  g-^.  w^*^ 
ceed  Wyatt.     The  colonists  were  now  confirmed  in  their  en-    Berkeley. 
joyment  of  the  elective  franchise.     Great  harmony  prevailed.  The  colony 
not  withstanding  the  assembly  took  a  hi^h  tone  in  respect  to  ^^^^^^^  ^^^^^ 

^  o  •/  o  1  intention  not 

their  political  rights  ;  boldly  declaring   "  that  they  expected  to  be  taxed 
no  taxes  or  impositions,  except  such  as  should  be   freely  vo-    ,  but  by 
ted  for  their  own  wants."  themselve.. 


58 


LAUD. GRAND  COUNCIL  AT  AN  END. 


CHAPTER    XII 


PART.  I. 


1630, 

to 

1633. 

Large 
emigrations 


English 
court  dis- 
pleased with 
Massachu- 
setts. 


April  10th, 
1634. 

Appoint 
commission- 
er's with  arbi- 
trary powers. 


Singular 
temerity. 

January  J 
1635. 


Massachu- 
setts arraign- 
ed on  a  writ 
of  quo 

wan-anto. 


C  harles  I.  — The  Long  Parliament. — The  New  England  Confederacy 

While  the  first  settlement  of  New  England  was  yet  stiug- 
gling  for  existence,  it  was  regarded  as  too  feeble  to  excite 
among  the  ruling  party  of  England,  other  feelings  than  those 
of  pity.  But  the  persecuted  opponents  of  the  government 
looked  upon  the  pilgrims  as  Christian  heroes,  adventuring  all 
to  open  a  way  of  escape  for  the  oppressed  ;  and  at  the  recep- 
tion of  good  news  from  New  England,  their  hearts  burned 
within  them,  and  the  precious  papers  were  carried  from  town 
to  town,  and  listened  to  as  prophetic  messages  of  hope.  Then 
followed  the  emigration  of  numbers  amonoj  them  of  the  most 
worthy,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  their  substance. 

The  government  perceived  in  these  movements  a  spirit  of 
condemnation  of  their  own  proceedings,  and  of  approval  and 
honor, of  a  religion  which  they  hated.  And  they  were  truly  in- 
formed by  some,  who  returned  dissatisfied  from  Massachu- 
setts, that  not  only  was  this  religion  established  by  its  laws, 
but  the  use  of  the  English  liturgy  was  prohibited.  Various 
other  charges  were  made  against  the  province,  showing  that  it 
was  casting  off  dependence  upon  the  English  crown,  and  as- 
suming sovereign  powers  to  itself. 

Much  displeased,  the  king  determined  that  the  audacious 
colonies  should  be  brought  to  submission,  both  in  church  and 
state  ;  and  he  made  archbishop  Laud  himself  chief  of  a  coun- 
cil, which  was  appointed  with  full  powers  to  govern  the  colo- 
nies in  all  cases  whatever. 

This  council  decreed  that  a  governor  general  should  be 
sent  over,  and  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  was  accordingly  ap- 
pointed. He  was,  however,  prevented  from  leaving  England 
by  untoward  accidents. 

The  arbitrary  measures  of  Laud  and  his  coadjutors  pointed 
with  peculiar  hostility  at  the  liberties  of  Massachusetts. 
These  the  people  valued  more  than  life,  and  few  and  poor  as 
they  were,  they  determined  to  resist ;  and  the  general  court 
voted  six  hundred  pounds  for  fortifications. 

The  Grand  Council  of  Plymouth,  as  it  had  its  beginning 
and  course,  so  also  it  had  its  end  in  little  better  than  knavery. 
We  have  seen  that  its  individual  members.  Gorges  and  Mason, 
had  been  its  patentees.  These  persons,  wishing  to  make 
good  certain  claims  to  territory  in  Massachusetts,  now  gave 
up  their  patent  to  the  crown  ;  petitioning  for  redress  against 
that  colony,  which  they  averred  had  forfeited  its  charter,  by 
exceeding  its  powers  and  territorial  limits.  Willing  to  hum- 
ble their  "  unbridled  spirits,"  the  court  of  king's  bench  issued 


Ill 

163§. 


REIGN    OF    PERSECUTION    IN    ENGLAND    IS    BROKEN.  59 

E  writ  against  the  individuals  of  the  corporation  of  Massachu-    PART.  I. 
setts  Bay,  accusing  them  with  certain  acts,  by  which  they  had  period  in 
forfeited  their  charter,  and  requiring  them  to  show  warrant  for   chai'.  xii. 
their  proceedings.     At  a  subsequent  term,  the  court  pronoun-  ^--'''^^^"«*^ 
ced  sentence  against  them.  December 

The   rapid  emigration  to  the  colonics  had  attracted  the  at-  p*;  ^^'^^ 
tention  of  the  council,  and  they  had  passed  laws,  prohibiting    forbulden, 
any  person  above  tlie  rank  of  a  servant  from  leaving  the  king-        hut 
dom  without  express  permission  ;  and  vessels  already  freighted  ^creases  "it 
with  emigrants  had  been  detained.     But  these   prohibitions  3000  come  to 
were  in  vain;  for  persecution,  conducted  by  the   merciless  N.England 
Laud,  grew  more  and  more   cruel,  and  in  one  year,  three 
thousand  persons  left  England  for  America. 

Among   others,  several  of  the  puritan  nobility  thought  of 
emigrating,   particularly  the   Earl  of  Warwick,  Lord  Brook, 
and  Lord  Say  and  Seal.     They  endeavored  to  procure  reso- 
lutions to  be  passed  in  the  colonies,  establishing  hereditary  no- 
bility, and  making  the  magistracy  perpetual  in  certain  families. 
To  this,  Mr.  Cotton,  in  the  name  of  the   court  of  jMassachu- 
setts,  replied,  "When  God  blesseth  any  branch  of  a  noble  or 
generous  family  with  a  spirit  and  gifts  fit  for  government,  it  Puntan  no 
would  be  a  takinor  God's  name  in  vain  to  put  such  a  talent  un-  ^ility  wishto 
der  a  bushel,  and  a  sin  against  the  honor  of  the  magistracy  to    pmilegcd 
neglect  such  in  our  public  elections.     But  if  God  should  not  oj'^lcr.   Re- 
delight  to  furnish  some  of  their  posterity  with  gifts  fit  for  ma-  ^sachusetts!!' 
gistracy,  we  should  expose  them  rather  to  reproach  and  preju-     1636. 
dice,  and  the  commonwealth  with  them,  than  exalt  them  to 
honor,  if  we  should  call  them  forth  when  God  doth  not,  to  pub- 
lic authority."     For  these  sound  reasons,  the  plan  for  heredi- 
tary nobility  was  set  aside  in  New  England,  and  these  noblemen 
remained  at  home,  where  they  belonged  to  a  privileged  order. 

Still  determined  to  humble  Massachusetts,  the  lords  of  the 
council  now  sent  a  threatening  letter  to  Governor  Winthrop,     ^J^'^oo" 
requiring  him,  on  account  of  the  legal  proceedings,  to  send  back  Threate^iM 
the  charter  of  that  province.     To  procrastinate,  the  governor     letter  to 
plead  that  no  fair  trial  had  passed ;  and  with  great  meekness    JJ'.i^^^^'jP- 
of  manner,  he  made  excuses  and  suggestions,  which  in  fact, 
contained  a  counter-menace. 

Imminent  was   now  the   danger  of  the  colonies ,  but  that 
Providence  which  had  so  often  interposed  its  shield,  saved 
them  from  ruin,  by  giving  to  the   cruel  Laud  and  his  royal  inThe^affaiS 
master,  subjects  of  attention  at  home.     Oppression,  and  per-  of  England. 
haps  the  successful  escape  and  resistance  of  their  brethren 
in  ximerica,  had  so  ^vrought  upon  the  public  mind  in  England, 
that  matters  had  now  come  to  the  test  of  open  opposition  to 
the  government.     In  Scotland,  Charles  had  attempted  to  en- 
force the  use  of  the  English  liturgy.     Riots  had  followed,  and  Laudnnned 
the  "  Solemn  League  and  Covenant"  been  made,  by  which  the  qJ  j 
Scottish   people  bound  themselves  to  oppose  all  similar  at-     g^^^d  in 
empts.     The    tide    of    popular    opinion    became    resistless.     civQ  war. 


60 


THE  FEDERAL  UNION  BEGUN. 


PART 


Long  Parlia- 
ment favors 
England. 


1642 

Three    New 

England 
ministers  in- 
vited to  the 
"assembly  of 
divines"  but 
decline. 


Safety  with- 
out and 

peace  with- 
in, to  be 

secured  by 
Union. 


Two  com- 
missioners 
from  each 
colony. 

Articles  of 

confederacy 

signed  at 

Boston. 

Rhode  Isl- 
and rejected . 


Commis- 
iioners  to 

meet 
lonually. 


Why  this  is 
regarded  as 
the  i|erm  of 
Ifce  federal 
Union. 


Laud's  party  was  ruined,  and  himself  imprisoned  ;  while  the 
king  was  engaged  in  a  bloody  civil  war  Vv'ith  his  revolted 
subjects. 

Puritanism  now  reigned  triumphant  in  England,  and  its  dis- 
ciples had  no  inducement  to  emigrate.  Nay,  some,  as  Yane 
and  Hugh  Peters,  returned.  The  Long  Parliament  had  begun 
its  rule  ;  and  its  leaders  were  desirous'  to  honor,  rather  than 
humble  New  England.  But  so  jealous  were  the  colonies  of 
their  liberty,  that  they  declined  all  interference  of  a  British 
parliament  in  their  affairs,  even  if  it  were  to  do  them  good, 
And  when  to  the  Westminster  assembly  of  divines,  Cotton, 
Hooker  and  Davenport  were  invited,  they,  especially  Hooker, 
saw  no  sufficient  cause  to  leave  their  flocks  in  the  wilderness. 
England  was  no  longer  their  country  ;  but  that  for  which  they 
had  suffered,  though  recent,  was  already  dear  to  these  nobli 
patriots,  as  the  infant  to  the  mother. 

A  Union  was  meditated.  Dangers  from  without  as  obvi- 
ously taught  these  small  republics  to  confederate  for  mutual 
protection,  as  it  did  the  independent  men  on  board  the  May- 
Flower.  Internal  peace  was  to  be  secured,  as  well  as  exter- 
nal safety  ;  and  an  essential  part  of  both  these  compacts,  v/as 
the  solemn  promise  of  their  framers  to  yield  a  conscientious 
obedience  to  the  powers  they  created. 

Two  commissioners  having  been  appointed  by  each  of  the 
four  colonies,  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and  New 
Haven,  they  met  at  Boston,  May,  1643,  where  they  drew  up 
the  Articles  of  Confederation  ;  and  all  signed  them  immedi- 
ately, except  the  Plymouth  delegation.  They  had  not  at  first 
been  empowered  to  sign,  but  soon  receiving  the  requisite  au- 
thority, the  instrument  was  completed.  Rhode  Island  was 
not  permitted  to  become  a  member  of  the  confederacy,  un- 
less it  became  an  appendage  to  Plymouth,  which  that  colony 
very  properly  refused.  The  style  adopted  was  that  of  the 
United  Colonies  of  New  England.  Their  little  congress,  the 
first  of  the  New  World,  was  to  be  composed  of  eight  mem- 
bers, two  from  each  colony.  They  were  to  assemble  yearly 
in  the  diflerent  colonies  by  rotation,  Massachusetts  having,  in 
this  respect,  a  double  privilege.  They  were  to  consult  to- 
gether on  all  matters  of  mutual  defense  and  protection ;  and 
for  their  general  well-being  as  a  moral,  and  especially  as  a 
religious  community :  yet  they  were  not  empowered  to  legis- 
late in  such  a  manner  as  to  abridge  the  independent  action  of 
the  separate  colonial  assemblies. 

Although  this  confederacy  was  nominally  discontinued  af- 
ter about  forty  years,  yet  its  spirit  remained.  The  colonies 
had  learned  to  act  together,  and  when  common  injuries  aod 
dangers  again  required  united  action,  modes  and  precedents 
were  at  hand.  Hence  we  regard  the  Confederacy  of  the  [o^xu 
New  England  provinces,  as  the  germ  of  the  Federal  Union. 


PART  II, 


FROM   1643  TO   17G3. 


PERIOD     I. 


IKE    CONFEDERACY  OF  j  1643    j  THE  FOUR  N.  E.  COLONIES. 
T  O 
THE    NEW   CHARTER  I  1692.  <  OF      MASSACHUSETTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Virginia  Prospers. 


-Second  Indian  Massacre.- 
Rcbcllion. 


-Navigation  Act. — Bacon's 


During  the  first  years  of  the  administration  of  the  cavalier 
Sir  William  Berkeley,  the  A^irginians  asserted  and  enjoyed 
great  political  liberty,  and  consequent  prosperity.  Nor  was 
this  checked  by  the  ascendancy  of  puritanism  in  England. 

In  1611:,  the  aged  Opechancanough  once  more  struck  for 
the  inheritance  of  his  forests,  by  another  attempt  to  cut  off, 
simultaneously,  the  scattered  colonial  population.  Scarcely 
had  the  warfare  begun,  and  the  English  aroused  to  resistance, 
when  the  Indians  were  struck  with  panic  and  fled.  The  Vir- 
ginians pursued  them  vigorously,  and  killed  three  hundred. 
The  chief  was  taken  prisoner,  then  inhumanly  wounded. 
His  proud  spirit  suffered  from  his  being  kept  as  a  public  spec- 
tacle, and  he  welcomed  relief  by  death. 

Charles  I.  had  perished  on  the  scaffold  ;  and  the  powerful 
mind  of  Cromwell  led  the  policy  of  England.  To  promote  her 
commercial  prosperity,  he  continued,  and  perfected  a  system 
of  colonial  oppression  in  respect  to  trade,  by  the  celebrated 
•'  Navigation  Act."  By  this  the  colonies  were  not  allowed  to 
find  a  market  for  themsefves,  and  sell  their  produce  to  the 
highest  bidder,  but  were  obliged  to  carry  it  direct  to  the 
mother  coimtry.  The  English  merchants  bought  it  at  their 
own  price  ;  and  thus  they,  and  not  the  colonist,  made  the  profit 
on  the  fruits  of  his  industry.  At  the  same  time  the  act  pro- 
hibited any  but  English  vessels  from  conveying  merchandise 
to  the  colonies  ;  thus  compelling  them  to  obtain  their  supplies 
of  the  English  merchant,  of  course  at  such  prices  as  he 
chose  to  fix  upon  his  goods.  Even  free  traffic  among  the 
colonists  was  prohibited. 

Charles  II.  was  restored  in  1660.  Berkeley,  after  various 
changes,  was  at  the  moment  exercising  the  office  of  governor 


PART  IL 


Death  of 
Opechanca- 
nough. 


1649 

Charles  I. 
beheaded. 
Cromwell. 

1651. 

The  "  navi- 
gation act " 
oppresses 
the  colonli'Bk 


RestoratioB 

of 
f  ;harles  U 


62 


THE  ARISTOCRACY  OPPRESSIVE. THE  PEOPLE  REVOLT 


PART  II. 


It  operates 
against 
Virginia. 


Aristocrati- 
cal  and 
plebeian 
classes. 


The  people 
stripped  of 
tlieir  rights. 


1660. 

Grant  of 
lands  be- 
tween the 
Rappahan 
noc  and 
Potomac, 
Charles 
gives  away 
all  Virginia 
for  31  years. 
1673. 


1675 

John  Wash' 
ington  kills 
six  Indian 
chiefs  and 
brings  on 


under  the  authority  of  the  assembly  of  Virginia,  by  whom  he 
had  been  elected.  The  fires  of  rejoicing  were  kindled  in  the 
province,  and  Berkeley  changed  his  style,  and  issued  his  man- 
dates in  the  name  of  Charles.  The  monarch  afterwards  con- 
firmed him  in  his  office. 

But  prospects  grew  dark.  Notwithstanding  the  loyalty  ol 
Virginia,  to  none  of  the  colonies  had  the  suppression  of  the 
English  monarchy  wrought  more  good ;  and  on  none  did  the 
restoration  operate  more  disastrously. 

The  Virginians  were  divided  into  two  classes.  The  first 
comprised  the  few  persons  highly  educated,  and  possessed  of 
extensive  domains.  These  looked  down  from  an  aristocrati- 
cal  eminence,  upon  the  second  and  more  numerous  class  of 
servants  and  laborers  ;  among  whom  were  some  that  for  crimes 
in  England,  had  been  sent  to  America.  A  blind  admiration 
of  English  usages  pervaded  the  aristocracy ;  and  Berkeley 
was  now  placed  in  a  position,  where  the  aspiring  prejudices 
of  a  weak  understanding,  carried  him  far  from  the  track  of  a 
sound  and  benevolent  policy. 

The  rights  of  the  people  were  on  all  hands  restricted. 
Episcopacy  was  made  a  yoke  of  oppression.  The  aiTairs  of 
the  church  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  vestries, — corporations 
who  held,  and  often  severely  used,  the  right  to  tax  the  whole 
community.  The  assembly,  composed  of  aristocrats,  made 
themselves  permanent,  and  their  salaries  large  ;  while  the  nav- 
igation act  crippled  commerce,  and  deprived  agriculture  of  its 
natural  stimulus.  The  right  of  suffrage  was  unrestrained,  but 
the  power  of  electing  the  burgesses  being  taken  away,  the 
meetings  of  the  freemen  were  of  little  avail ;  for  their  only 
remaining  right  was  that  of  petition, 

A  shock  was  now  given  by  w^hich  even  the  aristocracy  were 
aroused.  Charles,  with  his  wonted  profligaey,  gave  away 
Virginia  for  the  space  of  thirty-one  years.  He  had,  immedi- 
ately on  his  accession,  granted  to  Sir  William  Berkeley,  Lord 
Culpepper  and  others,  that  portion  of  the  colony  lying  be- 
tween the  Rappahannoc  and  Potomac  ;  and  now,  to  the  cov- 
etous Lord  Culpepper,  and  to  Lord  Arlington,  another  needy 
favorite,  he  gave  the  whole  province  ;  nor,  though  his  loyal 
subjects  sent  over  agents  to  entreat  him,  would  he  be  persua- 
ded to  revoke  the  grant. 

On  the  north,  the  Susquehannah  Indians,  driven  by  the  Sen- 
ecas  from  the  head  of  the  Chesapeake,  had  come  down,  and 
having  had  provocation,  were  committing  depredations  upon 
the  banks  of  the  Potomac.  John  Washington,  the  great  grand- 
father of  the  hero  of  the  revolution,  with  a  brother,  Lawrence 
Washington,  had  emigrated  from  England,  and  was  living  in 
the  county  of  Westmoreland.  Six  of  the  Indian  chiefs 
came  to  him  to  treat  of  peace,  he  having  been  appointed 
Colonel.  He  wrongfully  put  them  to  death.  "  They  came  in 
peace,"  said  Berkeley,  "  and  I  would  have  sent  them  in  peace. 


THE    DEATH    OF    BACON    RUINS    HIS    PARTY.  63 

tLough  they  had  killed  my  father  and  mother."     Revenge  in-    PART  II. 
flamed  the  minds  of  the  savages,  and  the  midnight  war-whoop   pl:riod  T 
often  summoned  to  speedy  death  the  defenseless  families  of  the     *^"aj*-  l 
frontier.  v-^^-^v-'^^ 

The  people  awoke  in  their  might.     They  desired  to  organ-     1G76. 
ize  for  self  defense,  and  in  a  peremptory  manner  demanded   Tlie  people 
for  their  leader  Nathaniel  Bacon,  a  popular  young  lawyer.  "}'^^^  Bacoi- 
Berkeley  refused  to  grant  him  a  commission.     New  murders 
occurring,  Bacon  assumed   command,  and  with  his  followers 
departed  for  the  Indian  war.     Instigated  by  the  aristocracy, 
Berkeley  declared  him  and  his  adherents  rebels. 

The  people,  in  a  fresh  insurrection,  required  of  the  gov- 
ernor the  election  of  a  new^  house  of  burgesses  ;  and  he  was 
forced  to  submit.  Bacon  having  returned  from  his  expedition, 
was  elected  a  member  for  Henrico  county.  Popular  liberty  Popula"*'!^ 
now  prevailed,  and  laws  were  passed  with  which  Berkeley 
was  highly  displeased.  Bacon,  fearing  treachery,  withdrew 
to  the  country.  The  people  rallied  around  him,  and  he  re- 
turned to  Jamestown  at  the  head  of  five  hundred  armed  men. 

Berkeley  met  tliem,  and  baring  his  breast,  exclaimed,  "  a    r^--,. 
fair  mark,  shoot."     Bacon  declared  that  he  had  come  only  for  between  the 
a  commission,  their  lives  being  in  danger  from  the  savages,  governor  and 
The  commission  was  issued,  and  Bacon  again  departed  for       p^ny^ 
the  Indian  warfare.     Berkeley  in  the  meantime  withdrew  to 
the  sea-shore,  and  there  collecting  numbers  of  seamen   and 
loyalists,  he  came  up  the  river  with  a  fleet,  landed  his  army  at 
Jamestown,  and  again  proclaimed  Bacon  and  his  party  rebels 
and  traitors. 

Bacon  having  quelled  the  Indians,  only  a  small  band  of  his  Jamestown 
followers    remained  in   arms.     With   these   he   hastened  to  burnt  by  Ba 
Jamestown,  and  Berkeley  fled  at  his  approach.     In  order  that  ^^'^^P^^'^y- 
its  few  dwellings  should  no  more  shelter  their  oppressors,  the 
inhabitants  set  them  on   fire,  the  owners  of  the  best  houses 
applying  the  match  with  their  own  hands.     Then  leaving  that 
endeared  and  now  desolated  spot,  Bacon  pursued  the  royalists  to 
the  Rappahannoc,  where  the  Virginians,  hitherto  of  Berkeley's 
party,  deserted  and  joined  his  standard.     His  enemies  \vere  ^ac^ond^ies. 
at  his  mercy  ;  but  his  exposure  to  the  night  air  had  induced 
disease,  and  he  died. 

The  party  of  Bacon,  now  without  a  leader,  broke  into  frag- 
ments, and  the  royalists  were  again  in  the  ascendant.  As  the 
principal  adherents  of  Bacon,  hunted  and  made  prisoners,  were 
one  by  one  brought  before  Berkeley,  he  adjudged  them,  with 
insulting  taunts,  to  instant  and  ignominious  death.  Thus  per- 
ished twenty  of  the  best  citizens  of  Virginia.  "  The  old  fool," 
said  Charles  II.,  who  when  he  learned  these  transactions  sent 
him  orders  to  desist,  "  the  old  fool  has  shed  more  blood 
than  I  did  for  tl  e  murder  of  my  father.'' 

The  government  of  England  had  become  sensible  of  the 
grievances  sustained  by  Virginia,  and  w^as  about  to  grant  her 


64 


LORD    CULPEPPER. HIS    AVARICE. LORD    HOWARD. 


PART  II. 
PERIOD  I. 

CHAP.     II. 


1677. 
Virginia  re- 
ceives a  new 

charter. 
Lord  Cul- 
pepper's bad 
administra- 
tion. 

He  loses  liis 
patent 


16§3. 

Is  succeeded 

by  Lord 
Howard  of 
Effingham. 


16§4. 

A  Grand 

Council  at 

Albany. 


The  colonies 

make  peace 

with  the  Five 

Nations. 


a  new  charter  with  extensive  privileges  ;  but  the  news  of  Ba- 
con's rebellion  reaching  them,  it  was  withheld.  After  the 
restoration  of  tranquillity,  a  charter  was,  however,  granted,  but 
with  restricted  powers;  the  one  suppressed  having  secured 
the  people  from  British  taxation,  and  that  granted,  expressly 
allowing  it. 

Lord  Culpepper  was  made  governor  for  life.  His  admin- 
istration was  one  of  grinding  oppression ;  his  only  spring  of 
action  being  the  love  of  money.  His  power  was  great,  as  he 
was  one  of  the  two  who  had  received  from  the  monarch  the 
grant  of  the  province,  and  he  bought  the  remaining  right  ol 
lord  Arlington.  But  Charles  II.  took  occasion  to  annul  his 
charter,  on  a  report  of  the  discontents  of  the  people,  and  Vir- 
ginia again  became  a  royal  province. 

Lord  Howard,  the  next  governor,  was  also  actuated  by  the 
usual  sordid  motives  of  the  needy  nobility  who  sought  of- 
fice in  America.  The  colonies  were  oppressed,  and  the  rights 
of  the  people  were  taken  away  ;  but  a  spirit  to  resist  was  left. 

A  common  source  of  fear  to  all  the  English  colonies  was 
now  found  in  the  position  of  the  Indians  of  the  Five  Nations. 
They  had  subjugated  the  Hurons,  and  the  smaller  tribes  in 
their  immediate  vicinity,  and  had  stretched  their  conquests  west- 
ward toward  the  Mississippi.  They  had  attacked  the  Indians 
of  the  Alleghanies  ;  and  by  occasional  depredations  had  spread 
terror  along  the  frontiers  of  the  English  settlements,  from 
Northampton  on  the  Connecticut,  to  the  western  boundaries 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  This  produced  a  gxand  council 
at  Albany,  in  which  Lord  Howard,  and  Colonel  Dongan,now 
governor  of  New  York,  together  with  delegates  from  the 
northern  provinces,  met  the  sachems  of  the  Five  Nations. 
The  negotiations  were  friendly.  A  greai  tree  of  peace  was 
planted,  whose  branches  "should  reach  the  sun,"  and  extend 
their  broad  shelter  alike  to  the  red  man  and  the  white. 


CHAPTER   II 


Maryland. — Claybome's  Insurrection. — Civil  war. — Restoration  of  Lord 
Baltimore. 


1645  When  the  civil  war  between  the  king  and  parliament  began. 

Insurrection  Clayborne   espoused  the  cause  of  the  latter  ;  and  in  1645  he 

in  Maryland,  returned  to   Maryland,  where  he  had  sufficient  influence  to 

raise  an  insurrection,  and  compel  Governor  Calvert  to  fly  to 

Virginia  for  safety. 

The  rebellion  was,  however,  quelled.     The  next  year,  Cal- 
vert returned,  and  quiet  was  restored. 

The  conflict  between  the  king  and  parliament,  which  shook 


CATHOLICS  OUTLAWED  IN  THEIR  OWN  PROVINCE.  65 

the  government  of  England,  had  its  various  influence  on  her    PART  If. 
colonies,  according  to  their  religious  and  political  sentiments. 
Parliament  having  obtained  the  supremacy,  the  New  England 
colonies,  which  during  the  contest  had  espoused  its  cause,  were 
favored  in   return ;  while  the  southern  colonies  were  viewed    The  Long 
with  suspicion.     Commissioners  were  consequently  appointed     "^^  '^^'ncut 
in  1651,  for  the  purpose  of  "  reducing  and  governing  the  col- 
onies within  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake."     This   gave  rise  to  a     1651. 
civil  war  between  the  catholics  of  Maryland,  who  adhered  to  ^JJ'^  ^^■^''  •" 
tlie  proprietor ;  and  the  protestants,  who  espoused  the  cause       "^^  ^" 
of  parliament.     Calvert,  the  proprietary  governor,  was  at  first 
allowed  to  retain  his  station,  on  consenting  to  acknowledge 
the  authority  of  parliament;  but  he  was  unable  to   preserve     f65<> 
peace.     He  and  his  party  were  obliged,  in  1652,  to  surrender  Covemmeiit 
the  government.     In  an  assembly  under  the  victorious  party,  surrendered 
it  was  declared  that  no  catholic  should  have  the  protection  of  p  ,,-^°     . 
the  laws.     Quakers  and  Episcopalians  v/ere  also  persecuted. 

Cromwell  respected  the  rights  of  the  proprietors  of  Mary- 
land, but  he  would  not  make  himself  unpopular  with  the  pu- 
ritans, who  were  their  opponents.     Hence   during  the  whole 
protectorate,   Maryland  remained  in  an  unsettled   condition. 
Clayborne  with  the  puritans  possessed  the  actual  power,  while    'si^l^^or' 
Lord  Baltimore,  with  only  the  apparent  sanction  of  Cromwell,    Mar>land, 
appointed  Josias  Fendall  to  act  as   his   lieutenant.     Yet  the      1657. 
same  F'endall  was  the  year  before  en£^aged  in  making  the  fa-  Josias   Fen 
mous  "disturbance"  in  Maryland  ;  of  which  little  is  known,  ^^'j^^    ^^f, 
except  that  it  involved  the  province  in  heavy  expenses.     After 
delays  and  difficulties,  the  whole  colony  submitted  to  Fendall 
as  the  agent  of  Lord  Baltimore.     The  representatives  of  the 
province    convened,  and  encouraged  by  Fendall,  voted  them- 
selves a  lawful  assembly,  without  dependence  on  any  power 
but  that  of  the  sovereign  of  England. 

Charles  H.  re-established  the  proprietary  government,  and 
made  George  Calvert,  the  eldest  son  of  Lord  Baltimore,  gov-    i^,y« 
ernor  of  the  province.     On  the  death  of  his  father,  he  wentDg^^tj^  of^g 
to  England.     During  his  absence  the  people  had  made  laws    cil,  Lord 
extending  the  right  of  suffrage.     On  his  return  he  annulled   ^ji^*^®' 
them.     This   was  displeasing  to  the  people.     The   clergy  of 
the  church  of  England  charged  the  fault  to  the  predominance 
of  papac^^   and   the   English   ministry   forbade   any   Roman 
catholic  to  hold  an  office  in  the  colony. 

Nor  did  the  accession  of  a  catholic  king  produce  any  happy  1^85. 
results  to  Lord  Baltimore,  for  James  had  resolved  that  all  "^^"^^^  ^^ 
charters  should  be  annulled,  and  a  quo  icarranto  was  issued  ii5«c 
against  that  of  Maryland.  But  the  regal  tyranny  of  the  mon-  Ti,e  Revo- 
arch  vras  short-lived.  His  own  family  united  in  the  conspi-  lution. 
racy  against  him,  and  "  the  Revolution"  placed  his  daughter  William 
and  her  husband  upon  the  throne.  ^^^  ^^^ 

The  agent  now  appointed  by  Lord  Baltimore  convened  an 
assembly,  in  which  he   asserted,  that  the  power  of  the  pro- 


66 


NEW    YORK    AND    ALBANY    FOUNDED.  —  GROTIUS 


PART  II.  prietary  over  them  was  derived  from  the  Almighty,  through 
PERIOD  I.  the  king ;  and  he  demanded  that  they  should  acknowledge 
CHAP.  III.  this  divine  right  of  kings  and  lords,  by  a  special  oath  of  alle- 
v-rf'-N^-'"*^  giance.  This  the  people  refused,  and  the  usual  vexations  of 
such  disagreements  succeeded. 


CHAPTER  III. 


In  what  re- 
spects New 

York  is 
pre-eminent. 


1609, 

Holland  In- 
dependent of 
Spain. 


Sept.  12. 

Hudson 

river 

discovered. 


1614. 

Emigrants 

found  New 

York. 


Foundation 
of  the  Dutch 
claim  to  Con- 
necticut. 

1615. 

Fort  Orange, 

i.  e.  Albany, 

founded. 

1619 

to 
1621. 

Disciples  of 
Grotius 
emigrste. 


New  York  settled  by  the  Dutch— Taken  by  the  English. 

We  here  commence  with  the  early  colonization  of  a  state 
which  ranks  first  in  the  union,  in  respect  to  wealth  and  popu 
lation.  It  contains  the  finest  river  for  navigation,  possesses 
the  commercial  capital,  and  holds  a  position,  which  alone 
connects  New  England  with  the  South  and  West.  To  give  an 
unbroken  sketch  of  its  early  history,  we  shall  go  back  in  time, 
deviating  from  our  general  plan. 

Holland  was  one  of  those  kingdoms  which  the  early  Fa- 
thers of  New  England  were  wont  to  say,  "  the  Lord  had  sifted 
for  good  seed  to  sow  the  wilderness."  It  was  just  after  this 
nation  had  succeeded  in  its  struggle  against  the  bloody  ty- 
ranny of  Philip  II.  of  Spain,  and  established  an  independent 
federal  government,  that  Henry  Hudson,  an  Englishman  by 
birth,  but  in  the  service  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company, 
sailed  from  the  Texel  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  a  north- 
west passage  to  India  ;  but  being  unsuccessful,  he  coasted 
along  the  shores  of  Newfoundland,  proceeded  south  as  far  as 
Delaware  and  Chesapeake  Bays,  then  returning  northward, 
he  became  the  discoverer  of  the  noble  river  which  bears  his 
name. 

In  1614,  a  company  of  merchants  having  received  permis- 
sion from  the  State's  General,  fitted  out  a  squadron  of  several 
ships,  and  sent  them  to  trade  to  the  country  which  Hudson  had 
discovered.  A  rude  fort  was  constructed  on  Manhattan  Island. 
One  of  the  captains  of  the  squadron,  Adrian  Blok,  sailed 
through  the  East  river  and  determined  the  insulated  position 
of  Long  Island.  He  probably  entered  Connecticut  river, 
and  it  is  fully  believed  that  he  examined  the  coast  as  far  as 
Cape  Cod. 

The  next  year  the  adventurers  sailed  up  the  Hudson,  and 
on  a  little  island,  just  below  the  present  position  of  Albany, 
they  built  a  small  fort,  naming  it  fort  Orange.  But  no  families 
had  emigrated.  The  Dutch  were  then  merely  traders.  Af- 
terwards they  changed  their  location,  and  fixed  where  Albany 
now  stands. 

Holland  was  torn  by  factions.     Grotius,  the  most  enlight 
ened  of  her  sons,  was  sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  life,  and 


MINUETS    — VAN    TWILLER. KEIFT.— IIIS    CRUELTY. 


67 


the  disciples  of  his  school  were  now  ready  to  emigrate.  To 
promote  trade,  the  "  West  India  Company  "  was  fornjcd,  with 
full  powers.  The  willing  settlers  were  sent  over.  Cotta- 
ges clustered  around  Manhattan  fort,  now  called  New  Amster- 
dam, and  Peter  Minuets  was  made  its  first  governor. 

In  1627,  an  envoy  was  sent  from  New  Netherlands  to  New 
Plymouth  ;  friendly  civilities  were  interchanged,  and  a  treaty 
of  peace  and  commerce  made  with  the  Pilgrims. 

The  State's  General  interposed,  and  made  a  new  com- 
pany, styled  "the  College  of  Nineteen."  They  decreed  that 
whoever  should  conduct  fifty  families  to  New  Netherlands, 
the  name  now  given  by  the  Dutch  to  the  whole  country  be- 
tween Cape  Cod  and  Cape  May,  should  become  the  patroon, 
or  lord  of  the  manor,  with  absolute  property  in  the  lands  he 
should  colonize,  to  the  extent  of  eight  miles  on  each  side  of 
the  river  on  which  he  should  settle  ;  and  as  far  interior  as  the 
situation  might  require.  The  soil  however  must  be  purchased 
of  the  Indians.  "  The  company,"  it  was  stipulated,  "  would 
furnish  the  manor  with  negroes,  if  the  traffic  should  prove 
lucrative." 

Many  settlements  were  now  made,  and  a  great  part  of  the 
best  land  was  soon  appropriated.  The  Indian  chiefs  conveyed 
to  the  excellent  Van  Renselaer  the  tract  around  Fort  Orange 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk,  and  the  College  of  Nineteen 
gave  a  patent.  Six  years  afterwards  the  grant  was  extended 
twelve  miles  further  to  the  South. 

De  Yries  conducted  from  Holland  a  colony  which  settled 
Lewistown,  near  the  Delaware  ;  a  small  fort  called  Nassau, 
having  been  previously  erected  by  the  Dutch. 

In  consequence  of  disagreements  among  the  company  in 
Holland,  Peter  Minuets  returned,  having  been  superseded  by 
Walter  Van  Twiller.  Minuets  became  the  leader  of  a  col- 
ony of  Swedes. 

The  Dutch  were  now  curtailed  of  the  territory  which  they 
claimed  on  Connecticut  river,  by  the  settlement  of  Hooker 
and  others ;  and  also,  by  the  subjects  of  Gustavus  Adolphus 
led  by  Minuets,  of  that  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware. 

Difficulties  also  arose  with  the  savages.  Governor  Keift, 
who  had  succeeded  Van  Twiller,  had  an  inconsiderable  quar- 
el  with  the  Manhattan  Indians.  Notwithstanding,  when  the 
Mohawks  came  down  upon  them,  they  collected  in  groups, 
and  begged  him  to  shelter  and  assist  them.  Instead  of  this, 
the  barbarous  Keift  sent  his  troops,  and  at  night  murdered  them 
all — men,  women  and  helpless  babes — to  the  number  of  a  hun- 
dred !  Indian  vengeance  awoke,  as  well  it  might,  and  its  to- 
kens sped  quickly  from  tribe  to  tribe. 

No  English  family  within  reach  of  the  Algonquins  was 
Bafe.  The  Dutch  villages  were  in  flames  around,  and  the 
people  fleeing  to  Holland.  Near  New  York,  the  family  of 
A.ime  Hutchinson,   and  many  others,  were   massacred ;  and 


PART  II. 


1621. 

Treaty  with 
ihePil-rjns 


1629. 

College  of 
Nineteen 
grant  manors 
and  soon  dis- 
pose of  the 
best  lands. 


1630. 

The  Van 

Renselaer 

patent. 


1631 

The  Dutch 

settle  on  the 

Delaware. 

Minuets  suc- 
ceeded liy 
Van  Twiller 


163S. 

Swedes 

settle  on  the 

Delaware. 


Keift  suc- 
ceeds Van 
Twiller. 

1643. 

His  barbai 
ily  to  the 
natives. 


^''engeanct 
of  the 
InJians 


ti8 


NEW    SWEDEN     CONQUERED    BY    THE    DUTCH 


^^^^_^lli_  in  New  England,  all  was  jeopardy  and  alarm.  The  Dutch 
PERIOD  I.  troops  defended  themselves,  having  placed  at  their  head  Cap- 
CHAP.  III.  tain  (Jnderhill,  who  had  been  expelled  from  Massachusetts.  At 
this  time  is  supposed  to  have  occurred  a  bloody  battle  at 
Strickland's  plain,  in  Greenwich,  Connecticut ;  of  which, 
however,  the  details  seem  strangely  lost. 

The  Mohawks  who  were  friendly  to  the  Dutch,  at  length  in 
terfered,  and  the  congregated  Indian  sachems  met  in  council 
with  the  whites,  on  the  ground  of  the  battery  in  New  York. 
"The  tree  of  peace  was  planted,  and  the  tomahawk  buried  be- 
neath its  shade.'* 

Keift,  execrated  by  all  the  colonies,  was  remanded  to  Hol- 
land ;  and,  on  his  return,  perished  by  shipwreck  on  the  coast  of 
Wales. 

Stuyvesant  had  succeeded  to  his  office  before  his  departure. 
He  went  to  Hartford,  and  there  entered  into  negotiations 
The  Dutch  claims  to  Connecticut  were  relinquished,  and  Long 
Island  was  divided  between  the  two  parties. 

The  Dutch  had  built  fort  Casimir  on  the  site  of    Newcas- 
tle, in  Delaware.     The  Swedes  conceiving  this  to  be  f.n  en- 
between  the  croachment  on  their  territory,  Rising,  their  governor,  by  an 
and  Dutch,  unworthy  stratagem,  made  himself  its  master.     In  1655,  Stuy- 
vesant, acting  by  orders  received   from  Holland,  embarked  at 

a^r^i  c        New  Amsterdam  with  six  hundred  men,  and  sailin^^r  up  the 
bweues  con-  ,  i     i        o        i  \t  c^         F 

quered,  and  Delaware,  lie  subjugated  the   fc»vvedes.     JNew   bwcien   was 

the  name  of  heard  of  no  more  ;  but  the   settlers   were  secured   in  their 


1645. 

Peace  mado 

by  the 
mediation 

of  the 
Mohawks. 

1648. 

Death  of 

Keift. 

1650. 

Governor 

Stuyvesant 

visits 

Hartford. 

1664. 

Contest 


New  Swe- 
den lost. 


1654. 

The  people 
claim  civil 

rii^hts. 


Their  peti- 
tion rudely 
rejected  by 
Stuyvesant. 


New  Neth- 
erlands in 
trouble. 


March  12, 
1664 

Ctiaries  II. 

grants  Nev 

York  to  his 

brothei 


rights  of  private  property,  and  their  descendants  .ire  among 
the  best  of  our  citizens. 

Many  emigrants  now  came  to  New  Netherlands,  from  among 
the  oppressed,  the  discontented,  and  the  enterprising  of  other 
colonies,  and  of  European  nations.  At  length  the  inhabitants 
sought  a  share  of  political  power.  They  assembled,  and  by 
their  delegates  demanded  that  no  laws  should  be  passed,  ex- 
cept with  the  consent  of  the  people.  Stuyvesant  very  un- 
ceremoniously let  them  know  that  he  was  not  to  be  directed 
"by  a  iew  ignorant  subjects  ;"  and  he  forthwith  dissolved  the 
assembly.  The  "  Nineteen"  highly  approved  his  course  ;  and 
charged  him  not  "  to  allow  the  people  to  indulge  such  vision- 
ary dreams,  as  that  taxes  should  not  be  imposed  without  their 
consent." 

But  popular  liberty,  though  checked  here,  prevailed  in  the 
adjoining  provinces  ;  and  they  consequently  grew  more  rap- 
idly, and  crowded  upon  the  Dutch.  The  Indians  made  war 
upon  some  of  their  villages,  especially  Esopus,  now  Kingston  ; 
and  New  Netherlands  could  not  obtain  aid  from  Holland. 
The  States  General  had  given  the  whole  concern  into  the 
hands  of  the  Nineteen,  they  to  pay  all  expenses ;  and  this  coun- 
cil refused  to  make  needful  advances. 

In  the  meantime,  Charles  II.  had  granted  to  his  brother 
James,  then  Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  the  territory  from  the 


WM.  PENN. HIS  EARLY  EDUCATION. HIS  CONVERSION. 


69 


banks  of  the  Connecticut  to  those  of  the  Delaware.  Sir 
Robert  Nichols,  a  coiilidcntial  oflicer  of  his  household,  was 
dispatched  with  a  fleet  to  take  possession.  Nichols  brought 
oyer  commissioners  to  New  England,  and  landed  them  at 
Boston.  Taking  in  from  Long  Island  the  younger  Winlhrop, 
now  governor  of  Connecticut,  he  sailed  to  New  Amsterdam, 
and  suddenly  demanded  of  the  astonished  Stuyvesant  to  give 
up  the  place.  Winthrop  advised  him  to  do  so,  but  the  faithful 
Dutchman  replied  that  a  tame  surrender  "  would  be  reproved 
in  the  father-land  ;"  and  he  would  have  defended  his  post  if 
he  could.  But  the  body  of  the  people  preferred  the  English 
rule  to  that  of  the  Dutch,  the  privileges  of  Englishmen  hav- 
ing beei  promised  them.  Nichols  therefore  entered,  took 
possession  in  the  name  of  his  master,  and  called  the  place 
New  York. 

A  part  of  the  English  fleet,  under  Sir  George  Carteret, 
sailed  up  the  Hudson  to  fort  Orange,  which  surrendered  and 
was  named  Albany.  The  Dutch  fort  on  the  Delaware  was 
also  taken  by  the  English.  The  rights  of  property  were  re- 
spected, and  a  treaty  was  made  with  the  Five  Nations.  The 
whole  line  of  coast  from  Acadia  to  Florida,  was  now  in  pos- 
session of  the  English. 


PART  IL 


Sends  Col 
onel  Nichols. 

New  Am- 

.sterdiim  sur 

rendered  to 

the  Englisk 

Sept.  3, 

1604. 


Septf^nibei 
Fort  Orang« 

and  the 

forts  on  the 

Delaware 

surrendered 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Pennsylvania  and  its  Founder. 


The  great  and  good  man,  to  whom  Pennsylvania  owes  its 
origin,  was  the  son  of  Vice  Admiral,  Sir  William  Penn ;  and 
was  born  in  London  in  1644.  He  was  regarded  as  a  child  of 
great  promise.  At  eleven  years  of  age,  being,  as  he  relates, 
at  Oxford  school,  he  was  suddenly  surprised  "  with  an  inward 
comfort,  and  an  external  glory  in  the  belief  of  God,  and  his 
communion  with  his  soul."  Nothing,  through  a  long  life,  ever 
shook  his  faith  in  the  reality  of  this  divinely  communicated 
**  inner  light." 

At  fifteen  he  entered  Oxford  College ;  but  though  an  ex- 
cellent scholar— his  religious  sensibilities  having  been  far- 
ther excited  by  the  preaching  of  Thomas  Loe,  a  Quaker,  he 
was  led  to  some  irregularities  as  a  student,  involving  a  con- 
tempt of  the  authority,  which  caused  his  expulsion.  His 
father,  disappointed  in  the  ambitious  hopes  which  the  uncom- 
mon talents  of  his  son  had  raised,  used  every  means,  not  except- 
ing fatherly  chastisement,  to  cure  him  of  what  he  considered 
his  whimsical  obstinacy.  All  his  efforts  failing,  he  turned 
him  from  his  door.     But  a  generous  nature,  with  the  persua- 


1644 

Birth  of 
Penn. 

His 
conversion. 


1659 

He  entei» 
Oxford 
College 


70 


PENN    IN    IRELAND. HE    SUFFERS    FOR    HIS    PRINCIPLES. 


PART  II. 
PEIUOD  I. 
CHAP.  IV. 


1666. 

His  father 

sends  him  to 

Ireland. 


He  a2;ain 
hears  Thom- 
as Loe. 


1667. 

His  father 
recalls  him. 


A.gain  vainly 
attempts  to 
influence 
him  to  re- 
nounce 
quakerism. 


1670. 

Penn  a 

preacher 

md  author. 


Example  of 

English  trial 

by  jury  in 

tne  17th 

century. 


Recall  of 

Penn 

Death  of  his 

father. 


sions  of  his  wife,  soon  made  him  relent,  and  restore  his  son 
to  his  favor. 

William  was  next  sent  to  travel  in  France  and  Italy,  where 
he  spent  two  years.  He  returned  with  an  elegant  polish  of 
manners,  which  delighted  his  father.  But  the  admiral  soon 
fomid,  that  wherever  his  religion  was  concerned,  his  son  had 
the  same  peculiar  views,  and  the  same  unbending  spirit  aa 
before. 

His  father  next  sent  him  to  Ireland,  in  hopes  that  the  splen- 
did court  of  his  friend,  the  Earl  of  Ormond,  now  Lord  Lieu- 
tenant of  that  kingdom,  would  make  him  a  man  of  the  world. 
Having  the  agency  of  his  father's  large  estates  in  Ireland, 
William  applied  himself  to  business  with  so  much  ability,  that 
his  father  was  delio^hted  with  his  success.  But  he  again 
heard  the  preacher,  Thomas  Loe,  and  became  a  decided  mem- 
ber of  the  Quaker  Society,  and  as  such,  he  was  persecuted 
and  imprisoned.  His  father  hearing  of  this,  recalled  him 
to  England.  Mortified  at  his  oddities,  but  proud  of  his  tal- 
ents, the  impassioned  father  entreats  and  beseeches, — even 
with  tears.  The  affectionate  son  struggles  between  his  love 
for  his  earthly,  and  that  for  his  Heavenly  Parent ;  and  decides 
that  he  must,  at  whatever  cost,  be  in  subjection  to  the  Father 
of  his  spirit. 

The  admiral  is  willing  to  endure  much,  and  finally  proposes 
to  compromise,  and  allow  his  son's  peculiarities,  provided  he 
will  consent  partially  to  wave  the  Quaker  custom  of  wearing 
the  hat  in  every  human  presence  ;  and  uncover  his  head  be- 
fore the  King,  the  Duke  of  York,  and  himself.  Penn  reflected 
that  his  spiritual  strength  and  comfort  depended  upon  obedi- 
ence to  his  inward  monitor.  Christianity  taught  that  the  out- 
ward act  should  never  belie  the  heart ;  and  "  hat-worship,"  he 
believed  could  not  otherwise  be  practiced.  He  therefore  re- 
fused his  father's  proffer,  and  was  again  excluded  from  the 
shelter  of  his  roof. 

Penn  now  became  a  preacher  and  an  author  ;  and  was  ere 
long  cast  into  prison  for  his  Wolation  of  the  severe  laws  re- 
specting public  worship  ;  and  though  released  by  his  father's 
mediation,  he  was  soon  re-committed.  His  fearless  eloquence 
on  one  occasion,  gained  the  jury  to  his  cause.  He  was  ac 
cused  before  the  Mayor  and  Recorder  of  London,  of  holding 
a  private  meeting  with  his  brethren,  for  religious  worship; 
and  though  the  court  directed,  threatened,  and  kept  the  jury 
two  days  without  "  meat,  drink,  fire  or  tobacco,"  these  twelve 
bold  jurors  would  not  find  a  bill  against  the  prisoner.  For 
this  the  court  fined  them,  and  cast  them  into  prison  for  their 
fine.     Such  was  the  spirit  of  the  times. 

Admiral  Penn,  when  his  health  failed,  recalled  his  beloved 
son.  He  gave  a  charge  on  his  death-bed  to  his  friend,  the 
Duke  of  York,  who  accepted  the  office,  to  watch  the  fate  of 


HE  PURCHASES,  SETTLES,  AND  GOVERNS  PENNSYLVANIA. 


71 


William,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  shield  him  from  the  evils  to 
which  his  peculiar  tenets  must  expose  him. 

Soon  after  his  father's  death,  Penn  is  again  in  prison.  But 
notwithstanding  this,  we  soon  find  him  allying  himself  in  mar- 
riage to  a  family  of  high  respectability,  and  to  a  woman  of 
extraordinary  intelligence,  beauty  and  goodness.  That  he 
had  now  the  public  confidence,  also  appears  from  the  trust  re- 
posed in  him  by  the  assignees  of  Edward  Billinge,  while  the 
high  order  of  his  talents  was  manifested  by  his  legislation  for 
the  two  Jerseys. 

His  thoughts  were  by  this  turned  to  America ;  and  the  suf- 
ferings of  his  dear  persecuted  brethren,  led  him  to  plans  of  colo- 
nizing there,  which  he  proceeded  to  put  into  operation.  His 
father  had  left  claims  to  the  amount  of  sixteen  thousand  pounds 
against  the  crown ;  and  Penn,  finding  that  there  was  a  tract  yet 
ungranted,  north  of  Lord  Baltimore's  patent,  solicited  and  ob- 
tained of  Charles  II.,  a  charter  of  the  country,  "  which  was 
bounded  on  the  east  by  the  river  Delaware,  extending  west- 
ward through  five  degrees  of  longitude,  and  stretching  from 
twelve  miles  northward  of  Newcastle,  to  the  forty-third  de- 
gree of  latitude,  and  was  limited  on  the  south  by  a  circle  of 
twelve  miles  drawn  around  Newcastle,  to  the  beginning  of 
the  fortieth  degree  of  north  latitude."  It  was  called  by  the 
king,  Pennsylvania. 

Soon  after  the  date  of  this  grant,  two  other  conveyances 
were  made  to  Penn  by  the  Duke  of  York  ;  one  of  which  em- 
braced the  present  state  of  Delaware,  and  was  called  the  "  Ter- 
ritories." The  other  was  a  release  from  the  Duke,  of  any 
claims  to  Pennsylvania. 

He  next  prepared  a  liberal  constitution  of  civil  government, 
for  those  who  should  become  his  colonists.  Having  sent  out 
three  ships,  loaded  with  emigrants,  and  consigned  to  the  care 
of  his  nephew.  Colonel  Markham,  he  left  Chester  on  board 
the  Welcome,  and  with  one  hundred  settlers,  sailed  for  his 
province,  his  benevolent  heart  full  of  hope  and  courage. 

He  landed  at  Newcastle,  and  was  joyfully  received  by  the 
Swedes  and  Dutch,  now  amounting  to  two  or  three  thousand. 
The  next  day,  at  their  court-house,  he  received  from  the  agent 
of  the  Duke  of  York,  the  surrender  of  The  Territories.  He 
li  en,  with  blended  dignity  and  affection,  assured  the  delighted 
throngs,  that  their  rights  should  be  respected,  and  their  happi- 
ness regarded. 

In  honor  of  his  friend,  the  Duke,  he  next  visited  New  York; 
but  immediately  returning,  he  went  to  Upland,  which  he  named 
Chester.  Here  a  part  of  the  pioneers,  with  Markham,  had 
begun  a  settlement,  and  here  Penn  called  the  first  assembly. 

It  consisted  of  an  equal  number  from  the  province  and  The 
Territories.  By  its  first  act,  all  the  inhabitants,  of  what- 
ever extraction,  were  naturalized.  Religious  freedom  was 
established  among  the  people,  but  all  officers  and    electors 


PART  IL 


1672. 

Hn     marries 
Gulielma, 
daughter  of 

Sir  William 
Springett 


1681. 

March  4. 

Penn  re- 
ceives the 

grant  of 

Pennsylva 

nia. 


Obtains 
Delaware 


Sept.  9, 

16§2, 

Penn  sails 

for  Aracrici 

Arrives  at 
Newcastle, 
October  2a 


Visits  Ne*» 

York. 

Names 

Chester 


Decemoer  i. 

The  first 
assembly  at- 
tend to 

business. 


?2 


PENN   HOLDS    A    COUNCIL    WITH    THE    INDIANS. 


PART  II. 


I6§2. 

Pass  in  three 
days  fifty- 
nine  laws. 


Pcnn  visits 

Lord 
Baltimore. 


Holds  his 

great 

council  with 

the   Indians. 


Indian  cer- 
emonies. 


Protesta- 
tions which 
were  proved 
true    by 
actions. 


The  treaty 
completed. 


Penn  lays 
out   and 
names   Phil- 
adelphia. 


Throngs  of 
settlers. 


must  be  believers  in  Jesus  Christ.  Penn  was  the  first  legis- 
lator, whose  criminal  code  admitted  the  humane  principle,  that 
the  object  of  punishment  is  not  merely  to  prevent  crime,  but 
to  reform  the  offender.  Hence,  his  code  seldom  punished 
with  death.  The  assembly  sat  three  days,  and  passed  fifty- 
nine  laws  ;  an  evidence  that  the  time  which  belonged  to  the 
public,  was  not  here  consumed  either  in  personal  abuse  or 
pompous  declamation. 

Penn  next  paid  a  visit  of  friendship  and  business  to  Lord 
Baltimore  at  West  River.  Though  they  difiered  on  the  ques- 
tion of  boundaries,  yet  friendly  feeling  pervaded  the  interview 

Directions  had  been  given  to  Colonel  Markham,  who  pre- 
ceded Penn,  that  the  natives  should  be  treated  kindly  and 
fairly  ;  and  accordingly  no  land  had  been  entered  upon  but  by 
their  consent.  They  had  also  been  notified  that  Penn,  to 
whom  they  gave  the  name  of  Onas,  was  to  kindle  a  council 
fire  at  a  certain  time,  in  order  to  meet  and  establish  with  them 
a  treaty  of  perpetual  peace.  On  the  morning  of  the  appointed 
day,  under  a  huge  elm  at  Shackamaxon,  now  a  suburb  of  Phil- 
adelphia, William  Penn,  majestic  in  person,  beautiful  in  coun- 
tenance, graceful,  though  plain  in  manner  and  attire,  his  only 
ornament  being  a  sash  of  pale  blue,  stood  and  held  in  his  hand 
the  roll  of  peace.  Sending  around  his  loving  glance,  he  sees 
"  far  as  his  eyes  can  carry,"  among  the  trees  of  the  forest,  its 
painted  and  plumed  children  gathering  towards  him.  The 
chiefs  come  forward  and  half  encircle  him.  The  principal 
sachem  puts  upon  his  own  head  a  horned  chaplet,  the  symbol 
of  his  power.  At  once  every  warrior  lays  down  his  bow  and 
tomahawk,  and  seats  himself  upon  the  ground.  The  grand 
chief  then  announces  to  Onas  that  the  nations  are  ready  to 
hear  his  words,  believing  him  to  be  an  angel  sent  to  them  by 
the  Great  Spirit. 

Penn  gave  them  instructions,  and  solemnly  appealed  to  the 
Almighty  who  knew  his  inmost  thoughts,  that  it  was  the  ardent 
desire  of  his  heart  to  do  them  good.  "  He  would  not  call 
them  brothers  or  children,  but  they  should  be  to  him  and  his, 
as  half  of  the  same  body."  The  chiefs  then  gave  their  pledge 
for  themselves,  and  for  their  tribes,  "  to  live  in  love  with 
him  and  his  children,  as  long  as  the  sun  and  moon  should 
endure."  The  treaty  was  then  executed,  the  chiefs  marking 
down  the  emblems  of  their  seA^eral  tribes.  The  purchases  of 
Markham  were  confirmed,  and  others  made. 

After  this,  Penn  went  to  a  villa  which  his  nephew  had  built 
for  his  residence,  opposite  the  site  of  Burlington,  and  called 
Pennsbury.  Here  he  gave  directions  for  laying  out  towns  and 
counties,  and  in  conjunction  with  the  surveyor,  Holme,  drew 
the  plan  of  his  capital,  and  in  the  spirit  of  "brotherly  love," 
named  it  Philadelphia. 

Vessels  came  fast  with  new  settlers,  until  twenty-two, 
bearing  two  thousand  persons,  had  arrived.     Some  came  so 


-BERKELEY  AND  CARTERET.  73 

late  in  the  fall,  that  they  could  not  be  provided  with  house- 
room  in  the  rude  dwQllings  of  the  new  city;  and  "the  caves" 
were  dug  in  the  banks  of  the  river  to  receive  them.  Provi- 
dence fed  them  by  flocks  of  pigeons,  and  the  fish  of  the  riv- 
ers ;  and  the  Indians,  regarding  them  as  the  children  of  Orias, 
hunted  to  bring  them  game.  ^^^^^^  ^^^ 

Penn  again  met  tlie  legislature,  and  gave  them  legal  as-  1683.' 
surances  that  they  should  have  liberty  "to  amend  or  add  to  A  second 
their  charter,"  (the  fundamental  compact  between  himself  and  assembly. 
them,)  "whenever  the  public  good  required." 

The  boundaries   between  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  had  Lord  Balti- 
not  yet  been  adjusted  by  the  two  proprietors ;  and  Lord  Bal-  more  clairas 
timore  attempted  to  possess  himself  of  The  Territories    by  Territories, 
ejecting  the  settlers   on   their  refusal  to  pay  him  quit-rent. 
Penn    remonstrated.     The    general    court   of    Pennsylvania 
strongly  asserted  his  claim,  and  The  Territories  remained  un- 
der his  jurisdictioii. 

Penn  had  left  beyond  the  ocean  his  beloved  family.     Let-    Angiisi4. 
ters   from  England   spoke   of  the   sufferings   of  his   quaker     16§4. 
brethren,  and  he  believed  that  he  might  exercise  an  influence    ^^^^^  ^™ 
there  to  check  persecution.     He  embarked  on  the  fourth  of    England. 
August,  and  wrote  on  board  the  ship  an  affectionate  adieu  to 
his  province,  which  he  sent  on  shore  before   he   sailed.     He  ^\f^rT^^ 
Baid,  "  And  thou,  Philadelphia,  virgin   of   the   province  !  my  ^^     /-^  ^ 
soul  prays   for  thee  ;  that,  faithful  to  the  God  of  thy  mercies, 
in  the  life  of  righteousness,  thou  mayest  be  preserved  unto 
the  end !" 


CHAPTER  V. 

New  Jersey — its  Settlement,  and  various  Claimants. 

Previous  to  the  surrender  of  the  Dutch,  the  Duke  of  York     1664. 
made  a  grant  of  that  part  of  his  patent  lying  between  the   g^rnt^d^to' 
Hudson  and  Delaware,  to  Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Car-     Berkeley 
teret.     This  tract  was   called  New  Jersey,  in  compliment  to  andCartcret 
Sir  George,  who  had  been  governor  of  the  isle  of  Jersey. 
In  1664,  before  the  grant  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret  was  known, 
three   persons   from.  Long  Island  purchased  of  the  natives  a 
tract  of  the  country,  which  was  called  Elizabethtown,  where 
a  settlement  was  commenced.     Other  towns  were  soon  set-   Elizabeth 
tied  by  emigrants  from  the  colonies,  and  from  Europe.     Thus  J^gf^^^J^i^ 
opposite    claims  were  created,  which  caused  much   discord 
between  the  proprietors  and  inhabitants.     In  1665,  Berkeley 
and  Carteret  formed  a  constitution  for  the  colony,  and  ap- 
pointed Philip  Carteret  governor      He  made   Elizabethtown 
the  seat  of  government. 


74 


THE    JERSEYS. PENN  S    WISE    LEGISLATION. 


PART  ir. 


1672. 

Disputes  be- 
tween the 
settlers  and 
proprietors. 


Lord  Berke- 
ley sells  his 
right. 


Penn  causes 

New  Jersey 

lobe  divided. 

1676. 


The  "con- 
cessions." 


Jria.n  Jersey 

purchased  in 

1683, 

by  twenty- 
four  qua 
kers. 

The  perse 

cuted  find 

a  refuge  in 

Kftst  Jersey. 


167§. 

Andross 

usurps  the 

government 

of  the 

Jerseys. 

Pcnn  re- 
stores it, 
ICJ80, 
til  the 
pron  rietors. 


]n  1672,  the  disputes  of  the  settlers  became  violent.  The 
inhabitants  of  Elizabethtown,  who  had  .purchased  the  soil  of 
the  natives,  refused  to  pay  rent  to  the  proprietors,  and  carried 
their  opposition  so  far,  as  to  expel  the  governor  and  substi- 
tute his  son.  The  father  returned  to  England,  and  obtained 
from  the  proprietors  such  conditions  as  quieted  the  colonists , 
and  thus  the  proprietary  government  was  restored. 

Berkeley  and  Carteret  had  heretofore  held  the  province  as 
joint  property,  but  the  former  becoming  weary  with  the  care 
of  an  estate  which  yielded  him  neither  honor  nor  profit,  sold 
his  share  to  Edward  Byllinge.  That  gentleman,  becoming  in- 
volved in  debt,  found  it  necessary  to  assign  over  his  property 
for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors  ;  and  William  Penn  was  one  of 
his  assignees. 

New  Jersey  was  now  jointly  held  by  Sir  George  Carteret, 
and  Penn,  as  agent  for  the  assignees  of  Bvllinge.  But  Penn 
perceiving  the  inconvenience  of  holding  juint  property,  it  was 
mutually  agreed  to  separate  the  country  into  East  and  West 
Jersey ;  Carteret  receiving  the  sole  proprietorship  of  East 
Jersey,  and  Penn  and  his  associates,  that  of  West  Jersey. 

Penn  in  the  first  place  divided  West  Jersey  into  one  hun- 
dred shares,  which  were  separately  disposed  of,  and  then,  in 
that  spirit  of  righteousness  whereby  he  won  the  confidence 
of  all,  he  drew  up  the  articles  called  '*  the  concessions  ;"  by 
which  the  proprietors  ceded  to  the  planters  the  privileges  of 
free  civil  government,  expressly  declaring  "  we  put  the  power 
in  the  people."  He  examined  Indian  claims,  and  by  fair  pur- 
chase extinguished  them.  Religion  was  left  free,  and  impris- 
onment for  debt  prohibited.  Such  was  his  influence,  that  in 
two  years  he  sent  over  eight  hundred  new  settlers,  mostly  qua- 
kers, — persons  of  excellent  character,  and  good  condition. 

In  1682,  East  Jersey,  the  property  of  Carteret,  being  ex- 
posed to  sale,  it  was  purchased  by  twelve  quakers,  under  the 
auspices  of  Penn.  In  1683,  the  proprietors  doubled  their 
number,  and  obtained  a  new  patent  from  the  Duke  of  York. 

East  Jersey  was  now  free  from  religious  intolerance.  This 
was  the  era  of  those  civil  wars  of  Great  Britain  in  which 
Graham  of  Claverhouse,  and  other  royal  officers,  hunted  the 
Cameronian  Scots  like  wild  beasts.  Hundreds  of  the  suf- 
ferers now  came  to  East  Jersey,  and  there,  bringing  their  in- 
dustrious and  frugal  habits,  they  were  blessed  with  security, 
abundance,  and  content. 

Sir  Edmund  Andros,  when  governor  of  New  York,  under 
pretence  of  the  claims  of  the  Duke  of  York,  usur[)ed  the  gov- 
ernment both  in  East  and  West  Jersey,-  and  laid  a  tax  upon 
all  goods  imported,  and  upon  the  property  of  all  who  came 
to  settle  in  the  country. 

Penn  received  complaints  of  these  abuses,  and  with  such 
strength  of  argument  opposed  the  claims  of  the  duke,  that  the 
commissioners  to  whom  the  case  was  referred  adjudged  the 


INF/IAN    AFFAIRS. CHARTER    OF    RliODE    ISLAND. 


75 


duties  to  be  illecral  and  oppressive,  in  consequence  of  wlncli, 
in  1680  they  were  removed,  and  tlie  proprietors  reinstated  in 
the  government.  Edward  Byllinge  was  appointed  their  gov- 
erno'r;  and  the  next  year,  1081,  he  summoned  the  first  gen- 
eral assembly  held  in  West  Jersey.  In  1G82,  the  people,  by 
the  advice  of  Penn,  amended  their  government.  Contrary  to 
the  wishes  of  the  proprietor,  the  next  year  they  proceeded  to 
elect  their  own  governor. 


PART.IL 


16S1. 

First  gene* 
ral  assembly 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Miantonomoh.-Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut  obtain  Charters.-Elliot,  the 
Apostle  of  the  Indians. 

MivNTOXOMOH  sought  tho  life  of  Uncas,  because  he  was 
aware  that  he  could  not  make  him  unite  in  a  conspiracy,  which 
he  was  exciting  against  the  whites.  A  Pequod  whom  he 
hired,  wounded  the  Mohegan  chief,  and  then  fled  to  him  for 
protection.  He  refused  to  surrender  the  assassin  to  the  de- 
mand of  the  court  at  Hartford,  but  dispatched  him  with  his 
own  hand.  Again  he  practiced  to  take  the  life  of  Uncas  by 
means  of  assassination,  and  again  failed. 

Miantonomoh  then  drew  out  his  warriors  openly  against 
him,  in  violation  of  a  treaty  to  which  the  authorities  of  Con- 
necticut were  a  party.  Uncas  met  and  vanquished  him  by  a 
stratagem,  and  took  him  prisoner  ;  but  he  resigned  him  to  the 
court  They  deliberated,  and  then  returned  the  noble  savage 
to  his  captor.  Uncas  killed  him,  without  torture,  but  with  cir- 
cumstances of  cannibal  barbarity. 

Durincr  the  supremacy  of  the  Long  Parliament,  puritanism 
was  favoured,  and  the  New  England  colonies  enjoyed  a  happy 
season  of  liberty  and  peace. 

In  1G43  Rocrer  Williams  was  sent  to  England  as  agent  tor 
the  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations,  to  obtain  a 
charter  of  civil  government.  He  found  the  affairs  of  the  col- 
onies m  the  hands  of  the  earl  of  Warwick,  and  seventeen 
commissioners,  who  had  been  appointed  by  parliament,  with 
much  the  same  powers  as  had  been  given  to  those  appointed 
by  the  king,  in  1634.  By  the  assistance  of  Vane,  now  one 
of  the  commissioners,  he  obtained  from  them  a  free  charter 
of  incorporation,  dated  March,  1644.  The  form  of  govern- 
ment provided  by  this  incorporation,  was  essentially  similar  to 
that  established  in  the  adjacent  colonies. 

Yet  the  state  was  unsettled.  Coddington  had  received 
from  England  power  to  govern  the  Islands.  Williams,  in 
coniunction  with  John  Clarke,  recrossed  the  ocean,  and  hnd- 
mga  -sheet  anchor"  in   Vane,   he   procured    an    extended 


1643. 

Miantono- 
moh seeks 
the  life  of 
Uncas, 


but  loses  his 
ovra. 


1643. 

Rhode  Isl- 
and obtains 

a  charter 
by  the  help 

of  Vane 


1551 

John  Clarke 
and  WU- 
liams  pro- 
cure another. 


76  THE    LONG    PARLIAMENT.  — CROMWELL. CHARLES    II. 

PART  II.    charter  including  the  islands,  and  confirming  the  limits  of  the 

state  as  they  now  exist. 

Rhode  Island,  if  not  great  in  territory,  is  rich  in  the  fame 

of  having  been  the  first  to  set  the  example,  since  followed  by 

R.  Island    ^j^g  nation  at  laro^e,  of  entire  "  soul-liberty  "  in  matters  of  re- 
first  in      ,.    .  ^  •' 
religious      llgion. 

freedom.         Williams  lived  to  old  age,  honored  and  beloved.     Yet  did 

he  meet,  at  times,  the  ingratitude  which  has  almost  invariably 

Difference    followed  the  benefactors  of  mankind.     The  people  who  owed 

^^S^fr^'uK    their  all  to  him,  became  on  one  occasion  his  foes,  and  abused 
noble  and  the  '  .       ,  .         '  ,     . 

base  in  mind,  him  for  being  too  generous,  themselves  in  this  case  not  being 
the  recipients.  Williams  wisely  and  cheerfully  took  his  own 
part,  and  plainly  told  them,  that  they  were  but  finding  "  a 
sponge  wherewith  to  wipe  out  their  own  obligations."  If  the 
sun  shines  upon  the  planets,  we  cannot  therefore  expect  those 
opaque  bodies  will  shine  back  in  the  same  manner  upon  the 
sun.  Those  people,  doubtless,  considered  that  it  was  the 
part  of  Williams  to  shine,  and  theirs  to  be  shone  upon. 

The  Long  Parliament  had  done   evil  by  assuming  to  make 
their  own  places  permanent;  and  the  good  which  they  effected, 

1650.  could  not  save  them  from  political  destruction.     After  bring- 
Crorawell    ing  Charles  I.  to  the  block,  they  were  themselves  superseded 

Lon'^lSrlia^  by  Cromwell's  single  authority.     The  restrictions  on  colonial 
ment.       commerce,  which  so  unjustly  oppressed  the  provinces  for  the 

1651.  benefit  of  the  parent  country,  were,  as  has  been  seen,   em- 
Navigation  bodied  by  his  master-mind  in  the  celebrated  "  Navigation  x\ct." 

**  lated!^ "'  -^y  ^^^^'  bo  it  remembered,  the  colonies  were  obliged  to 
sell  all  their  productions  to  English  merchants,  and  purchase 
from  them  all  needed  supplies  ;  so  that  the  colonist  not  only 
was  prohibited  from  finding  his  own  market,  and  selling  to  the 
highest  bidder,  what  his  own  industry  had  produced, — but  he 
was  also  forbidden  to  supply  his  wants,  where  he  could  find 
the  most  favorable  terms.  The  commerce  of  the  colonies 
was  thus  "  cut  with  a  double  edge  ;"  and  these  restrictive 
laws  were  passed  one  after  another,  to  the  number  of  nineteen. 
1C63  The  one  of  1663,  did  not  allow  the  provincials  to  be  the  car- 
rs^v'^^'  ■"'^^^^  ^^  their  own  produce,  but  required  them  to  employ  Brit- 
restrictions,  ish  shipping;  another,  in  1672,  forbade  the  free  trade  of  the 
colonies  with  each  other.  The  provinces,  especially  those  o/ 
New  England,  considering  these  laws  as  wholly  unjust,  and 
also  objecting  on  the  ground  that  they  were  passed  in  a  par- 
liament where  the  colonies  were  not  represented,  they  evaded 
them,  and  as  far  as  possible,  chartered  their  own  vessels,  and 
traded  wheroA'er  they  pleased. 

When   Charles  II.  was  restored,  his  power  was   ackno-vf- 

1662.     ledged  in  New  England ;  but  the   colonies  had  melancholy 

scnds'win-  forebodings.     Yet   the    authorities    of    Connecticut,    by   the 

tliroptoEng-  eminent    Winthrop,    even    at   this    difiicult   period,   success- 

Sns^a"    ^"^^y   applied  to  the   court  of  England  for  a  charter.     They 

charter,     plead,  that  they  had  obtained  their  lands  by  purchase  from  the 


CONNECTICUT     OBTAINS    A    LIBERAL    CHARTER.-  -ELLIOT.  77 

natives,  and  by  conquest  from  the  Peqiiods,  who  made  on  them    PART  IL 
a  war  of  extermination ;   and  they  had  mingled  their  labor  with   teriod  i 
the  soil.     The  aged  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  moved  the  Earl  of    «;hap.  vi. 
Manchester  in  their  behalf.     Winthrop  appeared  before  the  v^^-v<-^^ 
Idng  with  such  a  gentle  dignity  of  carriage,  and  such  appro-  Theyoung- 
priate   conversation,  as  won   the  royal   favor.     It  is  said  lie     ^[[jrop"' 
brought  to  the  mind  of  Charles  some  interesting  recollections, 
by  the  present  of  a  ring,  which  had  been  given  to  his  grand- 
father as  a  pledge,  by  an  ancestor  of  the  monarch. 

The   charter  which  Winthrop  obtained,   granting  privile-     1662. 
ges   greater  than  any  other  which  the  government  of  Eng-  Great  privi- 
land  had   ffi\'en,  was  worded  in  Connecticut.     The  wise  fa- I'^ges  of  Con- 
thers  there,  did  not  send  their  agent  without  his  business  being      charter, 
thoroughly  prepared.*  Union  of 

The  liberal  charter,  granted  by  the  king,  included  New  Ha-  New  Haven 
ven.     That  province,  however,   had  not  been  consulted,  and  Connectic-it 
justly  felt  aggrieved ;  as  a  relinquishment  of  its  separate  ex-      1665. 
istence  was   thereby  required.     But  at  length,  the  great  ex- 
pediency of  the  measure  becoming  fully  apparent,  the  union 
of  New  Haven  with  Connecticut  was  completed.     Winthrop    Winthrop 
was  chosen  governor,  and  received  seventeen  successive  an-     governor, 
nual  elections. 

Colonel  Nichols,  who  was  sent  over  to  command  the  expe-  1664. 
dition  aorainst  New  Netherlands,  was  one  of  four  commission-  ^°"^  ^^^ 
ers,  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  king,  not  only  for  the  re- 
duction of  the  Dutch,  but  for  humbling  the  colonies.  For 
this  purpose,  they  w^ere  empowered  to  hear  and  determine  all 
matters  of  complaint,  and  to  examine  and  regulate  them,  as 
seemed  for  the  good  of  the  king's  service. 

The  colonists  considered  this  appointment  an  invasion  of 
their  chartered  rights  ;  yet  no  direct  opposition  was  made  to 
the  proceedings  of  the  commissioners,  except  by  Massachu- 
setts, whose  firmness  in  resisting  every  exercise  of  their  power, 
deeply  offended  them  ;    and  two  of  their  number,  Carr   and    Ma\^erick 
Cartwright,  left  the  country  in  high  displeasure.     Cartwright     Can-  and 
was  taken  prisoner  by  the   Dutch  on  his  passage  home,  and    Cartwright 
Carr  died  the  next  day  alter  his  arrival,  or  immediate  meas-  the  colonies 
iires  would  probably  have  been  taken  against  that  colony. 

This  was  the  period  of  the  labors  of  John  Elliot.     \^^hen 
Hooker,  in  the  days  of  his  persecution,  had  kept  a  school  at   John  Elliot 
Little  Baddow,  in  England,  the  youthful  Elliot  had  been  his 
usher,  and  a  resident  in  his  family  ;  and   to  this  blessed  pe- 

♦  From  Hoolser's  management,  may  have  originated  a  system  o''  unwritten 
law,  which,  whether  good  or  bad,  has  for  many  years  past  become  incorporated 
with  the  i)olitical  usages  of  this  country;  and  is  known  as  the  "caucus  sj^stem." 
Hooker's  maxim  was,  "  a  church  within  a  church,"  the  business  for  which  the 
many  were  to  be  called  together,  first  digested  and  prepared  by  the  few.  Mr. 
Stone,  who  was  Mr.  Hooker's  colleague  in  the  ministry,  had  an  expression  for 
the  same  plan,  when,  in  an  advanced  state  of  i)rogress,  the  matter  in  question 
had  come  before  the  full  assembly  of  the  persons  who  were  to  decide  it.  His  idea 
of  perfection  was,  "a  speaking  aristocracy  in  the  face  of  a  silent  democracy.' 


missioners 


78 


CHRISTIANITY    OPPOSED    BY    THE    SACHEMS. 


PART  II. 


1631 

Arrives  in 
Boston, 


1646. 

His  first 

meeting 

■with  the 

Indians  at 

Nonantum, 

l>r  Newtown. 


Many- 
Indians 
converted. 


Natick. 
1654. 

1657. 

Elliot  com- 
pletes his 

translation  of 
the  Bible. 


Number  of 
praying 
Indians. 
1674. 


Christianity 
hated  by  the 
great  sa- 
chems. 


riod,  the  "apostle  of  the  Indians"  traced  the   spiritual  light 
which  shone  so  brightly  upon  his  missionary  career. 

He  came  to  Boston  in  his  twenty-seventh  year.  Ho  was 
settled  at  Roxbury  in  1632,  having  been  previously  married 
to  a  lady  well  suited  by  the  excellence  of  her  Christian  spirit, 
to  sympathize  in  his  devout  aspirings,  and  by  a  wise  pru- 
dence, to  supply  his  lack  of  care  for  the  physical  wants  of 
himself  and  family. 

Elliot  had  beheld  with  pity  the  ignorance  and  spiritual 
darkness  of  the  savages,  and  his  fixed  determination  was  to 
devote  himself  to  their  conversion.  He  first  spent  some  years 
in  the  study  of  their  language.  The  General  Court  of  the 
province  had  passed  an  order  requesting  the  clergy  to  report 
concerning  the  best  means  of  spreading  the  gospel  among  the 
natives  ;  and  Elliot  took  this  time  to  meet  with  the  Indians  at 
Nonantum,  a  few  miles  west  of  Boston.  His  meetings  for 
religious  worship  and  discourse  were  frequent,  and  in  dif- 
ferent places,  as  favorable  opportunities  could  be  found,  or 
made.  His  efijorts  to  teach  the  natives  the  arts  and  usages  of 
civilized  life,  were  also  unremitted  and  arduous ;  "  for  civility," 
it  was  said,  "must  go  hand  in  hand  with  Christianity."  These 
efforts  and  their  effects,  exhibit  the  children  of  the  forest  in  a 
most  interesting  point  of  view,  and  show  the  transforming 
power  of  the  gospel.  Their  dispositions  and  lives  underwent 
a  real  change.  vSome  of  their  numbers  became  teachers,  and 
aided  in  the  conversion  of  others. 

In  1654,  an  Indian  church  was  collected  at  Natick,  a  town 
having  been  previously  built. 

In  1655,  Elliot  had  completed  his  translation  of  the  New 
Testament  into  the  Indian  language,  and  in  two  years  more 
the  old  was  added.  Thus  the  mighty  labor  of  learning  the 
difficult  tongue  of  the  Indians,  of  making  from  its  oral  ele- 
ments a  written  lanoruage,  and  that  of  translating  the  v/hole 
Bible,  was,  by  zeal  and  persevering  labor,  accomplished.  It 
was  the  first  Bible  printed  in  America.  But  both  the  Indian  and 
his  language  are  now  extinct,  and  Elliot's  Bible  is  a  mere  lite- 
rary curiosity.  In  the  expense,  he  had  been  much  assisted 
by  an  English  "Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel." 

In  1674,  there  were  fourteen  towns  of  "  praying  Indians," 
and  six  gathered  churches.  The  Indian  converts  had  much 
to  encounter.  Their  great  chiefs  hated  Christianity  ;  for  al- 
though it  made  their  subjects  willing  to  do  the  right,  yet  it  set 
them  to  reflect,  and  thus  to  find  out  that  there  was  a  right  for 
them  to  have,  as  well  as  to  do  ;  and  this  tended  to  subvert 
the  absolute  arbitrary  sway,  which  the  sachem,  however  he 
might  allow  it  to  slumber,  did  actually  possess  ;  and  which 
he  naturally  felt  unwilling  to  relinquish.  Of  these  chiefs, 
Philip  of  Pokanoket  was  peculiarly  the  foe  of  the  Christian 
religion.  If  he  had  embraced  it,  the  fortunes  of  his  family 
and  his  race  might  have  been  changed. 


HOSTILE    SPIRIT    OF    THE    INDIANS. CONANCHET. 


79 


CHAPTER    VII. 


tng  Philip's  War,- 


-lis  dreadful  consequences.— Destruction  of  the  Narragan- 
setts  and  Pokanokets. 


Philip  was  the  younger  of  the  two  sons  of  Massasoit.  He 
had  become  embittered  agamst  the  English  by  circumstances 
attending  the  death  of  his  brother,  which  he  ascribed  to  them; 
and  though  he  was  thus  left  sole  chieftain  of  the  Pokanokets, 
yet  he  deeply  felt  his  loss,  and  bitterly  resented  it. 

The  extension  of  the  whites  had  now  alarmed  the  savage 
nations.  They  remembered  that  their  ancestors  had  reigned 
sole  lords  of  the  forest.  Now,  their  hunting-grounds  were 
abridged  ;  and  the  deer,  the  bear,  and  other  animals  on  which 
they  depended  for  subsistence,  were  frightened  away  by  the 
hum  of  civilization.  The  new  race,  whom  their  fathers  re- 
ceived when  a  poor  and  feeble  band,  were  now  gradually 
spreading  themselves  over  the  land,  and  assuming  to  be  its 
sovereigns.  Nothing  remained  to  the  native  savage,  but  to  be 
driven  by  degrees  from  the  occupations  and  possessions  of 
his  forefather's  ;  or  to  arouse,  and  by  a  mighty  effort,  extirpate 
the  intruders. 

This  was  the  spirit  which,  emanating  from  Philip,  spread 
itself  throughout  the  various  Indian  tribes.  The  Narragan- 
sctts,  so  long  friendly,  were  now  under  the  rule  of  Conanchet, 
the  son  of  Miantonomoh,  and  doubtless  he  remembered  the 
benefactions  which  his  father  had  bestowed  upon  the  whites, 
and  their  refusal  to  hear  his  last  plea  for  mercy. 

Philip  had  not  proceeded  Airther  than  to  work  upon  the 
minds  of  the  Indians  by  secret  machinations,  when  Sausa- 
man,  one  of  the  natives\vhom  Elliot  had  instructed  in  Chris- 
tianity, gave  to  the  English  intimations  of  his  designs.  Sau- 
saman  was  soon  after  murdered.  On  investigation,  the  Plym- 
outh court  found  that  the  murder  was  committed  by  three  of 
Philip's  most  intimate  friends;  and  forthwith  they  caused 
them  to  bo  executed. 

The  savages  no  longer  delayed;  but  on  the  20th  of  June, 
Philip's  warriors  began  by  attacking  Swansey,  in  New  Plym- 
outh. The  colonists  appeared  in  defense  of  the  town,  and 
the  Indians  fled.  Receiving  fresh  troops  from  Boston,  the 
united  English  force  marched  into  the  Indian  towns,  which 
on  their  approach  were  deserted.  But  the  route  of  the  sava- 
ges was  marked  by  the  ruin  of  buildings  which  had  been 
burned,  and  by  the  heads  and  hands  of  the  English,  which 
were  fixed  upon  poles  by  the  way-side.  The  troops  finding 
Vhal  they  could  not  overtake  them,  returned  to  Swansey. 
The  commissioners  of  the  colonies  meeting  at  Boston,  were 


PARI   [I, 


Indians 

generally 

jealous  and 

hostile. 


Narragan 
setts  under 
Conanchet 


Sausaman'a 
disclosure 
and  death 


1 675 

June  24. 
Swansey 
attacked 


80 


SUFFERINGS    OF    NEW    ENGLAND    BY    THE    SAVAGES. 


PART.  II. 


They  compel 

the  Narra- 

gansetts 

to  make 

peace. 


Philip  at- 
tacked at 
Poeasset. 


Battle  at 
Brookfield. 


Sept.  18. 

Battle  of 
Bloody 
Brook. 


October. 

Springfield 

burned. 


Dreadful 
condition 

of  the 
Colonies. 


rhe  Ameri- 
can savage  a 
terrible  foe. 


unanimous  in  deciding  that  the  war  must  be  prosecuted  with 
vigor,  and  each  colony  furnish  means,  according  to  its  ability. 
Of  the  thousand  men  which  they  determined  to  send  immedi- 
ately into  the  field,  Massachusetts  was  to  furnish  five  hundred 
and  twenty-seven,  Connecticut  three  hundred  and  fifteen,  and 
Plymouth  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight.  Subsequently  tliG 
commissioners  voted  to  raise  double  this  number. 

The  army  was  sent  from  Swansey  into  the  country  of  the 
Narragansetts,  and  negotiating,  sword  in  hand,  whh  that  con- 
federacy, on  the  15th  of  July,  a  treaty  of  peace  was  conclu- 
ded. The  commissioners,  among  other  stipulations,  agreed 
to  give  forty  coats  to  any  of  the  Narragansetts  who  should 
bring  Philip  alive,  twenty  for  his  head,  and  two  for  each  of 
his  subjects,  delivered  as  prisoners. 

The  Indian  king  retreated  with  his  warriors  to  a  swamp  at 
Pocasset,  near  Montaup.  There,  on  the  18th,  the  colonists 
attacked  them,  but  gained  no  decisive  advantage.  Philip  then 
made  his  head-quarters  with  the  Nipmucks ;  but  by  the  spirit  of 
his  destructive  movements,  he  seemed  to  be  everywhere  pres- 
ent. Captain  Hutchinson,  with  a  company  of  horse,  was 
sent  to  treat  with  those  Indians,  but  being  drawn  into  an 
ambush,  near  Brookfield,  he  was  mortally  wounded,  and  six- 
teen of  his  company  were  killed.  The  enemy  then  burned 
the  town. 

Intending  to  collect  a  magazine  and  garrison  at  Hadley, 
Captain  Lathrop,  with  a  corps  of  the  choicest  young  men,  se- 
lected from  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  was  sent  to  transport  a 
quantity  of  corn  from  Deerfield  to  that  place.  They  werp 
suddenly  attacked  by  the  Indians,  and  though  they  fought  with 
great  bravery,  they  were  almost  all  cut  off.  The  brook,  by 
which  they  fought,  flowed  red,  and  to  this  day  is  called 
"Bloody  Brook." 

In  October,  the  Springfield  Indians,  who  had  previously 
been  friendly,  concerted  with  the  hostile  tribes,  and  set  fire  to 
that  town.  While  its  flames  were  raging,  they  attacked 
Hadley. 

Dreadful  beyond  description  was  now  the  condition  of  the 
colonists.  The  object  of  the  Indians  was  totally  to  extermi- 
nate them,  and  aimed  equally  at  the  lives  of  the  armed  and  the 
defenseless.  They  were  withheld  by  no  restraints  of  reli- 
gion, and  their  customs  of  war  led  them  to  the  most  shock- 
ing barbarities.  The  previous  state  of  peace  and  security,  in 
the  course  of  which,  the  whites  had  spread  themselves  over 
a  large  extent  of  country,  and  mingled  their  dwellings  with 
those  of  the  Indians,  rendered  their  situation  more  perilous. 
The  Indians,  thus  acquainted  with  their  haunts  and  habits,  am- 
bushed the  private  path,  rushed  with  the  dreadful  war-whoop 
upon  the  worshiping  assembly ;  and  during  the  silence  of 
midnight,  set  tire  to  the  lonely  dwelling,  and  butchered  its 
inhabitants.     When  the  father  of  the  family  was  to  go  forth  in 


THE  COLONISTS  DESTROY  THE  NARRAGANSETTS. 


&i 


the  morning,  he  knew  he  might  meet  his  death-shot  as  he 
opened  his  door,  from  some  foe  concealed  behind  his  fences, 
or  in  his  barn  :  or  he  might  go,  and  return  to  fmd  his  children 
murdered  during  his  absence.  When  the  mother  lay  down  at 
night,  with  her  infant  cradled  on  her  arm,  she  knew  that  be- 
fore morning  it  might  be  plucked  from  her  bosom,  and  its 
brains  dashed  out  before  her  eyes.  Such  were  ever  the 
consequences  of  savage  warfare  ;  but  at  no  time  during  the 
Battlement  of  the  country,  were  they  so  extensively  felt  as 
(luring  the  year  through  which  this  war  continued. 

Couanchet  again  manifested  hostility.  In  violation  of  the 
treaty,  he  not  only  received  Philip's  warriors,  but  aided  their 
operations  against  the  English.  On  the  18th  of  December, 
one  thousand  troops  were  collected  from  the  different  colonies. 
Captain  Church  commanded  the  division  from  Massachusetts, 
Major  Treat  that  from  Connecticut,  and  Josiah  Winslow,  of 
Plymouth,  was  in  supreme  command.  After  a  stormy  night 
passed  in  the  open  air,  they  waded  through  the  snow  sixteen 
miles;  and  about  one  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  19th, 
they  arrrived  near  the  enemy's  fortress. 

It  was  on  a  rising  ground  in  the  midst  of  a  swamp,  and  was 
so  fortified  with  palisades  and  thick  hedges,  that  only  by 
crossing  a  log  which  lay  over  a  ravine,  could  it  be  approached. 
The  snow  was  deep,  but  the  footsteps  of  the  whites  were 
providentially  directed  to  this  entrance,  and  though  com- 
manded by  a  block-house  fortified  and  manned,  the  officers  led 
the  men  directly  across  the  narrow  and  dangerous  bridge. 
The  first  were  killed,  but  others  pressed  on,  and  the  fort  was 
entered.  Conanchet  and  his  warriors  fought  with  despera- 
tion, and  forced  the  English  to  retire  ;  but  they  continued  the 
fight,  defeated  the  savages,  and  again  entering  the  fort,  they 
set  fire  to  the  Indian  dwellings.  One  thousand  warriors  were 
killed  ;  three  hundred,  and  as  many  women  and  children, 
were  made  prisoners.  About  six  hundred  of  their  wigwams 
were  burnt,  and  many  helpless  sufferers  perished  in  the 
flames. 

The  wretched  remains  of  the  tribe  took  shelter  in  the  re- 
cesses of  a  cedar  swamp,  covering  themselves  with  boughs, 
or  burrowing  in  the  ground,  and  feeding  on  acorns  or  nuts, 
dug  out  with  their  hands  from  the  snow.  Many  who  escaped 
a  sudden,  thus  died  a  lingering  death.  Conanchet  was  made 
prisoner  in  April,  and  was  offered  his  freedom  if  he  would 
enter  into  a  treaty  of  peace.  The  chieftain  indignantly  re- 
fused, and  was  put  to  death. 

The  EngUsh  pursued  the  war  with  energy.  In  the  spring 
of  1676,  the  colonial  troops  Were  almost  universally  victorious. 
Jealousies  arose  among  the  different  tribes  of  savages,  and 
while  great  numbers  were  slain,  many  deserted  the  common 
cause.  Philip  had  attempted  to  rouse  the  Mohawks  against 
the  English,  and  had,  for  this  purpose,  killed  a  number  of  the 


PART  II. 


1C75. 


Conanchet 

violates  the 

treaty. 


His  fort  in 
Kingston, 
K.  island. 


Dec.  19. 
is  destroyed 


The  Englisli 
lose  230  in 
the  assault. 

Sufferings  of 

the  Indians 

by  fire  and 

sword 


by  famine 
and  cc!d 


Conar.chet'f 
death 


16T6. 

Philip  at- 
tempts to 
g'Jn  the  Mo 
hawks. 


82 


PHILIPS    DEATH. GOFFE      WHALLEl      AND    DIXWELL 


PART  II. 


Aug.  12. 
1676. 

Philip  is 
killed. 


Disastrous 

conse- 
quences of 
the  war. 

Destruction 
of  ten  towns 
of  the  pray- 
ing Indians. 


tribe,  and  attributed  their  death  to  the  whites.  His  perfidy 
was  detected,  and  he  fled  to  Montaup,  whither  he  was  pursued 
by  Captain  Church. 

In  the  midst  of  these  reverses,  Philip  remained  unshaken 
in  his  enmity.  His  chief  men,  as  also  his  wife  and  family, 
were  killed  or  made  prisoners  ;  and  while  he  wept  at  these 
domestic  bereavements,  with  a  bitterness  that  evinced  the 
finest  feelings  of  human  nature,  so  averse  was  he  to  sub' 
mission,  that  he  even  shot  one  of  his  men  who  proposed  it. 
After  being  driven  from  swamp  to  swamp,  he  was  at  last  shot 
near  Montaup,  by  the  brother  of  the  Indian  whom  he  had  thus 
killed.  Of  the  scattered  parties  which  remained,  many  were 
captured.  Some  sought  refuge  at  the  north.  These  after- 
wards served  as  guides,  to  those  parties  of  hostile  French 
and  Indians,  who  came  down  and  desolated  the  provinces. 

In  this  dreadful  contest.  New  England  lost  six  hundred 
inhabitants.  Fourteen  towns  had  been  destroyed,  and  a 
heavy  debt  incurred.  Yet  the  colonies  received  no  assist- 
ance from  England ;  and  they  asked  none.  The  humane 
Irish  sent  the  sufferers  some  relief. 

If  Philip's  war  was  to  the  whites  disastrous,  to  the  savage 
tribes  it  was  ruinous.  The  Pokanokets  and  the  Narragan- 
setts  henceforth  disappear  from  history.  The  praying  Indians 
were  mostly  of  the  Massachusetts  confederacy  ;  and  although 
they  suffered  much,  being  suspected  by  the  red  men  because 
they  were  Christians,  and  by  the  whites  because  they  were 
Indians,  they  yet  had  a  remnant  left.  Elliot  watched  his 
flocks  of  the  wilderness,  and  exposed  himself  to  many  dangers 
on  their  account ;  and  the  wreck  of  four  towns  remained  from 
the  fourteen,  which  the  converts  numbered  before  the  war 


CHAPTER  VIII 


The  Regicides. — ^New  Hampshire   and  Maine. — Charter  of  Massachusetts 
annulled. 


The  three 
regicides. 


The  regicides,  a  term,  which  in  English  and  American 
history  refers  especially  to  those  men  who  signed  the  death 
warrant  of  Charles  I.,  were,  after  the  restoration  of  his  son, 
proscribed.  Three  of  their  number,  Goffe,  Whalley,  and 
Dixwell,  came  to  America.  They  were  at  Boston  and  Cam- 
bridge, and  under  romantic  circumstances  were  shielded  from 
their  pursuers  at  New  Haven.  At  length,  Whalley  and  Goffe 
found  refuge  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Russel,  minister  of  Hadley, 
where  they  lived  in  profound  concealment.  Goffe  had  been 
a  military  commander.  Looking  from  the  window  of  his 
hiding  place,  he  saw,  on  a  Sabbath  day,  as  the  people  were 


TROUBLES  AND  CONSTANCY  OF  THE  GRANITE  STATE.  83 

collecting,  for  public  worship,  a  body  of  ambushed  Indians    PART  II. 
stealing  upon  them.     Suddenly  he  left  his  confinement  and  period  i. 
appeared   among   the  gathering  worshippers,  his  white  hair  chap.  vm. 
and   beard,   and  loose  garments  streaming  to   the   winds  of  '^-.^-v-^  / 
autumn.     He  gives  the  alarm  and  the  word  of  command,  and      Oct.  l. 
the  men,  already  armed,  are  at  once  formed  in  proper  order,     1675. 
and  bearing  down  upon  the  foe.     When  they  had  conquered,     Hadfey* 
hey  looked  around  for  their  preserver.     He  had  vanished 
during  the  fray;  and  they  fully  believed  that  he  had  been  an 
angel  sent  from  heaven  for  their  deliverance. 

Of  the  three  judges  who  cast  themselves  upon  the  Ameri- 
cans, not  one  was  betrayed.  The  meanest  of  the  people 
could  not  be  induced  by  the  price  set  upon  their  heads  to 
give  them  up  ;  and  they  now  rest,  in  peaceful  graves,  upon 
our  soil. 

In  1677,  a  controversy,  which  had  subsisted  for  some  time 
between  the  government  of  Massachusetts  and  the  heirs  of     1^77 
Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  relative  to  the  province  of  Maine,  was   Massachu 
settled  in  England,  and  the  province  assigned  to  the   latter,    setts  pur 
Upon  this,  Massachusetts  purchased  the  title,  and  Maine  be-      Maine 
came  a  province  of  that  colony. 

In  1675,  the  claims  of  Mason  in  New  Hampshire  were  re- 
vived.    From  the  time  that  the  settlements  there  had  formally      1675, 
submitted  to  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  these  claims  Mason  suo- 
had   lain  dormant ;    but   upon    a    hearing   of  the  parties,   it     '^^^^^^^ 
was   determined  by  the  judges  in  England,  that  the  towns 
on  the    Piscataqua    were    not  within   ihe   limits  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 

In  1679,  a  commission  was  made  out  by  order  of  Charles  II. 
for  the  separation  of  New  Hampshire  from  the  jurisdiction  of     1679 
Massachusetts,  and  its  erection  into  a  royal  province.     The  New  Hamp 
assembly  was   to  be    chosen  by   the  people,   the  president  ^^^'^^  ^  ^°y^ 
and  council  to  be  appointed  by  the  crown.     This  colony  now 
manifested  energies  worthy  of  the  later  patriotic  and  inde- 
pendent spirit  of  a  state,  which,  from  its  firmness  of  character, 
no  less  than  its   sublime  piles  of  mountains,  is  called  "the       spirit ^'^^^ 
Granite  State."     The  people  first  thanked  Massachusetts  for 
the  care  she  had  taken  of  their  infant  condition  ;  and  next  de- 
tcnnined  "  that  no  law  should  be  valid,  unless  made  by  the 
assembly,  and  approved  by  the  people." 

Mason  was  authorized  to  select,  and  he    chose    Edward     i6§2 
Cianfield,  a  needy  speculator,  and  sent  him  from  England  to  Mason  senda 
be  the  governor  of  New  Hampshire.     But  Cranfield's  visions  Cranfield  to 
of  wealth  were  short-lived.     He  could  neither  out-wit,  nor  iSmpsHre. 
over-awe  the  rugged  patriots  ;  nor  could  Mason,  with  all  the 
advantages  of  law,  eject  them  from  their  lands,  though  for 
many  years  his  agent,   Cranfield,   gave  them  great  annoy- 
ance. 

Notwithstanding  the  northern  colonies  had  suffered  so  se- 
Terely  from  Philip's  war,  and  had  never  petitioned  for,  or 


S4 


CHARTER    OF    MASSACHUSETTS    ANNULLED. 


PART  11. 
PERIOD  L 

CHAP.    VIII, 


Proceedings 
in  England 
against  Mas- 
sachusetts. 
Randolph 
sent  over. 

1682. 


Charter  of 
Massachu- 
setts an- 
nulled. 


T^o  parties 
in  Massa- 
chusetts. 


Charles  II. 

■ucceeded 

by  James  II. 

16§5. 

Attempts   to 

deprive  Con- 

aecticut  and 

R.  Island 

of  their  char- 
ters. 


16S6. 

Sir    E.   An- 

dros     in   N. 

England. 


received  any  aid  from  the  mother  country,  while  they  were 
yet  mourning  their  slaughtered  sons — and  rebuikling  their 
ruined  habitations,  England  was  planning  their  humiliation. 

The  people  of  Massachusetts,  though  often  called  to  account, 
had  continued  to  disregard  the  navigation  acts,  and  had  refused 
to  send  agents  to  the  court  of  England,  to  answer  for  the 
charges  of  neglect  brought  against  them.  Edward  Randolph 
was  therefore  sent  from  Great  Britain,  in  1679,  as  inspector 
of  customs  in  New  England.  He  being  resolutely  opposed 
in  the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  office,  soon  returned,  and 
made  statements  in  England  which  caused  still  more  violent 
measures  against  the  colonies. 

In  1682,  he  came  again  to  Boston,  bringing  a  letter  of  com- 
plaint from  the  committee  of  plantations  in  England,  who 
again  directed  that  agents  should  repair  to  the  court  of  Lon- 
don, fully  empowered  to  act  for  the  colonies.  It  was  under- 
stood to  be  the  intention  of  the  king,  to  procure  from  these 
agents  a  surrender  of  the  charter  of  Massachusetts,  or  tc 
annul  it  by  a  suit  in  his  courts,  in  order  that  he  might  appoint 
officers  who  would  be  subservient  to  his  views.  Agents 
were  sent,  but  were  instructed  to  make  no  concessions  of 
chartered  privileges,  but  to  defend  them  as  rights  ;  of  which  the 
king  being  informed,  he  proceeded  according  to  modes  of  la  w 
to  cancel  the  charter. 

Massachusetts  was,  however,  assured  that  in  case  of 
peaceable  submission,  the  government  should  be  regulated  for 
her  good.  The  representatives  of  the  people  in  the  general 
court  considered  that  it  was  better  "  to  trust  in  the  Lord,  than 
to  put  any  confidence  in  princes."  On  the  other  hand,  the 
governor  and  his  associates  were  in  favor  of  humble  submis- 
sion to  the  king's  pleasure.  Here  was  the  commencement 
of  two  parties  in  this  province  ;  the  patriots,  who  defended  the 
rights  of  the  colonies  ;  and  the  prerogative  men,  who  were  in 
favor  of  complete  submission  to  the  royal  authority.  Agents 
were  sent  by  the  former  to  make  defense  of  their  rights,  but, 
before  they  arrived  in  England,  the  charter  was  annulled. 

•Charles  II.  died  in  1685,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Duke 
of  York,  under  the  title  of  James  II.  He  declared  that  there 
should  be  no  free  governments  in  his  dominions  ;  and  ac- 
cordingly ordered  writs  to  be  issued  against  the  charters  of 
Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island.  These  colonies  presented 
letters  and  addresses,  which,  containing  expressions  of  hum- 
ble duty,  the  king  construed  them  into  an  actual  surrender  of 
their  charters  ;  and,  affecting  to  believe  that  all  impediments 
to  the  royal  will  were  removed,  he  proceeded  to  establish 
a  temporary  government  over  New  England.  Sir  Joseph  Dud- 
ley was  appointed  president  in  1686;  but  in  December,  of  the 
same  year,  he  was  succeeded  by  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  as 
governor  general,  in  whom,  with  a  council,  was  vested  all  the 
powers  of  government. 


ANDROS. HIS    OrPRESSIONS.— BRITISH    REVOLUTION.  85 

Sir  Edmund  began  his  career  with  the  most  flatterin«r  PART  IL 
professions  of  his  regard  to  the  public  safety  and  happiness,  period  1 
It  was,  however,  well  observed,  that  "  Nero  concealed  liis  '-'"ap.  vm 
tyrannical  disposition  more  years  than  Sir  Edmund  did  ^--^^v-^-^ 
months."  He  assumed  control  over  the  press,  and  appointed 
the  detested  Randolph,  licenser. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  Andros,  he  sent   to    Connecti- 
cut, demanding  the  surrender  of  her  charter.     This  being  re-     1687. 
fused,  in  1G&7,  he  came  with  a  guard  to  Hartford,  during  the   Chartor  of 
session  ot  the  general  assembly,  and  in  person  required  its     j^jj  ^^  ^^e 
delivery.     After  debating  until  evening,  the  charter  was  pro-  Charter  Oak 
duced,  and  laid  on  the  table  where  the  assembly  were  sitting.    °"j.]]'i[^^^'* 
The   lights    were    extinguished,  and    one    of   the    members 
privately  conveyed   it  away,  and  hid   it   in  a   cavity   of   a 
large  oak  tree.     The  candles  were  officiously  relighted,  but 
the  charter  was  gone ;  and  no  discovery  could  be  made  of  it, 
or,  at  that  time,  of  the  person  who  carried   it  away.     The 
government  of   the    colony    was,   however,   surrendered    to 
Andros, 

Massachusetts,  where  Sir  Edmund  resided,  was  the  princi- 
pal seat  of  despotism  and  suffering.     In   1688,   New  York     16§7. 
and  New  Jersey  were  added  to  his  jurisdiction  ;  and  for  more     -.^oo 
than  two  years,  there  was  a  general  suppression  of  charter 
governments  throughout  the  colonies,  and  a  perpetual  series 
of  tyrannical  exactions. 

But  retribution  was  at  hand.     The  monarch  made  himself 
detested  at  home,  and  his  governor,  by  carrying  out  his  meas- 
ures, incurred  the  hatred  of  the  colonies.     His  subjects,  and 
even  his  own  family,  conspired  against  James.     The  British 
nation,  putting  aside  the  fiction  of  the  divine  right  of  legitimate 
sovereigns,  asserted  that  of  human  nature,  by  declaring  that  .,  fj^^* f^ 
an  oppressed  people  may  change  their  rulers.     They  forced     Uuion"  in 
the  king  to  abdicate,  and  consummated  "the  Revolution"  by     England. 
placing  his  daughter  Mary,  with  her  husband  William,  the 
ablest  statesman   of  Europe,  as  sovereigns  on  the  throne  of 
England. 

Great  was  the  joy  of  New  England.     Even  on  the  first 
rumor  of  the   British  Revolution,  the  authorities  of  Boston  '  Ra'Solph 
seized  and  imprisoned  Andros  and  Randolph.     As  a  tempo-  imprisoned. 
rary  government,  they  organized  a  committee  of  safety,  of     16§9. 
which  the  aged  governor  Bradstreet  accepted  the  presidency ; 
though  he  knew  that,  if  the  intelligence  proved  false,  it  might 
cost  him  his  life. 

The  change  of  government,  produced  by  the  removal  of 
Andross,  left  New  Hampshire  in  an  unsettled  state.     Mason  ^^^  Hamp. 
had  died  in  1685,  leaving  his  two  sons  heirs  to  his  claims.  "    shire 
The  people  earnestly  petitioned  to  be  again  united  with  Massa-     16S(5. 
chusetts,  but  their  attempts  were  frustrated  by  Samuel  Allen,  "^[^^jig JJ  ifj^ 
who  had  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  Mason,  their  title  to  New   'his  tin* 
8 


86 


NICHOLS. LOVELACE. ANDROS. DONGAN. 


PART  II. 


Hampshire.     Allen  received  a  commission  as  governor  of  the 
colony,  and  assumed  the  government  in  1692. 

When  the  intelligence  was  confirmed,  that  William  and 
Mary  were  seated  on  the  throne,  Rhode  Island  and  Connecti- 
cut resumed  their  charters  ;  but,  on  the  application  of  Massa- 
chusetts, the  king  resolutely  refused  to  restore  her  former 
system  of  government.  Andres,  Randolph,  and  others,  were 
however,  ordered  to  England  for  trial. 


CHAPTER  IX 


New  York. — Its  Governors. — Effects  of  the  Revolution  m  England 


Good  admin- 
istration of 

Nichols. 

Lovelace. 
1667. 


1673. 

Dutch  take 
New  York. 


1674 

New  York 
restored  to 
the  Ensilish. 


1675 

Andros  is 
repulsed  at 
8aybr)ok. 


16§2. 

Dongan. 

16§3 

First  general 
assembly. 


After  the  surrender  of  the  Dutch,  Colonel  Nichols  en- 
tered upon  the  administration  of  the  government  of  New 
York,  which  he  conducted  with  great  prudence,  integrity,  and 
moderation.  The  people,  however,  continued  without  civil 
rights,  all  authority  being  vested  in  the  royal  governor  and 
council.  Nichols  returned  to  England,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Lord  Lovelace. 

In  1673,  England  and  Holland  were  again  involved  in  war, 
and  Holland  sent  over  a  small  fleet  tO  regain  her  American 
possessions.  This  force  arrived  at  New  York,  and  demanded 
a  surrender,  which  was  made  without  resistance.  The  Dutch 
took  immediate  possession  of  the  fort  and  city,  and  soon 
after  of  the  whole  province. 

The  next  year,  1674,  the  war  terminated,  and  New  York 
was  restored  to  the  English.  The  Duke  of  York,  to  prevent 
controversy  about  his  title  to  the  territory,  took  out  a  new 
patent,  and  the  same  year  appointed  Sir  Edmund  Andros 
governor. 

In  the  year  of  Philip's  war,  Andros  conducted  an  expe- 
dition against  Connecticut.  He  claimed  jurisdiction  over  that 
part  of  the  colony  west  of  the  river,  by  virtue  of  its  having 
been  included  in  the  grant  to  the  Duke  of  York.  This 
territory  had,  however,  long  before,  been  granted  by  the 
original  patentees  to  the  colony  of  Connecticut.  Andros, 
with  an  armed  force,  arrived  off  Saybrook  fort.  The  govern 
or  and  council,  being  apprised  of  his  design,  sent  a  few 
troops  under  Captain  Bull,  who  conducted  himself  with  such 
spirit,  that  Andros,  jocosely  declaring  his  horns  should  be 
"  tipped  with  gold,"  made  no  further  attempt. 

In  1682,  Andros,  was  removed  from  the  government  of 
New  York.  The  succeeding  year  was  a  happy  era  in  the 
history  of  this  colony.  The  excellent  Colonel  Dongan  ar- 
rived as  governor,  and  the  desires  of  the  people,  for  a  popular 


LEISLER    AND    MILBORNE    USURP    THE    GOVERNMENT.  g-J 

government,  were  now  gratified.     The  first  general  assembly   PART  ll. 
was  convoked,  consisting  of  a  council  and  eighteen  repre-  period  l 
scntativcs.     By  the  declaration  of  the  governor,  they  were    cfiAP.  ix. 
invested  with  the  sole  power  of  enacting  laws  and  levying  ^-^-v-^»^ 
taxes ;  but  the  laws  could  have  no  force,  until  ratified  by  the 
proprietor.     Governor  Dongan  surpassed  all  his  predecessors, 
in  attention  to  affairs  with   the   Indians,  by  whom  he   was 
highly  esteemed. 

When  the  Duke  of  York  became  sovereign  of  England,  it     J^f  ^f 
might  have  been  hoped  that  he  would  have  favored  his  own    York  luc- 
province,  but  his  government  was  no  where   more   tyrannical  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^® 
and  unpopular.  t"^"^"  ff 

rni  /•  T^  ,  James  II. 

1  he  news  from  Europe,  that  the  inhabitants   of  England 
had  resolved  to  dethrone  him,  and  offer  the  crown  to  William,     1688. 
of  Orange,   elevated    the  hopes  of  the  disaffected.     But  no  '^'^^  Kngl^s^ 
active  measures  were  taken  till  after  the  rupture  at  Boston,  agrccablri^ 
when   several    captains  of  the  militia  convened    to  concert  New  Vuriu 
measures  in  favor  of  the  prince  of  Orange. 

Among  these  was  Jacob  Leisler,  an  active  militia  captain, 
and  a  favorite  of  the  people.     He  was  not,  however,  a  man 
of  talents,  but  received  the  guiding  impulses  of  his  conduct 
from  the  superior  energies  of  his  son-in-laAv,  Jacob  Milborne 
By  the  counsel  of  this  intriguing  Englishman,  Leisler,  at  the 
head  of  forty-nine  men,  took  possession  of  the  fort  of  New  Leisler  as 
York,  and  declared  in  favor  of  William,  but  this  declaration,  as  kmVwn- 
opposed  by  the  authority  of  the  city,  at  first  had  few  adhe-  Ham's  agent 
rents,  until  a  report  got  footing,  that  three  ships  were  ap-     1^89 
preaching,  with  orders  from  king  William,  when  his  party 
was  augmented  by  the  addition  of  six  captains  and  four  hun- 
dred men    from    New   York,    and   seventy   men   from   East 
Chester. 

Dongan,  who  was  about  to  leave  the  province,  then  lay 
embarked  in  the  harbor,  having,  a  short  time  previous,  resigned 
his  government  to  Francis  Nicholson,  the  lieutenant  governor.    Governor 
He,  being  unable  to  contend  with  Leisler's  party,  soon  joined  ^"^  lieuten- 
Governor  Dongan.     Leisk/,  now  in  pt  ssession    of  the    fort/"^dlpIrt™''' 
sent  an  address  to  William  'u>  1  Mary  as  soon  as  he  received 
he  news  of  their  accession  to  the  throne. 

The  magistrates,  at  the  head  of  whom  were  Colonel  Bayard  ^he  magis*. 
and  Mr.  Courtland,  the  mayor,  opposed  Leisler ;  but  finding  tracyofNew 
it  impossible  to  raise  a  party  against  him  in  New  York,  they  York  oppow 
retired  to  Albany.  ^     ^'''^''' 

In  the  month  of  December,  a  packet  arrived,  directed  "  to 
Francis  Nicholson,  Esq.,  or,  in  his  ausence,  to  such,  as  for  December, 
the  time  being,  take  care  ^or  preserving  the  peace,  and  ad-  -^EngUnT 
ministering  the  laws,  in  iheir  Majesties  province  of  New 
York,  in  America."  Leisler  considered  this  packet  as  di- 
rected to  himself,  and,  from  this  time,  issued  his  commissions 
as  lieutenant  governor. 

The  people  of  Albany,  in  the  meantime,   were  determined 


8S  SLOUUHTER.-QUAKERS    COME    TO    NEW   ENGLAND. 

to  hold  the  garrison  and  city  for  king  William    independent 
of     eisler-  andon  the  26th  of  October  tney  formed    hem- 
selves   inw    a   convention   for  that  purpose  ;   but  M.lborne 
,v^  mrdertook  Us  reduction.       The    distress    of  the  coutUry    tn 
1690.     consequence  of   an  Indian  irruption,   gave  him    at   length, 
Milborne     |Vjo  desired  success.  .  i     :^.,  ^r^A 

«k»;he,for.  t'^'j^      ^villiam  now  turned  his  attention  to  *« '^olo"'^!^^"^ 
'"^     "'■    comr^'ssioned   Henry  Slaughter  as  governor  of  New  York. 
^}^\l    nX  was  a  governor  more  needed,  and  never  was  one  more 
,?Sk-:w  Ste  of  every  qualification  for  the  office      H^  -  ^-^J° 
Y"*-       treat  with  Leisler  ;  but  put  him  and  several  of  his  adhuenw 
to  nriron      Finally,  that  unfortunate  man,  together  with  hiJ 
.....and    IC-Uw,  perishld  upon  the  gallows.     Their  execution  wa 
Milborne    disapproved  by  the  people;  and  their  property,  which  vvaa 
'^■'""''-    conlcated,  wis  afterwards  restored  to  their  descendants^ 

This  wa;  the  period  of  king  William's  war  m  wh^h  Ne. 
A  Congress  York  suffered  with  the  other  provmces       It  was    n   May 
meets  at     ,  fjg,    j)    j  ^  o-eneral  convention  met  in  T.ew  York  ,  tttub  ex 
"-2;"'  tendi'ng  aie  s^^stem  begun  by  the  'o- few  England  co  on.es 
191.     and  preparing  the  way  for  the  grand  American  Confederac) . 


New 
May 
1691. 


'  CHAPTER  X. 

Persecution  of  the  Quakers  in  Massachusetts. 

The  Puritans  of  New  England  had  now  redeemed  from 
the  wilderness  a  home;  and  they  believed,  that  they  had  col- 
lecti    ly  tlie  right  of  any  single  householder  to  exdude  from 
it  whoever  they  regarded  as  dangerous  to  "s  peace      B„t  a 
father,   who   should   exclude   his   children  on   <.ecoum   ol 
opinion,  would  violate  the  rights  "feon^eience      A  christian 
Proceed,     sect  had  arisen  in  Englatid,  ca  led  in  deris'on  Quakers  who 
ingsofthe  acknowledging  the  inward  guidance  of  the  Holy  bpiri ,  ^^e" 
Quakers  m  fofth  as  thev  believed,  under  its  direction,  to  bear  testimony 
'"'"''-"■      gatn'st  a  c:?emonious' worship,  oiUward  ordinances  a  ninus- 
trv  depending  upon  man  for  Us  call  and  suppoU,  ^'"1   ^e  cii 
tomarv  compliments  and  fashions  of  the  world.     At  places  ol 
'pTbU?  ToS  where  by  penal  laws  their  a.ten  ance  wa 
Lught  to  be  enforced,  they  sometimes  spo^;;|--f  ^r 
SranT  orSr  Wci^es^  inrpSng  ophUons^eem^  dan- 

<  "-■  -c-  ^z:!^^'^:^:\^tsp  othiffefc 

■^^rSs'stnSr^^^^^ 
^i^:  h^i?:rr-;ris-^-^^h^^ 

"tvL"'-   their  opinions,  they  were  rigorously  imprisoned  by  the  autho- 


QUAKERS   SUFFER  LV  MASSACHUSETTS.  S9 

rnies,  and  their  books  burned.  Eii^ht  other  Quakers  soon  after  PART  n. 
came  and  were  treated  in  like  manner.  The  commissioners  i-iAinnji 
sitting  at  Boston,  recommended  that  the  several  United  Colo-  chap.  xi. 
nics,  make  laws  prohibiting  the  ing^ress  of  Quakers  and  other  ^-^''v^'*^ 
notorious  heretics;  and  should  any  come,  that  tlicy  be  secured  Ei<','|fi"^ljJ' 
and  removed.     The  four  colonies  made  laws  accord inirly  Quakers. 

But  it  was  Massachusetts,  that  the  Quakers  regarded  as  the 
eat  of  a  persecutiuir  spirit,  which  thev  felt  moved  to  attack :  ^^P'<^"".'er. 
fis  also   the   established   religion,  which   they  denounced   as    sioners  of 
mere  outward  observance,  and  unspi ritual  formality.     Yet  this  die  U.  C.  ai 
religion  was  what  the  Puritans  had  sacrificed  every  thing  to     Boston.) 
enjoy,  and  was  in  their  eyes  the  model  of  perfection,  and  to     Puritans 
iheir  hearts  dearer  than  life.    But  all  their  vigilance  and  severity    baffled  by 
failed  to  keep  out  the  determined  Quakers.  ^^ke^^^^" 

William  Robinson  and  IMarmadake  Stevenson  were  the  first 
executed;  i\Iary  Dyer  stood  on  the  gallows  with  them  joy-     1660- 
fully  waiting  her  turn,  when  she  was  reprieved  and  carried  away.     ,  ^  ^^J^^ 
But  soon,  supposing  herself  again  called  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  she       '   "^ 
came  back  and  was  hanged,  bearing  a  bold  testimony.     William     IGGl. 
Lcddra  was  also  executed ;  but  the  people  of  Massacliusetts     Le.idra 
began  to  revolt  at  these  cruelties.     Wenlock  Christison  was      ^^"S^  • 
condemned  to  die.     He  told  the  tribunal  at  which  Gov.  Endi-   Christison 
cot  presided,  that  they  had  no  right  to  put  him  to  death.    They  condemned, 
violated   the  lav/s  of  England,  \vhose  vengeance  they  would 
ex])erience,  and  finally  everlasting  punishment  for  their  sins ;  His  severe 
and,  said  he,  "  it  is  all  in  vain,  for  every  one  you  put  to  death    '".^^'ike  to 
five  more  will  come.     Ten  will  rise  up  in  my  place,  that  you    ^'"•'^  "^^ 
may  have  torment  upon  torment;  this  is  your  portion,  for 
there  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked."     Whether  pricked  in  con- 
science, or  put  in  fear,  the  authorities  soon  afterwards  opened    H'e  is  re- 
their  prison  doors,  and  released  Christison  with  27  others ;  ^^       ^^'"° 
whippmg  through  the  streets  of  Boston,  one  man  and   one 
woman.     Charles  H.  soon  after  interfered  for  the  Quakers,  and 
by  letter  to  the  governor,  forbade  further  violent  proceedings. 


27  otiie 


rs. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Jesuit  Missionaries  of  France. — Their  Discoveries. 

From  the  devotion   of  the  Puritans  and  the  Quakers,  we 
turn  to  that  of  the  .Jesuit  Missionaries  of  France  :   and  in  all, 
we  perceive  "  the  operation  of  that  common  law  of  our  nature, 
which  binds  the  heart  of  man  to  the  Author  of  his  being,"  and 
which  in  its  noblest  impulses,  sends  him  forth  with  ardent    P-f^\f^^^^f 
desires  to  toil,  to  suffer,  and  to  die,  in  any  cause,  which  he  gome  kind  a 
believes  divine.     The  Jesuit  Missionaries  possessed  this  de-  natural  prin 
sire  to   extend  the  benefits  of   Christian  redemption  to  the      ^^^*'' 
heathen ;  yet  they  unfortunately  mingled  worldly  policy  with  re- 
ligious enthusiasm;  and  sought  not  only  to  win  souls  to  Christ, 
but  subjects  to  the  king  of  France  and  the  papal  dominion. 

The  Catholics,  already  in  Canada,  seconded  their  efforts. 


90 


JESUIT    MISSIONARIES    CONVERT    THE    HURONS. 


PART  II. 


1634. 

Brebeuf  and 
Daniel  ac- 
eompany  the 
Hurons,  and 
make  many 
converts. 

Ahasistari. 
1640. 

Montreal 
founded. 

1634. 

to 

1649. 

Sixty  mis- 
sionaries. 


Death  of 
Ahasistari. 


1645. 

Peace  be- 
tween the 
French  and 
Five  Na- 
tions. 

1646. 

Father 
Jougcs  put  to 
death  at  the 
fort  of  Johns- 
town. 


164§. 

The  Iroquois 

destroy  St. 

Jos-iphs. 


In  1634,  two  missionaries,  Brebeuf  and  Daniel,  left  Quebec 
in  company  with  a  party  of  wild  Hurons  ;  and  endured  the 
toil  and  hardship  of  a  journey  of  some  hundred  miles  up 
the  Ottawas  and  along  its  waters.  The  wilderness  east  of 
Lake  Huron,  was  the  country  of  these  savages,  and  there 
they  erected  the  chapel  of  St.  Joseph.  Throngs  ol  the  native 
Hurons  carrie  to  be  instructed,  and  were  soon  numbered 
as  converts  to  Christianity.  The  Christinn  villages  of  St. 
Louis  and  St.  Ignatius  soon  arose  amidst  the  forest.  "  Let 
us  strive,"  said  one  of  their  chiefs,  "  to  make  the  whole  world 
embrace  the  faith  in  Jesus." 

In  1640,  Montreal  was  founded,  to  give  the  missionaries  ^ 
starting  point  nearer  the  scene  of  their  operations. 

Within  thirteen  years,  the  wilderness  of  the  Hurons  was 
visited  by  sixty  missionaries,  mostly  Jesuits.  Making  the 
Huron  settlement  their  central  station,  they  carried  the  gospel 
to  the  surrounding  tribes  ;  and  thus  visited  and  became  the 
first  European  explorers  of  the  southern  portion  of  Upper 
Canada,  of  which  they  took  possession  for  the  French  king. 

One  of  these  missionaries,  Isaac  Jouges,  undaunted  by  the 
terrors  of  the  Mohawk  name,  went,  accompanied  by  the  pious 
chief,  into  their  country,  and  was  made  their  prisoner.  The 
noble  Huron  might  have  escaped.  "  My  brother,"  he  ex- 
claimed to  the  missionary,  "  I  made  an  oath  to  thee  that  I 
would  share  thy  fortune,  whether  death  or  life.  Here  am  I 
to  keep  my  vow."  He  met  the  flames  as  a  Christian  martyr. 
Jouges,  though  cruelly  treated,  survived,  and  was  ransomed 
by  the  Dutch. 

At  Three  Rivers,  a  peace  was  concluded  between  the 
French  and  the  Five  Nations,  whose  orators  decljired  that 
they  "  had  thrown  the  hatchet  so  high  into  the  air,  and  beyond 
the  sky,  that  no  arm  was  long  enough  to  reach  and  bring  it 
down."     The  savages  also  made  peace  among  themselves. 

Father  Jouges,  in  the  spirit  of  martyrdom,  attempted  a  per- 
manent mission  amon^  the  Five  Nations.  Arriving  at  the 
Mohawk  castle,  he  was  accused  of  blighting  the  corn  of  the 
Indians  by  spells  of  sorcery.  Being  condemned,  he  received 
his  death  blow  with  composure.  His  head  was  hung  on  the 
palisades  of  the  fort,  and  his  body  thrown  into  the  placid 
stream. 

War  was  resumed.  The  fierce  Mohawks  scattered  the 
Wyandots,  triumphed  over  the  Hurons,  and  marked  for  de 
struction  the  missionary  stations  of  the  Jesuits. 

In  the  rude  chapel  of  St.  Joseph,  while  the  village  is  blazing 
around,  the  venerable  Father  Daniel  is  hastening  to  adminis- 
ter baptism  to  those  who  had  too  long  delayed.  The  barba- 
rians approach,  reeking  with  the  blood  of  the  helpless,  and 
the  missionary  goes  calmly  to  meet  them.  Av/e-struck,  they 
hesitate, — then  discharge  a  shower  of  arrows.  Their  vic- 
tim bled  from  many  wounds  ;    but  he  lifted  up  his  hands 


POWER    AND    BARBARITY    OP    THE    IROQUOIS.  91 

and  voice     and  preached  Jesus,  until  his   death-stroke  was  .P^^AIi^ 

PERIOD  L 

ffiven. 

The  next  winter  a  thousand  warriors  of  the  Iroquois  made    chap.  h. 


a  night  attacii  on  the  village  of  St.  Ignatius,  and  surprised  and  ^ 
-lew  its  four  hundred  sleeping  inhahitants.  1619^ 

St   Louis  shared  a  similar  fate.     The  missionaries  Brebeuf  ^J^,,^„/at 


and  Lallemand  were  taken  prisoners  and  tortured,  the  first  for  St.  Ignatius 
three,  the  last  for  seventeen  hours.     They  died  rejoicing  in    3^^"^^^ 
fire  :   and  the  zeal  of  their  brethren  was  unabated. 
-    The  pride  of  the  Mohawks  grew  with  their  conquests  ;  and   Mohawks 
they  now  menaced  and  insulted  the  French,  carrying  ofl'  the  "^f;^^^^\*h« 
governor  from  Three  Rivers,  and  a  priest  from  Quebec. 

According  to  the  Indian  custom,  some  of  the  vanquished 
Hurons  had  been  adopted  into  the  families  of  the  conquerors. 
And  when  at  length  the  Iroquois,  tired  of  war,  received  a     ^^54 
messeno-er  of  peace,  it  was  the  Jesuit,  Le  Moyne,  who  had   Le  Moyne 
been  wilh  the  Hurons,  that  was  the  envoy.     The  Father  found  ^J^^^J^^^^^ 
among  them  numbers    of   his  aflectionate   Huron    converts,     gi^^^^ies 
The  hope  revived  in  his  bosom,  that  the  whole  west  might  yet   among  the 
receive   Christianity,  and  become  subjected  to  the  French,    l^oqno^s. 
.he  Moyne  settled  on  the  IMohawk  river.     Other  missionaries, 
Chaumont  and  Dablon,  went  and  received  a  welcome  among  a  chapel  at 
the  Onondagas.     A  rude  chapel  was  there   constructed  in  a   Ononda-a. 
day ;  and  the   services   of  the  Romish   church,   chanted  by 
native  worshippers.     They  were  soon  too  numerous  to  be 
contained   within  its   walls.     The   Cayugas  now  desired  a 
missionary,  and  received  the  fearless  Mesnard.     The  Onei- 
das  and  the  Senecas  also  listened  to  the  gospel  of  peace. 

But  their  natures  w^ere  averse  to  its  dictates,  and  they  soon 
broke  through  its  unaccustomed  restraints.     Their  warriors 
sought  the  extermination  of  the  neighboring  Fries,  and  often  ^J^^^^^^Xd 
broucrht  to  the  villao-es   captives,  whom  they  tortured,  though    vVar  with 
of  te'nder   sex  and°years.     The   missionaries  opposed  their   France^^" 
cruelties  and  incurred  their  displeasure  ;  and  after  vainly  so-     ^^^^g; 
liciting    aid    from   Canada,   they   abandoned  their   missions. 
Their^•eturn  was  but  the  signal  for  a  renewed  war  between 
the  French  and  the  Five  Nations.     So  ended  the  attempts  of 
the  French  to  colonize  New  York.  jea5 

Father   Claude   Allouez,  bent  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  ^^^^^^^^  ^-.^ 
early   in  September,  passed  Mackinaw  into  Lake  Superior  ;    covers  the 
and  sailmg  along  the  high  banks  and  pictured  rocks  of  its    southen.^ 
southern  shore,  he  rested,  beyond  the  bay  of  Keweena,  on  j^^,^^  g^^^. 
iJiat  of  Chegoimegon.     Here  was  the  great  village  of   the       rior. 
Chippewas.  , 

A   grand  council  of  ten  or  twelve  tribes  was,  at  the  mo- 
ment, assembled  to  prevent  the  young  braves  ot  the  Chippe- 
was and  Sioux  from  taking  up  the  tomahawk  against  cacti   ^n  Indian 
other.     In  this  assembly  came  forward  the  missionary,  and     council 
stood  and  commanded  in  the  name  of  his  heavenly,  and  ot  ins 
earthly  master,  that  there  should  be  peace. 


92 


JAMES    MARQUETTE    DISCOVERS    THE    MISSISSIPPI. 


PART  II. 


166§. 

Bt.  Mary's 
founded. 

1669. 

Green  Bay. 


16T1. 

Marquette 
collects  the 
Hurons  at 
St.  Imace. 


1673. 

Follows   the 
Wisconsin 
to  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 


ludian  cour- 
tesy. 


Discovers 
the  mouth  of 
the  Missouri. 


The  Indians  listened  with  reverence.  They  had  never 
before  seen  a  white  man.  Soon  a  chapel  was  built,  and  there 
they  devoutly  chanted  their  vesper  and  matin  hymns  ;  and 
the  mission  of  St.  Esprit  was  founded.  The  scattered  Hurons 
and  Ottawas  here  collected  around  the  missionary.  He 
preached  to  the  Pottawotamies,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  the  Illi- 
nois and  the  Sioux.  From  each,  he  gained  descriptions  of 
their  country, — their  lakes  and  rivers, — of  which  he  made  re- 
ports to  his  government.  He  especially  dwelt  on  what  he 
had  heard  of  the  great  river  "  Mesipi."  He  urged  the 
sending  of  small  colonies  of  French  emigrants,  to  make  per- 
manent settlements  in  the  west. 

A  small  company,  headed  by  two  missionaries,  Claude 
Dablon  and  James  Marquette,  founded  the  first  French  settle- 
ment within  the  limits  of  the  United  States.  It  is  at  St. 
Mary's,  on  the  falls  between  the  Lakes  Superior  and  Huron. 
iVllouez  founded  a  mission  at  Green  Bay. 

Marquette  selected  a  young  Illinois  as  his  companion,  and 
learned  from  him  the  language  of  his  nation.  He  collected 
the  remains  of  the  Hurons  at  the  point  St.  Ignace,  north  of 
Mackinaw ;  built  a  chapel,  and  established  a  mission ;  and 
from  thence  visited  the  adjacent  tribes.  These  heard  with 
astonishment,  that  he  had  formed  the  bold  design  of  exploring 
the  great  river  of  the  west, — notwithstanding  their  assertions, 
that  its  monsters  devoured  men  and  canoes,  its  warriors 
never  spared  the  stranger,  and  its  climate  was  rife  with 
death. 

Marquette  walked  from  Green  Bay,  followed  the  Fox 
river,  and  crossed  the  Portage  from  its  head  waters  to 
those  of  the  Wisconsin,  when,  with  no  companion  but  the 
missionary  Joliet,  he  embarked  upon  its  bosom,  and  followed 
its  course,  unknowing  whither  it  would  lead.  Solitary  they 
floated  along,  till,  in  seven  days,  they  entered  with  inexpressi- 
ble joy,  the  broad  Mississippi.  They  continued  to  float 
with  its  lonely  current,  until,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Moingona, 
they  perceived  the  marks  of  population.  Disembarking,  they 
found,  at  fourteen  miles  from  the  river,  a  village  of  the  na- 
tives. 

Old  men  met  them  with  the  calumet,  told  them  they  were 
expected,  and  bade  them  enter  their  dwellings  in  peace.  The 
missionaries  declared,  by  the  council-fire,  the  claims  of  the 
Christian  religion,  and  the  right  of  the  king  of  France  to  their 
territory.  The  Indians  feasted  them,  and  sent  them  away  with 
the  gift  of  a  peace-pipe,  embellished  with  the  various  colored 
heads  and  necks  of  bright  and  beautiful  birds. 

Sailing  on  their  solitary  way,  the  discoverers  heard  afar  a 
rush  of  waters  from  the  west ;  and  soon  the  vast  Missouri 
came  down  with  its  fiercer  current  to  hasten  on  the  more 
sluggish  Mississippi.  They  saw,  and  passed  the  mouth  of 
tat,  Ohio,  nor  stopped,  till  they  had  gone  beyond  that  of  the 


DISCOVERIES    OF    LA    SALLE    AND    HENNEPIN.  no 

Arkansas.      There  they    found  savages   who   spoke  a   new    PART.ri 
tongue      They  were  armed   with  guns,— a  proof  that  they   period  T 
had  tralTickcd  witli  tlie  .Sj)aiiiards,  or  with  the  English  in  Vir-    chap,  xi 
ginia.     They  showed  hostile  dispositions,  but  respected  the  ^^^-^-^^^ 
peace-pipe,  the  white  flag  of  the  desert. 

Marquette  now  retraced  his  course  to  the  Illinois,  entered 
and  ascended  that  river,  and  beheld  the  beautiful  fertility  of    p*^'''*' 
Its  summer  prairies,  abounding  in  game      He  visited  Chicago,  GiSay 
and m  September  was  again  at  Green  Bay. 

The   next  year,  on  the   banks   of    he   little   stream  now 
called  by  his  name,  Marquette  retired  for  devotion,  from  the      1675. 
company  with  which  he  was  journeying,— to  pray,  by  a  rude    ^f'"'i"^"e 
altar  of  stones,  beneath  the  silent  shade.      Th;re,^half  an  LLk^MfJlu 
hour  afterwards,  his  dead  body  was  found.     He  was  buried  on        s^"- 
the  shore  of  the  lake,  and  the  Indian  fancies  that  his  spirit 
still  controls  its  storms. 

As  Joliet,  the  companion  of  Marquette,  was  returning  from 
the  west,  to  carry  the  tidings  of  their  discovery,  he  met  at 
Frontenac,  now  Kingston,  the  governor  of  the  place,  the 
energetic  and  highly  gifted  La  Salle.  His  genius  kindled  by  1«^»- 
the  description  of  the  missionary,  into  all  the  enthusiasm  of  ^^  ^^^'^• 
fresh  discovery.  La  Salle  repaired  to  France,  and  was  com- 
missioned to  complete  the  survey  of  the  great  river. 

He  returned  to  Frontenac,  built  a  wooden  canoe  of  ten  tons, 
and  carrying  a  part  of  his  company  to  the  mouth  of  Tonne-  /^f  ^^./''^ 
wanta  Creek,  he  there  built  the  first  sailing  vessel  which  ever  vcLeToa^ 
navigated  Lake  Erie.  On  his  way  across  the  lakes  he  marked  ^^^''^^  ^"«- 
Detroit  as  a  suitable  place  for  a  'colony,  gave  name  to  Lake 
St.  Clair,  planted  a  trading  house  at  Mackinaw,  and  finally  Mackhlw 
cast  anchor  at  Green  Bay. 

Here,   to    mend    his    fortunes,  he   collected  a  rich  cargo 
of  furs,  and  sent  back  his  brig  to  carry  them  to  Niagara. 
Then,  in  bark  canoes,  he  moved  his  party  south,  to  the  head  of 
the  lake  ;  and  there  constructed  the  Fort  of  the  Miamis.     His 
brig  was  unfortunately  lost ;  but,  vnth  a  small  company,  he 
steered   res^olutely    west,  accompanied  by  Louis   Hennepin.      1679. 
Ihey  reached,  through  many  discouragements  by  disaster    ^^-^""epm, 
treachery,   and    climate,    the    river    Illinois ;    and   following  n'iSon'rv 
ijs  waters  four  days'  journey  below  Lake  Peoria,  La  Salle  aFranciscan 
there  built  a  fort,  which,  in  the  bitterness  of  his  spirit  he  °^^'^  ^^'^o^- 
called  Creve-coeur.     Here  he  sent  out  a  party  under  Henne-  ^''^^'^^''' 
pin  to  explore  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  and  himself  set 
forth  on  foot  to  return  to  Frontenac. 

Hennepin  followed  the  Illinois   to  its  junction   with   the 
parent  stream,  ascended  that  river  above  the  falls,  to  which     16§0. 
he  gave  the  name  of  St.  Anthony.     He  afterwards  reported,  ^^^  <3xpIore 
though  falsely,  that  he  had  discovered  the  sources  of  the  .Alis-  'nvsFdh 
sissippi. 

La  Salle  returned  to  his  fort  on  the  Illinois,  built  a  small 
V'essel,  and  the  next  year,  he,  with  his  company,  sailed  down 


94  PATENT    OF    ALL    THE    U.  S.    SOUTH    OF    VIRGINIA 

PART  II.  that  tributary  till  he  reached  the  "  Father  of  Rivers ;"  and 
PERIOD  I  still  floating  with  the  current,  now  landing  to  erect  a  cabin, 
CHAP.  XII.  now  to  raise  the  cross  and  proclaim  the  French  king  lord  of 
'^^'^^^'^^^  the  country,  La  Salle  passed  on  till  he  reached  the  mouth  of 

16§4.     the  Mississippi.     To  the  country  he  gave  the  name  of  Louisi- 

La  Salle     ^^^  jjj  honor  of  his  sovereign,  Louis  XIV. 

passes  irom         -A  ■  t-<  i  i  •  -i       • 

the  Upper        Keturnmg  to  Jr  ranee,  the  government  sent  him  to  colonize 

Mississippi  the  country  which  he  had  visited  ;  but  his  fleet  took  a  wrong 

to  t  e  ocean.  (jij-gc^^^Qj^^  a,nd  he  was  carried,  with  his  party,  to  Texas,  where 

16§5.     he  made  the  settlement  of  St.  Louis.     Attempting  to  "o  to 

XXG   nilSSGS         r  •      •  n  •  •  1  O  O 

iis  way  and  Louisiana  on  foot,  a  discontented  soldier  of  his  party  gave 
discovers    him  his  death -shot.     Texas  was  regarded  as  an  appendage 

Texas       ^^  Louisiana. 
He  13  killed. 

16ST. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

North  and  South  Carolina. — The  Great  Patent. — Mr.  Locke's  Constitution. 

After  Charles  II.  was  restored,  his   rapacious   courtiers, 
taking  advantage  of  his  improvident  good  nature,  obtained  for 
Patent  of    their  services  real  or  pretended,  from  him  who  had  little  else 
g[ven^     to   give,    large  tracts  of  American  territory.     Nor  was  thai 
1663.     monarch,  as  we  have  already  seen,  at  all  scrupulous  wdien  a 
toLordClar-  favorite  was  to  be  gratified,  if  what  he  gave  had  before  been 
^"olhers"^    granted,  or  if  it  belonged  to  other  nations.     Thus,  in  1663,  he 
gave  Carolina  which  was  claimed  by  Spain,  to  Lord  Claren- 
don the  historian.   Lord  Ashley  Cooper  Earl  of  Shaftsbury, 
General  Monk  afterwards  Duke  of  Albemarle,  Lord  Craven, 
the  two  Berkeleys,  Sir  John  Colleton,  and  Sir  George  Car- 
teret. 
1630  They  first  received   a  tract  which   had,    in    1630,    been 

Heath's  pat-  granted   to    Sir  Robert  Heath.     Their  ambition  rising  with 
*^t  f^om  30°  the    occasion,    they   now    stretched   their    thoughts    to    the 
The  eranV  o^^^y  ^^  founding  a  sovereignty,  which  should  not  only  yield 
extended,    them  money,  but  the  fame  of  legislators  ;  and  in  1667,  Charles 
1665.     granted   them    the  whole   of  the    country,   from   the    mouth 

'''''the^south-  ^^  ^^®  ^i^'®^  ^^'  '^'^^"^  ^^  3^°  ^3'  ^°^^^  latitude,  and  from  the 

em  part  of   Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.     To  frame  a  government  for 

the  United    the  future  empire,  was  a  task  assigned  by  the  company  to 

the  aristocratic  philos^-pher,  Shaftsbury  ;  and  to  aid  him  in 

the  important  labor,  he  engaged  the  services  of  his  friend,  the 

well-known  John  Locke.     In  the  mean  time,   the  younger 

Berkeley,  who  was  governor  of  Virginia,  was  to  extend  his 

Settlement   ^ulc  Over  the  whole  territory. 

at  Albe-         But  settlers  were  wanted,  and  to  procure  these,  various  in- 

marle  proves  ducements  were  held  out  by  the  company.     Two  settlements 

of  N.  C.     lia-J  already  been  formed  within  their  precincts.     One  of  these. 


NOtlLITY    DOES    NOT    FLOURISH    IN    CAROLINA.  95 

near  the  Sound,  called,  from  the  title  given  to  the  restorer  of    PART  II. 
Charles  II.,    Albemarle,  was  begun  at  an  early  day  by  enter-  period  l 
prising  planters  from  Virginia  ;  and  enjoying  entire  liberty,  it   ^hap.  xii. 
nad  been  augmented  from  that  and  other  colonies,  whenever  ^-^"v^"***^ 
religious  or  political  oppression  had  scattered  their  people.      1C63. 
About  the  time  in  which  the  great  patent  was  granted,  this  ^°''"'|*  ^  "^ 
settlement  had  so  increased  as  to  form,   for  convenience,  a 
simple  democratic  government. 

The  other  colony  was  to  the  south  of  this,  on  Cape  Fear  or 
Clarendon  river  :  and  had  been  orioinallv  made  by  a  little  band  5,^'*'*^''-^  *^ 

o  .  J  Cape  Fear 

of  adventurers  from  New  England.     They,  as  well  as  the  for-    united  to  ' 
mer  colony,  had  purchased  their  land  of  the  natives ; — they  had  Charleston 
occupied  it,  and  they  claimed,  as  a  law  of  nature,  the  right  of  begin  s.  c' 
self-government.     In   the   meantime,   a    number  of  planters 
from  Barbadoes,  desiring  to  re-establish  themselves  in  inde- 
pendence, purchased   lands  of  the  sachems,  and   settled  on 
Cape  Fear  river,  near  the  territory  of  the  New  Englanders. 
The  two   parties  united.     In   1667,  they  were  in  danger  of 
famine,  and  Massachusetts  sent  them  relief. 

They   requested  of  the  proprietors   a  confirmation  of  the 
purchase  they  had  made  of  the  Indians,  and  of  the  power 
which  they  had  assumed  to  govern  themselves.      As  a  state 
nmst  have  inhabitants,  their  request  was  partially  granted  ;  and  mans\vaa 
one  of  their  number,  Sir  John  Yeamans,  was  appointed  their  the  leading 
governor.     The  settlement,  in  1666,  contained  800  persons.      Barbadoes 

Thus  the  germs  of  liberty  had,  in  the  Carolinas,  begun  to     v^^^y 
vegetate  strongly  in  a  virgin  soil.     And  when  the  great  aristo- 
cratical  constitution   of  Locke   and  Shaftsbury,    constituting 
three  orders  of  nobility,  was  sent  over,  in  1670,  the  ground     f  070 
was  already  preoccupied.     These  dwellers  in  scattered  log  The  const 
cabins  in  the  woods,  could  not  be  noblemen,  and  would  not  be 
serfs :  and  the  succeedingyears  in  these  colonies  present  a  fruit- 
less struggle,   in  which  the  agents  of  the  proprietors  attempt 
to   organize  a   system,  incompatible  with  the   condition  and 
wishes  of  the  settlers  already  there,  and  equally  uninviting  to 
such  emigrants  as  they  needed ;  emigrants  who  could  clear 
the  forest,  and  contend  with  savage  nature.     Eventually,  the      ]693. 
interest  of  the  proprietors  prevailed  over  their  pride.     The  in-    It  is  a!)ro- 
habitants  took  their  own  way  in  regard  to  government,  and  in       s-'^ted. 
1693,  the  constitution  of  Locke  and  Shaftsbury  was  formally 
abrogated.     Its  impolicy  is  now  a  by-word. 

William  Sayle,  the  first  proprietary  governor  of  Carolina,     J^^^^ 
brought  over  a  colony,  with  which  he  founded  old  Charleston. 
Dying  in   1671,  his  colony  was  annexed  to  that  of  governor 
Yeamans.     In  1680,  the  city  was  removed  to  the  point  of  land     io§0. 
between  the  two  rivers,  which  received,  in  compliment  to  Lord  Charleston 
Shaftsbury,  the  names  of  Ashley  and  Cooper      The  founda-     funded, 
tion   of  the    present  capital  of  the  south   was    laid,  and  the 
name  of  the  king  perpetuated  in  that  of  Charleston. 

During  the  year  1690,  king  William  sent  out  a  large  body 


tution  of 
Locke  found 
unsuitable 


Governor 
Sayle. 


96  CHRISTIAN    NATIONS    AGAIN    AT    WAR. 

PART  II.  of  French  Protestants,  who  had  been  compelled  to  leave  theii 
PERIOD  I.  country  by  the  arbitrary  measures  of  Louis  XIV.  To  a  part 
CHAP.  XIII.  of  these,  lands  were  allotted  in  Virginia  on  James  river,  and 
^^~^^sy^^>^  others  settled  in  Carolina  on  the  banks  of  the  Santee,  and  in 
1690.  Charleston.  They  introduced  the  culture  of  the  vine,  and 
^Tesunts^'  "^vere  among  the  most  useful  settlers  of  the  province. 

The  Cape  Fear,  or  Clarendon  colony,  having  under  Gover- 
nor Yeamans  migrated  south,  probably  to  aid  in  the  founding 
of  Charleston,  the  unfruitful  country  which  they  first  occupied 
reverted  to  the  natives. 
1Y29.         In   1729,  the  present  line  of  division  between  North  and 
Presentdivi-  South  Carolina  was  adopted ;  and  then  that  country,  with  the 

non  of  North  ,       ,  ..  •,  i       ,-  ^  i-.  • 

and  South   land  extending  to  twenty  miles  south  ot  Cape  r  ear  river,  was 
Carolina,    t^rown  into  North  Carolina. 


CHAPTER   XIII, 

French  and  Indian  War. 


16§8.         James  II.  of  England,  and  Louis  XIV.  of  France,  were 

The  English  common  descendants  of  the  Gallic  sovereion,  Henry  IV. ;  and 

produces  the  when  the  English,  displeased  by  the  refusal  of  James  to  sus- 

Francel^    tain  the  English  church,  and  by  his  avowed  papacy,  leagued 

with  his   children,  and    ejected    him   from    the    throne,   the 

king  of  France  gave  the  royal  fugitive  a  resting  place  in  the 

castle   of   St.   Germain,   near   Paris ;    and,   considering    his 

cause  as  that  of  all  sovereigns,  who  maintain  that  legitimate 

Kings    hold   their    authority   by   divine   right,   he   made    the 

quarrel  of  James  his  own.     England,  to  justify  herself,  took 

a   ground,   which   is   important    as   an   advance   in   political 

equity, — that  government  is  for  the  benefit  of  the   governed, 

Called,  in    and  that  any  nation  has  a  right  to  reform  its  own.     Hence  a 

^^King^wu-^'  ^^^^  ensued  between  England  and  France,  which  affected  the 

liara'swar.  American  colonies  of  both;   and  is  known  in  our  annals  as 

"  King  William's  war." 

The  fisheries  on  the  Atlantic  coast  were  regarded  as  of 

prime  importance  ;  and,  on  this  account,  Acadia  was  highly 

valued.     To  protect  it,  the  two  Jesuits,  Vincent  and  Bigot, 

collected  a  village  of  the  savage  Abenakies  on  the  Penobscot ; 

Daren  Cas-  and  the  Baron  De  St.  Castine,  a  French  nobleman,  whose 

tine.        character  seems  a  compound  of  ambition,  intrigue,  and  bigotry, 

established  there  a  trading  fort.     In  1696,  a  fort  built  at  Pema- 

quid  was  taken  by  Castine  ;  and  thus  the  French  claimed,  as 

Acadia,  all  Maine  east  of  the   Kennebec  ;    and  they  artfully 

obtained  great  ascendancy  over  the  natives. 

16§9.  In  August,  1689,  fifteen  hundred  warriors  of  the  Iroquois, 

prise^Mom"-"  actuated  by  revenge  for  supposed  wrongs,  surprised  Montreal  ; 

real.        and  a  horrible  night  of  burning  and  murder  preceded  a  morn- 


NIGHT    ATTACKS    OF    FRENCH    AND    INDIANS.  97 

in^  of  desolation.  One  thousand  of  the  French  were  killed,  FAT^T  11.^ 
and  twenty-six  made  prisoners.  Golden  says,  "the  Five  period  i. 
Nations  were  at  this  time  an  overmatch  for  Canada."  Fort  chap.  xm. 
Frontenac,  and  its  warlike  stores,  were  abandoned  in  terror,  v^^-Ny-^^/ 
and  the  Iroquois  took  immediate  possession. 

The  tribe   of   Pennicooks,  in   New  Hampshire,  had   lost  Pennicooka 
several  of  their  number  by  the  treachery  of  the  whites,  who    *   y^er. 
had  taken  and  sold  them  into  slavery.     The  emissaries  of 
Castine  instigated  them  to  vengeance.     At  Dover,  in  that 
state,  the  venerable  Major  Waldron,  a  magistrate  and  a  trader  Major  Wai. 
among  the  Indians,  hospitably  admitted   two  squaws  to  sleep 
by  his  fire.     At  dead  of  night,  they  let  in  a  war  party  from 
without.     The  sword  of  the  veteran  defends  him  until  he  is 
overpowered  by  numbers.     They  then  place  him  upon  a  long 
table,  mock  him  with  a  jeering  call  to  "judge  Indians  ;"  and 
then,  those  indebted  to  him  for  goods,  draw   gashes  on   his 
breast,  saying,  "  here  I  cross  out  my  account."     Besides  him, 
twenty-two  others  were  killed,  twenty-nine  made  captive,  and 
the  town  burnt. 

Governor  Frontenac,   at  Quebec,  now   planned   to   send, 
through  the  snow,  three  parties.     The  first,  after  a  difficult 
march  of  twenty-two  days,  arrive  at  Schenectady,  the  night 
of  the  1 8th  of  February,  and,  separating  into  small  parties,  they      1690 
invest  every  house  at  the  same  moment.     The  people  sleep  Schenectad> 

•11-1  II  11  11  f,  destroyed  b\ 

until  tneir  doors  are  broken  open,  and  themselves  dragged  French  and 
from  their  beds.  Their  dwellings  are  set  on  fire  ;  men  and  ^"  ^' 
women  are  butchered  and  scalped,  and  children  have  their 
brains  dashed  out,  or  are  cast  into  the  flames.  Sixty  persons 
thus  perished  by  the  hands  of  the  savages  ;  twenty-seven  were 
carried  captive,  and  most  of  the  small  number  which  escaped, 
lost  their  limbs  in  attempting  to  flee  naked,  through  a  deep 
snow,  to  Albany. 

One  of  the  leaders  of  this  expedition  was  d'Iberville,  who 
afterwards  conducted  a  colony  from  Canada  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  became  the  founder  of  Louisiana. 

The  second  party  of  French  and  Indians,  leagued  for  mid- 
night murder,  are  sent  against  the  pleasant  settlement  at  Salmon  Dest:uction 
Falls  on  the  Piscataqua.     At  break  of  day — a  day  which,  for    °  FaiiT."" 
fifty  of  their  number,  had  no  morrow,  the  peaceful  inhabitants    March  18 
were  waked  to  experience  the  horrors  of  Indian  warfare,  aid- 
ed and  directed  by  French  ingenuity.     The  third  party  from     of  Casco 
Quebec,  in  like  manner,  destroyed  the  settlement  at  Casco       ^^^• 
Bay  in  Maine. 

Fear  and  terror  were  on  every  side.     The  General  Court  of     jggjj 
Massachusetts  sent  letters  of  request  to  the  several  governors  congress  at 
of  the  provinces,  pursuant  to  which  they  convened  at  New  ^'^^'  ^'°^^ 
York.     In  consequence  of  the  bold  resolves  of  this  congress, 
two   important   measures   were   adopted.     Connecticut   sent  ^'JfoTSf 
General  Winthrop  with  troops  to  march  through  Albany,  there  congress  at 

T  1        1       •    •       11       r  r  AT        -17-     1      tempted  and 

to  receive  supplies,  and  to  be  joined  by  forces  from  New  York.       fails 


98 


MASS.    HAS    MORE    TERRiTORY    BUT    LESS    LIBERTY. 


PART  II. 
PERIOD  I. 


CHAP.    XIII. 


1690. 

November. 
He  fails,  and 
loses  a  part 

of  his  fleet. 


Massachu- 
setts' first 
trial  of  the 
=♦  credit  sys- 
tem." 


1601. 

Peter  Schuy- 
ler's prowess 
at  La  Prairie 


1602. 

New  charter 
of  Massa- 
chusetts. 


Territories 
added. 


Liberties 
abridged. 


The  expedition  was  to  proceed  up  Lake  Champlain,  and  was 
destined  to  reduce  Montreal.  Leisler  ard  Milbome  failed  to 
furnish  the  supplies,  and  thus  defeated  the  project. 

Massachusetts  sent  forth  a  fleet  of  thirty-four  sail  under  Sir 
William  Phipps.  He  had  in  the  spring  taken  Port  Royal, 
and  he  now  proceeded  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  with  the  design 
of  capturing  Quebec.  But  Count  Frontenac,  on  the  summons 
of  Phipps  to  surrender,  took  his  messenger,  blindfolded  him, 
and  then  wheeled  his  little  handful  of  men  in  such  successive 
rounds,  as  to  make  the  messenger  believe,  by  his  sense  of 
hearing,  that  a  numerous  succession  of  troops  were  marching 
before  him.  And  he  made  him  use  his  hands  to  feel  the 
strength  of  the  fortifications.  Nevertheless,  the  intrepid  en- 
voy delivered  a  bold  demand  of  surrender ;  but  he  carried 
back  a  proud  defiance.  When,  however,  Phipps  learned  that 
the  party  of  Winthrop,  which  he  expected  from  Montreal,  had 
failed,  he  abandoned  the  project,  and  returned  to  Massachu- 
setts with  a  part  of  his  fleet,  a  storm  having  wrecked  the  re- 
mainder. 

Great  expenses  were  by  these  means  incurred,  which  had 
drained  the  treasury;  and  the  general  court  authorized,  for 
the  first  time,  the  emission  of  paper  money,  or  notes  of  credit, 
making  them  in  all  payments  a  legal  tender. 

The  eflect  of  their  military  failure  was  most  unfortunate 
for  the  colonies.  The  Five  Nations  blamed  the  English  for 
their  inactivity,  and  appeared  inclined  to  make  peace  with 
the  French,  and  the  frontiers  were  more  than  ever  exposed. 
To  preserve  the  respect  of  the  warlike  Iroquois,  Major 
Schuyler,  of  Albany,  in  the  summer  of  the  year  1691,  with 
the  aid  of  three  hundred  Mohawks,  passed  Lake  Champlain  ; 
and  at  La  Prairie,  engaged  eight  hundred  French  troops,  and 
after  a  severe  conflict,  killed  a  number  equal  to  that  of  his 
own  forces. 

In  none  of  the  colonies  did  the  Revolution  in  England  pro- 
duce a  greater  change  than  in  Massachusetts.  In  1692,  king 
William,  who  had  refused  to  restore  its  former  government^ 
granted  a  new  charter,  which,  extending  its  limits,  but  restrict- 
ing its  privileges,  commenced  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  this 
colony.  Massachusetts  now  embraced,  besides  the  former 
territory,  Plymouth,  Maine,  and  Nova  Scotia  ;  extending  north 
to  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  and  west  to  the  South  Sea,  ex- 
cepting New  Hampshire  and  New  York  ;  and  including,  also, 
Nantucket,  Martha's  Vineyard,  and  the  Elizabeth  islands. 

Almost  the  only  privilege  which  the  new  charter  allowed 
the  people,  was  that  of  choosing  their  representatives.  The 
king  reserved  to  himself  the  right  of  appointing  the  governor, 
lieutenant  governor,  and  secretary  ;  and  of  repealing  all  laws 
"within  three  years  after  their  passage. 


PERIOD     H. 

FROM 

THK    NEW   CHARTER  i  1692    <  OF   MASSACIK  SETTSL 
TO 
THB  FIRST   SETTLEMENT  |  1*7^3.  1  OF  GEORGIA  BY  OGLETHOBPB. 

CHAPTER  I. 


Sir  William  Phipps.- 


-Cotton  Mather. — Salem  Witchcraft. — Schools. — V'aie 
College. 


The  new  charter  was  received  at  Boston,  May  14th,  1692. 
The  officers  to  be  appointed  under  it,  were  nominated  by  In- 
crease Mather,  a  minister  of  Boston,  sent  to  England  as  agent 
for  the  colony.  He  gave  the  nomination  for  governor  to  Sir 
William  Phipps,  a  favorite  parishioner  of  his  son,  the  learned 
Cotton  Mather,  also  a  minister  of  Boston,  and  the  eccentric 
historian  of  the  New  England  churches.  Phipps  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pemaquid  in  Maine,  and  his  boyhood  was  spent  in 
tending  sheep.  He  was  then  made  apprentice  to  a  trade; 
but  being  active  and  enterprising,  he  went  to  England,  and  at 
length  acquired  riches  and  a  title,  by  his  success  in  raising, 
by  means  of  a  diving  bell,  the  treasures  of  a  Spanish  wreck. 
He,  as  well  as  the  lieutenant-governor,  and  the  twenty-eight 
assistants  now  appointed  for  Massachusetts,  were  all,  such 
men  as  readily  took  advice  from  the  clergy. 

Amidst  the  diffi-culties  under  which  the  northern  colonies 
labored,  from  the  war  with  the  French  and  Indians,  and  with 
the  new  and  disagreeable  aspect  of  political  affairs,  others  of 
a  different,  though  not  less  disagreeable  nature,  opened  upon 
the  people  of  Massachusetts. 

The  delusion,  with  respect  to  the  supposed  intercourse  with 
evil  spirits,  was  now  at  its  height.  The  first  settlers  brought 
it  with  them  from  the  mother  country.  Laws,  making  witch- 
craft a  capital  crime,  existed  in  England,  and  were  early  en- 
acted in  Massachusetts.  The  mania  began  in  Springfield  in 
1645,  when  some  individuals  were  accused  and  tried,  but  ac- 
quitted. Some  few  years  after,  persons  at  Boston,  Charles- 
town,  Dorchester,  and  Cambridge,  were  arraigned,  and  some 
actually  executed  for  the  supposed  ofiense. 

But  Salem  was  the  devoted  place  where  this  superstition 
was  converted  into  a  phrenzy.  Some  young  women,  perhaps 
in  part  deluded  by  their  own  imaginations,  complained  of  being 
strangely  afi'ected.  Their  complaints,  attributed  to  this  alarm- 
ing cause,  were  reported  and  magnified ;  at  length  they 
became  prime  heroines  in  a  gossiping  and  credulous  neigh- 


PART  II 


May  11th. 
1692. 

New  cliarter 
brought  ovej 
by  Sir  WU 
liam  Phipps 


Superstition 

worse 

than  war  or 

tyraimy. 


1645. 

The  delusion 

respecting 

witchcraft, 

begins  in 

Springfield. 


1692. 

Prevails  ia 
Salem. 


100  THE    THREE    SISTERS. TWENTY    EXECUTIONS. 

PART  11.   borhood.     This  encouraged  others  to 'set  up  for  the   same 
PERIOD  II.  distinction ;  and  witches,  of  course,  increased  with  the  number 
CHAP.  I.    bewitched. 
^-^■-v-^^       At  first,  it  was  old  women  only,  who  were  suspected  of 
Convictions  having  leagued  with  the  de^nl,  to  inflict  upon  the  diseased  the 
**"  dmsuf-^^  various  torments   which  they  asserted   that    they   felt,    and 
licient       which  they  often  appeared  to  the  spectators  actually  to  feel. 
grounds,     ^]^g  magistrates  of  the  people's  choice,  had,  with  Bradstreet, 
their  governor,  previous  to  the  arrival  of  Phipps,  discounten- 
anced these  persecutions  ;  but  the  new  authorities,  under  the 
influence  of  the  clergy,  of  whom,  in  this  particular.  Cotton 
Mather  was  the  leader,  pursued  a  course  which  placed  the 
accused  in  situations  where  "  they  had  need  to  be  magicians 
not  to  be  convicted  of  magic."     The  unhappy  persons  were 
confronted  with  those  who  accused  them,  and  asked,  "  Why 
And  by  in-  Jq  you  afllict  these  children  ?"     If  they  denied  the  fact,  they 
'wiu!e^&''ses^.  ^v^r®  commanded  to  look  upon  the  children,  who  would  in- 
stantly fall  into  flts,  and  afterwards  declare  that  they  were 
2Q  ,  thus  troubled  by  the  persons  apprehended.     On  evidence  no 

*  better  than  this,  were  twenty  persons  executed. 

Malice  and  revenge  carried  on  the  work  which  superstition 
began.     Private  resentment  was  never  more  fiendish  in  its 
'riiree  sis-    measures,  than  in  the  accusations   which   were  got  up   and 
\^o  a^e'^an?-^  brought  to  fatal  issues,  by  Samuel  Parris,  the  minister  of  Sa- 
mosityofthe  lem.     He  had  bitter  animosities  against  several  of  his  parish- 
mmistcr  at  iQ^ers.     Rebecca  Nurse,  amiable  but  reflective,  opposed  ihis 
tyrant  of  his   church.     Two  children,  his  daughter  and  his 
niece,  accused  her,  and  she  was  committed  to  prison.     Parris 
also  denounced  her  publicly  as  a  "  devil."     Her  sister,  Sarah 
Cloyce,  rose  and  left  the   meeting-house.     She  was  herself 
soon  the  tenant  of  a  prison.     Yet  another  victim  was  taken 
from  the  same  family.     Mary  Easty,  knowing  the  worth  and 
innocence   of  her  dear  imprisoned  sisters,  spake, — yet  with 
mildness,  against  the  injustice  which  condemned  them.     She 
was  soon  forced  from  her  children  and  her  home,  herself  ac- 
cused of  intercourse  with  evil  spirits,  and  made  a  prisoner ; 
with  the  horrible  expectation  that,  she  must  close  a  virtuous 
Twenty  exe- 1^^^  by  the  violent  death  of  a  malefactor — her  only  crime,  that 
cutions  in   she  was  Unreconciled    to  the   legal    murder  of   her  beloved 
July,  August  signers,  the  fate  she  was  now  to  share.     Beside  these  innocent 

and  bepiem-  '  i  o.   i  *  i 

ber.  persons,  seventeen  others  were  hung  at  Salem.  Among  them 
was  Mr.  Burroughs,  a  worthy  clergyman.  The  prisons  were 
full  of  those  committed  for  trial. 

The  general  court,    on   assembling,  took    ground  against 
October,     these  proceedings.     They  perceived  that  none  were  safe,-  but 
The  General  tbat  the  best  of  the  commuiiiiy  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  worst. 
°"Tound  ^    'They  abolished  the  special  court  organized  by  Phipps,  and 
against  the  presided  over  by  Stoughton,  the  lieutenant  governor,  by  which 
special      these  executions  had  been  sanctioned.     The  public  were  ad- 
dressed on  the  subject  through  the  press  by  the  independent 


LAWS  AGAINST  THE  BARBARISM  OF  IGNORANCE.  101 

Calef,  of  Boston  ;  and  the  eyes  of  men  were  at  length  opened.    PART  IL 
The  prisoners  were  set  free  ;  and  the  memory  of  the  transac-   period  u. 
tion  soon  became,  what  it  still  continues  to  be,  a  source  of     chap.  i. 
national  sorrow  and  humiliation.  ^....^^•^^■^^^ 

We  have  already  seen  that  Massachusetts  led  the  way  in   Massachu- 
the  establishment  of  a  university.     Laws  were  also  enacted,  p^^sscs'^i^'wg 
which  showed  that  the  rulers  felt  the   importance  of  rightly  to  establish 
instructing  all  their  youth  in  the  rudiments  of  learning,  human     common 
and  divme. 

But  not  one  of  the  colonies  enjoyed  a  repose  so  uninter-     i046 
rupted  as  Connecticut ;  and  therefore  none  had  in  this  respect  The  court* at 
80  great  advantages  to  show  the  bent  of  the  puritan  mind  in  Hartford  or- 
regard  to  the  improvement  of  the  human  race  by  the  right  laws^or  com- 
training  of  the  young.     As  early  as  1646,  the  general  court  mon  educa 
ordered  Mr.  Ludlow  to  compile  a  body  of  laws  to  regulate  the        ^^°"" 
education  of  children. 

This  he  brought  forward,  and  enactments  were  made,  whose     1650. 
liberaliiy,   considering  the   straitened  means  of  these  early  ^^"i^^^^^^* 
fathers,  should  make  their  descendants  of  this  day  blush  for     specting 
their  degeneracy.     "  Forasmuch,"  says  the  statute,  "  as  the     common 
good  education  of  children  is  of  singular  behoof  and  benefit  ^^  "ed.^^^**' 
to  any  commonwealth,  and  whereas  many  parents  and  masters 
are  too  indulgent  and  negligent  of  their  duty  in  that  kind," 
The    court   therefore  order    "  that    the  selectmen  of    every 
town,  in  the  several  quarters  where  they  dwell,  shall  have  a  The  "barba 
vigilant  eye   over  their  brethren  and  neighbors,  to  see  that  r^^"^"  °f  ^S- 
none  of  them  shall  suffer  so  much  barbarism  in  any  of  their   treated  se- 
families  as  not  to  endeavor  to  teach,  by  themselves  or  others,      verely. 
their  children  and  apprentices,  so  much  learning  as  to  enable 
them  to  read  the  English  tongue,"  in  order  that  they  may  be 
acquainted,  first  with  the  laws  of  God  in  the  Scriptures,  and 
second  with  the  laws  of  the  commonwealth  which  they  are  t^en^from 
required  to  obey.     And  if  any  parent  or  master  should  be  parents  who 
found  guiltyof  tills  "barbarism,"  he  was,in  the  first  place,  to  be  neglected  to 
fined,  and  if,  after  due  admonition  of  this  kind,  he  still  neglect-   ^common 
ed  his  duty,  the  youth  of  his  family  were  to  be  taken  out  of     learning. 
the  hands  of  such  unfaithful  guardians,  and  placed  under  the 
especial  charge  of  the  magistrates,  who  were  to  see  that  they 
were  duly  instructed. 

But  to  make  more  certain  the  important  object  of  educating  gj{j°"\^°g 
the  young,  and  to  the  end  say  they,  "  that  learning  be  not  tablished 
buried  in  the  grave  of  our  forefathers,"  the  Lord  assisting  our  where  ther« 
endeavors,  it  is  ordered,  "  that  all  the  townships  with  fifty  famines, 
householders  shall  keep  a  school,  and  pay  for  the  same  in  Grammar 
Buch  way  as  they  see  fit.     And  further,  that  if  any  town  has  ^.^1^°''^^  f f" 

11111-11  1  1     11    1  1  •        •  sides,  whe!» 

one  hundred  householders,  they  shall  keep  and  mamtain  a    v\ere  lOO. 
grammar  school,  where  young  men  can  be  fitted  for  a  uni- 
versity. M*^if** 

New  Haven  had  also  provided  bylaw  for  common  schools;  po/jprop^o^sw 
and  in  1654,  Mr.  Davenport  proposed  the  institution  of  a  col-    a  college. 


102       THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  YALE. GOV.  FLETCHER  OUTWITTED 

PART.  11.  lege,  and  the  town  gave  lands  for  the  object.     Governor  Hop- 
PERIODIL  kins  of  Connecticut,  who  for  several  years  was  alternately 

CHAP.  1.     ^ith  Haynes    the  chief  magistrate   of  that  colony,  dying  in 
'-'^'''^^^'^^*^  London,    bequeathed,   for  such  an  institution,    four    or   five 

1656.     hundred  pounds.     The  school  was  located  at  Saybrook. 
ll^^k^'^Td         "^^^  clergy  of  Connecticut,  feeling  the  need  of  a  college 

nation,      nearer  than  at  Cambridge,  to  furnish  learned  men  as  ministers, 

1701.     ten  of  their  number   obtained  from  the  general  assembly  a 
Ten  clergy-  charter  of  incorporation,   together  with  an  annual   jjrant  of 

men  obt3,in  3.  i  ^        o  o 

charter  and  a  JG120.     Thus    constituted   as  trustees,  they  held  their  first 
small  endow-  meeting  at  Saybrook ;  chose  officers,  and  made  laws  for  the 
™^'^^'       infant  university. 

1717  "^^^   location  was  inconvenient,   and   more   money  bemg 

The  college  subscribed  to  fix  the  college  at  New   Haven  than   at  rival 

removed  to  places,  it  was  removed  thither,  and  received  at  the  same  time 

aven.  accessions  of  books  in  its  library,  already  begun,  and  in  its 

funds.     The  most  liberal  of  the  donors  was  Elihu  Yale,  a  na- 

benefSor  ^^^^^  ^^  New  Haven,  who  had  made  a  fortune  in  India.     His 

The  college  name  has  in  that  institution  a  nobler  monument,  than  the  silent 

receives  his  column  which  rises  over  the  grave  of  the  warrior,  or  the  mau- 

^"^^  '       soleum  of  the  prince,  whose  adorning  figures  are  those  of 

marble,  not  of  living  and  improving  youth. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the   two  earliest  universities  of  the 
^^Yale  ^^^  United  States  continue  to  enjoy  the  highest  celebrity,  although 
many  others  now  exist. 

Early  in  this  period  a  political  event  is  recorded,  which,  as 
N.  England  it  passed  away  without  leaving  any  result,  would  be  omitted 
manage-     j^y  historians,  but  that  it  is  a  pleasant  as  well  as  striking  in- 
stance of  New  England  management ;  less  dignified,  but  some- 
times less  troublesome,  than  more  direct  methods  of  refusal  to 
yield  to  powers  regarded  as  usurped. 
Gov  Fletch-      Colonel  Fletcher,  governor  of  Ne\i  York,  was  empowered 
er  attempts  to  take  command  of  the  militia  of  Connecticut.     The  colony 
to  take  com-  immediately  dispatched  General  Winthrop  as  an  agent  to  re- 
Connecticut  monstrate  with  the  king  and  council  against  this  extraordinary 
militia       power.     Colonel  Fletcher,  however,  went  to  Hartford  in  1693, 
and,  in  his  majesty's  name,  demanded  the  surrender  of  the 
militia  to  his  command.     Captain   William  Wadsworth,  the 
man  by  whom  the  charter  was  hid,  paraded  his  company  ;  but 
October  2G.  ^^  ^^  attendant  of  Fletcher  began  to  read  his  commission,  the 
He  is  foileil  captain  gave  command  to  "  drum  ;"  and  when  Fletcher  called 
^  Captain  q^^^  u  silence  I"  the  captain  raised  his  voice  higher  in  a  second 
order,  "  drum,  drum,  I  say."     At  length  Fletcher  gave  up  in 
despair,  perhaps   fearing,   if   he  persisted,   that  Wadsworth 
would,  in  good  earnest,  fulfil  his  threat,  and  "  make  daylight 
shine  through  him." 
1706  In  1706,  the  first  Episcopal  church  in  Connecticut  was  es- 

tablished at  Stratford. 

Agreeable  to  the  recommendations  of  the  general  assembly 
of  Connecticut,  in  1708  delegates  from  the  churches  of  Con- 


QUEEN    ANNE  S    WAR. MASSACRE    AT    DEERFIELD. 


103 


necticiit  met  at  Saybrook  and  framed  the  ecclesiastical  con- 
stitution called  the  "  Saybrook  Platform."  By  this  the  minis- 
ters of  the  churches  in  the  several  counties  were  to  hold 
annual  associations.  All  the  clergy  in  the  state  were  to  meet 
in  each  county  by  rotation,  and  their  meeting  was  termed  a 
general  association. 


1T08. 

"  Saybrook 
Platform." 


CHAPTER   II. 


Luropean  Politics. 


-Peace  of  Ryswic,  which  closes  King  William's  War. — 
Queen  Anne's  War  soon  begins. 


King  William's  war  had  been  feebly  pursued.  Settlements 
on  Oyster  river  were,  however,  destroyed  by  the  French  and 
Indians,  and  the  fort  at  Pemaquid,  which  Sir  William  Phipps 
had  rebuilt  by  the  special  direction  of  the  sovereigns,  had  been 
taken.  In  1 697,  peace  was  made  at  Ryswick,  in  Germany,  by 
which  it  was  stipulated  that  all  places  captured  during  the 
war  should  be  restored.  Thus  again  had  the  barbarous  appeal 
to  arms  been  to  no  other  purpose  but  that  of  multiplying  human 
woes. 

But  the  parties  profited  little  by  the  lesson,  and  war  was 
soon  renewed.  Louis  XIV.  of  France,  had  violated  former 
treaties  by  placing  his  grandson,  the  Duke  of  Anjou,  on  the 
throne  of  Spain,  and  proclaiming,  as  king  of  England,  James, 
the  son  of  James  II. 

In  America  he  had  given  orders  to  Villeborne,  his  governor, 
to  extend  Acadia  to  the  Kennebec,  to  claim  the  exclusive  right 
to  the  fisheries  on  the  coast,  and  to  seize  all  English  vessels 
which  should  be  found  fishing  upon  them.  In  May,  1702, 
England,  now  under  Queen  Anne,  declared  war  against  both 
France  and  Spain  ;  and  the  contests  of  the  parent  states 
again  involved  their  American  colonies. 

Notwithstanding  the  eastern  Indians  had  given  a  solemn 
assurance  of  peace  with  New  England,  yet  they  now  devas- 
tated Maine  from  Casco  to  Wells.  Deerfield,  in  Massachu- 
setts, was  surprised  at  midnight,  February,  1704,  by  a  party 
of  French  and  Indians,  under  Heurtel  de  Rouville.  The 
sentinel  of  the  fort  being  asleep,  and  the  snow  of  such  a  depth 
as  to  allow  them  to  pass  over  the  palisades,  they  silently  en- 
tered, and  scalped  and  murdered,  or  secured  as  prisoners,  the 
wretched  inhabitants.  Only  a  small  number  escaped  by  flight. 
Forty-seven  were  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  carried 
captive  to  Canada. 

Early  in  the  assault,  the  house  of  the  Rev.  John  Williams, 
the  minister  of  the  place,  was  attacked  by  about  twenty  In- 
dians, who,  after  murdering  two  of  his  children,  secured  as 


1697. 

Peace  of 
Ryswic. 


1702. 

England  de 
clares  war 

against 

France  and 

Spam. 


1704. 

Deerfield 
surprised  bv 
French  anJ 

Indians. 


104 


PEACE    OF    UTRECHT. DEPRESSION    CAUSED    BY    WAR. 


PAKT  II. 
PERIOD  TI. 

CHAP.     II. 


1704. 

Colonel 
Church  de- 
stroys their 
settlernents. 


1705. 

Prisoners 
exchanged. 


1710. 

Enelish  take 
Port  Royal. 


The  Dutch 
encourage 
Indian  out- 
rages. 


Peter  Schuy- 
ler befriends 
the  N.  Eng 
land  people. 


1713. 

Peace  of 

Utrecht 

doses  Queen 

Anne's  war. 


Its  disas- 
tarous  effects. 


1710. 

Palatines 

settle  in  the 

provinces. 


prisoners,  himself,  his  wife,  and  his  five  remaining  children. 
Mrs.  Williams,  on  the  second  day,  fahered  in  the  march,  and, 
according  to  the  Indian  custom,  was  cruelly  put  to  death. 

Roused  by  these  inhumanities,  the  veteran  warrior,  Benja 
min  Church,  mounted  on  horseback  and  rode  seventy  miles 
to  offer  his  services  to  Dudley,  now  governor  of  Massachu- 
setts, in  behalf  of  his  distressed  fellow  citizens.  He  was 
sent  with  five  hundred  soldiers  to  the  eastern  coast  of  New 
England,  to  attack  the  enemy  in  their  own  settlements  ;  and, 
ascending  the  Penobscot  and  St.  Croix  rivers,  he  destroyed 
several  of  their  towns,  and  took  a  considerable  number  of 
prisoners. 

In  1705,  Vaudreuil,  now  governor  of  Canada,  proposed  to 
Governor  Dudley,  a  treaty  of  neutrality.  Arrangements  were 
accordingly  made  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  thus  a 
large  proportion  of  those  taken  at  Deerfield  were  finally  re- 
leased. Among  the  number  was  Mr.  Williams  and  some  of 
his  children  One  young  daughter  remained,  married,  and 
raised  a  family  in  the  tribe  which  adopted  her.  In  the  years 
1706  and  1707,  small  parties  of  French  and  Indians  hovered 
about  the  frontiers,  burning,  scalping,  and  making  prisoners 
of  the  wretched  inhabitants. 

In  1710,  Colonel  Nicholson  sailed  from  Boston  in  a  fleet, 
part  of  which  he  had  brought  from  England,  and  besieged 
Port  Royal ;  which,  after  a  few  days'  resistance,  surrendered, 
and  its  name,  in  honor  of  the  queen,  was  changed  to  Anna- 
polis. 

New  York  being  protected  by  the  Five  Nations,  a  lucrative 
trade  was  carried  on  with  these  Indians  ;  and  the  Dutch  tra- 
ders at  Albany  and  Schenectady  sometimes  permitted  preda- 
tory parties  from  Canada  to  pass  from  the  northern  parts 
of  the  province,  in  their  attacks  on  the  frontiers  of  New 
England,  that  they  might  enjoy  the  benefit  of  their  plunder. 
Colonel  Schuyler,  whom  the  Iroquois  called  Quider,  having 
great  influence  over  these  savages,  thus  had  frequent  know- 
ledge of  their  designs,  and  notified  the  people  of  Massachu- 
setts of  the  places  marked  for  destruction. 

Queen  Anne's  war  was  closed  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  by 
which  Acadia  was  ceded  to  the  English.  For  more  than  ten 
years  this  war  had  exposed  the  frontiers  to  continued  attacks 
from  a  savage  foe,  checked  the  prosperity  of  New  England, 
and  effectually  prevented  the  progress  of  settlements  to 
the  north  and  east.  The  inhabitants  had  been  constantly 
harassed  with  calls  for  military  service,  and  were  obliged  to 
watch  day  and  night  lest  they  should  be  surprised  and  mur- 
dered, or  what  was  not  less  dreaded,  doomed  to  savage  cap- 
tivity. Agriculture  was  necessarily  neglected,  a  heavy  public 
debt  incurred,  and  a  state  of  general  depression  ensued. 

The  Palatines  of  Germany,  having  been  reduced  to  great 
indigence  by  the  wars  m  that  country,    sent  to  England  to 


FATHER  RASLES.— PEACE. EASTERN  BOUNDARY   SETTLED. 


105 


solicit  charity  of  Queen  Anne.  This  princess  having  obtained 
for  ihcm  grants  of  land  in  America,  about  six  or  seven  thousand 
arrived  during  the  year  1710,  and  planted  themselves  in 
the  provinces  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  and 
Carolina. 

In  1714,  Queen  Anne  dying,  George  I.,  of  the  house  of 
Brunswick,  ascended  the  throne  of  England. 

After  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  by  which  France  ceded  to 
England  the  whole  of  Acadia,  the  general  court  of  Mas- 
sachusetts extended  its  jurisdiction  to  the  utmost  bounds  of 
the  province  of  Maine  ;  and  enterprising  fishermen  and  tra- 
ders not  only  revived  the  desolated  villages,  but  on  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  Kennebec  erected  new  forts,  and  planted  new 
settlements  around  them. 

Father  Rasles,a  Jesuit  missionary  of  France,  had  for  many 
years  ministered  in  a  rude  chapel  at  Norridgewock  on  the 
Kennebec,  among  his  savage  converts  of  the  Abenakies.  Some 
of  these  now  crossed  the  desert  to  Quebec,  and  consulted  with 
Vaudreuil,  the  governor  of  Canada.  Returning,  they  deter- 
mined to  resist  the  English  occupanc}^,  and  maintain  by  Avar 
their  own  right  to  the  country,  hoping  that  the  French  would 
ultimately  assist  them. 

The  Indians  began  hostilities  by  burning  Brunswick.  The 
general  court  of  Massachusetts  then  oflered  a  bounty  on  In- 
dian scalps.  They  had  ascertained,  by  getting  possession  of 
the  papers  of  Father  Rasles,  that  both  he  and  the  governor  of 
Canada  Avere  in  the  counsel  of  the  savages,  and  were  the  in- 
stigators of  their  depredations.  A  party  from  New  England, 
in  August,  1724,  destroyed  Norridgewock,  and  exercised  a 
cruel  and  fatal  vengeance  upon  the  aged  Jesuit.  He  was  the 
last  of  that  devoted  order,  who,  in  the  Avilds  of  America,  had 
labored  to  attain,  simultaneously,  two  incompatible  objects, 
a  spiritual  kingdom  for  a  heavenly  Master,  and  a  temporal  one 
for  an  earthly  sovereign. 

The  Indians  now  found,  that  though  instigated  by  the 
French,  they  were  not  supported  by  them,  and  their  sachems 
at  St.  John's  concluded  a  peace  with  the  colonists,  which,  as 
French  missions  were  now  at  an  end,  proved  durable.  Eng- 
lish trading  houses  flourished,  and  the  eastern  boundary  of 
New  England  remained  undisDuted. 


PART  II. 


George  I. 

1T13. 

Massachu- 
setts now 
takes  in  all 
Maine. 


Father  Ras- 
les' vv«r. 
1T17 

to 

1T24 


Brunswick 
burned. 
Rasles  and  his 
party  de- 
stroyed. 


He  is  the  last 

of  the  Jesuit 

mission 

aries. 


1726. 

August  6. 

Peace  with 

the  eastern 

Indians. 


106 


INTRODUCTION    OF    EPISCOPACY    INTO    NEW    YORK 


CHAPTER  III. 


PART  II. 


1692. 

Colonel 
Fletcher  suc- 
ceeds 
Sloughter. 

1693. 

He  causes 
Episcopal 
ministers  to 
be  settled, 


and  intro- 
duces Epis- 
copacy. 


169§. 

Bellamont 
succeeds 
Vletcher. 


Sends  out 

Kid  to  slop 

piracy, 

who  turns 
pirate. 


ITOl. 

May  23. 
Kid  exe- 
cuted. 


FletcAer  introduces  Episcopacy  into  New  York. — Piracy. — The  Jerseys  united 
and  joined  with  New  York. 

Governor  Sloughter  of  New  York  died  in  1691,  and  in 
1692,  Colonel  Fletcher  arrived  with  the  commission  of 
governor.  Fletcher  was  a  good  soldier,  and  having  fortu 
nately  secured  the  friendship  of  Major  Schuyler,  he  was,  by 
his  advice,  enabled  to  conduct  the  Indian  affairs  of  the  colony, 
to  the  acceptance  of  the  people.  He  was,  however,  ava- 
ricious, irascible,  and  a  bigot  to  his  own  mode  of  faith,  which 
was  that  of  the  church  of  England. 

Under  pretence  of  introducing  uniformity  into  the  language 
and  literature,  as  well  as  the  religion  of  the  colony,  the  inhab- 
itants of  which  were  a  heterogeneous  mixture  of  Dutch  and 
English,  he  brought  into  the  assembly,  a  bill  for  the  settlement, 
throughout  the  province,  of  Episcopalian  ministers,  such  as 
should  be  by  himself  selected.  The  assembly,  after  much 
debate,  agreed  that  the  ministers  should  be  settled  in  certain 
parishes,  but  left  the  choice  to  the  people.  This  was  very 
offensive  to  the  governor,  who,  after  an  angry  speech,  dis- 
solved the  assembly.  Episcopalian  ministers  were,  however, 
settled  in  several  parishes ;  and  thus  was  introduced,  a  relig- 
ious order,  which,  at  this  day,  forms  so  respectable  a  portion 
of  the  population  of  the  state. 

In  1698,  Richard,  earl  of  Bellamont,  an  Irish  peer,  suc- 
ceeded governor  Fletcher.  During  the  late  wars,  the  seas 
were  infested  with  English  pirates,  some  of  which  had  sailed 
from  New  York,  and  Fletcher  was  suspected  of  having  coun- 
tenanced them.  Bellamont  was  particularly  instructed  "  to 
put  a  stop  to  the  growth  of  piracy,"  and,  for  this  purpose,  was 
promoted  to  the  command,  not  of  New  York  only,  but  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  and  New  Hampshire.  As  no  appropria- 
tions were  made  by  the  colonial  governments  for  this  purpose, 
a  private  adventure  against  the  pirates  was  agreed  on,  and 
one  William  Kid  was  recommended  to  the  earl  as  a  man  of 
integrity  and  courage,  who  well  knew  the  pirates  and  their 
places  of  rendezvous.  Kid  undertook  the  expedition,  and 
sailed  from  New  York ;  but  he  soon  turned  pirate  himself. 
After  some  time,  he  burnt  his  ship  and  returned  to  the  colo- 
nies. There  is  a  vague  tradition  still  existing,  that  he  brought 
large  quantities  of  money,  which  he  caused  to  be  concealed 
in  the  earth.  He  was  apprehended  at  Boston,  sent  to  Eng- 
land for  his  trial,  and  there  condemned  and  executed. 

The  increase  of  the  number  of  proprietors  in  West  Jersey, 
had  introduced  great  confusion  into  that  province  ;  disputes 


E.    AND    W.    JERSEY    UNITED,    AND    CALLED    NEW    JERSEY. 


107 


constantly  arising,  not  only  among  the  settlers,  but  between 
the  proprietors  themselves ;  so  that  for  three  years  it  might 
be  said  that  West  Jersey  had  no  regular  authority  what- 
ever. On  this  account,  in  1698,  the  proprietors  surrendered 
the  right  of  government  to  the  crown.  Queen  Anne  united 
it  with  the  east  province,  and  New  Jersey,  as  the  whole  was 
now  called,  was  to  be  ruled  jointly  with  New  York  by  a 
royal  governor,  having  a  separate  council  and  assembly  of 
representatives. 

The  Queen  appointed,  as  governor  of  the  two  provinces,  the 
worthless  Lord  Cornbury,  who,  as  well  as  herself,  was  a 
grandchild  of  Lord  Clarendon.  He  rendered  himself  odious 
to  the  people,  squandering,  for  his  own  use,  large  sums  of 
money,  which  had  been  appropriated  for  public  purposes,  and 
left  to  his  disposal  as  governor.  In  1708,  the  assemblies  of 
New  York  and  New  Jersey,  no  longer  willing  to  submit  to 
his  government,  drew  up  a  complaint  against  him,  and  sent 
it  to  the  queen.  She  removed  him, and  appointed  Lord  Love- 
lace in  his  room.  After  a  short  administration,  Lovelace  was 
succeeded  by  Sir  Robert  Hunter,  known  as  the  friend  of  Dean 
Swift,  and  he,  in  1719,  by  Peter  Schuyler,  so  often  mentioned 
as  the  mediator  between  the  whites  and  Indians,  he  being  the 
oldest  member  of  the  council.  Commissioners  were,  at  this 
time,  appointed  to  draw  the  line  of  partition  between  the 
pronnces  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Connecticut. 

In  1720,  Mr.  Burnet  succeeded  Schuyler.  In  order  to  de- 
prive the  French  of  their  supplies  for  the  Indians,  he  instituted 
measures  to  stop  the  trade  between  New  York  and  Canada ; 
and  by  this  means  displeased  the  merchants.  They  being 
thus  prohibited  from  a  direct  traffic  with  Canada,  built  a 
trading  house  at  Oswego,  which,  in  defiance  of  the  protest  of 
the  French,  and  the  displeasure  of  the  Iroquois,  was,  in  1727, 
converted  into  a  fortress.  At  length  Burnet  became  so  un- 
popular with  the  merchants,  that,  though  generally  acceptable 
to  the  people,  he  was  superseded  in  the  government  by  Colonel 
Montgomery. 

On  his  death,  the  command  devolved  on  Rip  Van  Dam,  he 
being  the  oldest  member  of  the  council,  and  an  eminent  mer- 
chant. He  passively  permitted  the  encroachments  of  the 
French,  and  during  his  administration,  they  erected  a  fort  at 
Crown  Point,  which  commanded  Lake  Champlain,  and  which 
was  within  the  acknowledged  limits  of  New  York. 

George  I.  died  in  1727,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
George  II. 


Tht.'  Jerseys 
united  and 

joined  to 
New  York.] 

Lord  Con>- 
bury's  bad 
administra- 
tion. 

Lovelace. 

1710. 

Hunter. 
1Y19. 

Schuyler 


1720. 

Burnet. 


Oswego 

built. 
1722. 
Fortified. 
1727. 


Montgome- 
ry. 

Van  D<^m 


1727. 

George  II 


108 


THE    TERRITORIES    SEPARATED    FROM    PENNSYLVANIA. 


CHAPTER    IV. 


Pennsylvania. — Penn's  second  visit. — Maryland  restored 


PERIOD  II 

CHAP.    IV. 


PART  II.  After  William  Penn's  arrival  in  England,  he  became  one 
of  the  most  influential  persons  in  the  kingdom  ;  for  when  the 
Duke  of  York  was  made  king,  under  the  title  of  James  II.,  he 
manifested  for  him  much  confidence  and  affection.  The  in- 
fluence thus  possessed  at  court  was  never  used  for  selfish 
purposes,  but  mainly  to  obtain  benefits  for  distressed  Quakers, 


1692. 

William 
Penn  de- 
prived, for 
two  years,  of 
the  govern- 
ment of 
Pennsylva- 
nia. 


1699. 

He  visits  it. 

ITOl. 

Grants  new 
privileges. 


1703. 

TheTerrito- 
ries  separate 
from  Penn- 
sylvania. 


Maryland. 
1716. 

Lord  Balti- 
more rein- 
stated. 


and  laws  in  favor  of  general  toleration. 

When  James  became  an  exile  in  France,  Penn  was  sus- 
pected, by  his  successor,  of  holding  with  him  a  treasonable 
correspondence  ;  and  upon  vague  charges  to  this  effect,  he 
was  a  number  of  times  imprisoned.  In  1692,  the  government 
of  Pennsylvania  was  taken  from  him,  and  Fletcher,  governor 
of  New  York,  appointed  by  the  crown  to  rule  his  province. 
After  strict  scrutiny,  the  conduct  of  Penn  was  found  to  be 
irreproachable  ;  and  in  1694,  he  was  restored  to  the  favor  of 
the  king,  and  reinstated  in  his  government ;  but  not  immedi- 
ately returning  to  Pennsylvania,  he  appointed  the  worthy 
Thomas  Lloyd  his  deputy  governor. 

In  1699,  Penn  again  visited  his  colony.  Finding  great 
complaint  and  disaffection  respecting  the  government,  he 
granted,  in  1701,  a  new  and  liberal  charter.  To  the  assem- 
bly it  gave  the  right  of  originating  bills  ;  to  the  governor  the 
right  of  rejecting  laws  passed  by  the  assembly,  of  appoint- 
ing his  own  council,  and  of  exercising  the  whole  executive 
power.  This  charter  was  accepted  by  the -assembly,  although 
it  did  not  satisfy  the  discontents  of  the  people. 

The  Territories  rejected  it  altogether;  and  in  1703,  they 
were  allowed  to  form  a  separate  assembly,  Perm  still  ap- 
pointing the  same  governor  over  both  provinces.  Immediately 
after  this  third  charter  was  granted,  Penn,  having  settled  a 
government  which  has  given  him  the  glory  of  being  one  of  the 
greatest  of  lawgivers,  went  to  England,  no  more  to  visit  his 
beloved  province  ;  and  the  executive  authority  was  adminis- 
tered by  deputy  governors  appointed  by  himself. 

In  the  year  1716,  the  government  of  Maryland,  which, 
since  the  accession  of  William  and  Mary,  had  been  held  by 
the  crown,  was  restored  to  Lord  Baltimore,  the  proprietor. 
It  continued  in  his  hands  and  those  of  his  successors  until 
the  American  Revolution. 


CHARACTER  OF  THE    PERSECUTED   HUGUENOTS.  109 

CHAPTER   V. 

The  Hug  itnots. — War  with  the  Spaniards. — Tuscaroras  and  Yamassees. 

A   DISSENSION  arose  in  Carolina  between  the  proprietary    PART  II. 
governors  and  the  inhabitants,  on  account  of  the  unwillingness   peiuqd  ii 
of  the  English  Episcopalians  to  admit  the  French  Protestants    chap.  v. 
who  had  settled  in  the  colony  to  a  seat  in  the  assembly.    Con- 
sidering he  French  as  their  hereditary  enemies,  and  regard- 
ing their  difference  of  religion  with  all  the  bitterness  of  the 
times,  they  could  not  be  reconciled  to  their  participating  in 
the   rights  of  freemen.     They  afiected  to  consider  them  as 
foreigners,   and  proceeded  to   enforce  the  laws  of  England 
against  theni  as  such.     They  even  declared  that  marriages, 
solemnized  by  French  ministers,  were  void ;  and  that  the 
estates  of  those   thus  married  should  not  descend  to  their  Meekness  of 
children.     The  Huguenots,  countenanced  by  the  proprietary  protesunts. 
governor,  peacefully  submitted  for  a  time  to  the  discourage- 
ments  of  such  a  situation ;   and  remained  in  the  province, 
hoping  for  a  favorable  change. 

The  people,  still  complaining,  John  Archdale,  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors, was  sent,  in  1695,  as  governor  of  North  and  South 
Carolina,  with  full  power  to  redress  grievances.     Having  re- 
stored order,  he  left  the  country  the  next  year,  but  without     1605. 
giving  to  the  French  their  civil  rights.     In  a  short  time,  how-  jalTrestorea 
ever,  their  correct  deportment  overcame  all  prejudices,  and       order. 
they  were  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  citizens  and  freemen. 

About  this  time   a  vessel  from   Madagascar,  touching  at 
Carolina,   the  captain   presented  Governor  Archdale  with  a 
bag  of  seed  rice,  giving  him,  at  the  same  time,  instructions  as    I^ice  mtro 
to  the  manner  of  its  culture.     The  seed  was  divided  among      Africa  "^ 
several  planters.     From  this  accident  arose  the  cultivation  of 
this  staple  commodity  of  Carolina. 

The  proprietary  governor,  invested  with  arbitrary  powers, 
resided  in  the  southern  province,  and  governed  the  northern 
by  his  deputy.     In  that  land  of  rivers  and  vine-clad  forests, 
liberty  roamed  at  large.     The  settlers  had  been  early  visited  George  Fox, 
by  George  Fox,  who  found  them  "a  tender  people"  to  receive  cf  the^sect^ol 
the  doctrines  of  inner  light  and  outward  nonconformity ;  but     Quakers, 
tlie  deputy  governor,  though  his  powers  were  ample,   could     n'^^oUn 
never  execute  them,  quarrel  as  he  might,  beyond  the  limits 
of  the  peoples'  Avill. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  Queen  Anne's  war,  an  attempt  wa^       May, 
immediately  made  by   Governor  Moore,  of  South  Carolina,     1''02. 
against  the  Spanish  province  of  St.  Augustine.     The  expe-  ^°pSn!' 
dition  was  unsuccessful,  and  so  heavy  was  the  expense,  that,    ,' 
to  pay  the  debt  incurred,  the  assembly,  for  the  first  time,  re-  p^l^cirrenc^ 
sorted  to  the  expedient  of  a  paper  currency.  of  S  C. 


no 


DESTRUCTIVE    INDIAN    WARS    IN    CAROLINA. 


PART  II. 


1703. 

Moore  sub- 
dues the  Ap- 
palachian 
Indians. 

1T06. 

Spanish  in- 
vasion re- 
pelled. 


1T07. 

1712. 

War  with 
the  Tuscaro- 


They  are 

pursued  and 

vigorously 

attacked  by 

Barnwell. 


Being  de- 
feated they 
unite  with 
\he  Iroquois. 


1715. 

War  of  the 

Varaassees 

in  S.  C. 


In  1703,  Governor  Moore  proceeded  against  the  Appala- 
chian Indians,  whom  the  Spaniards  had  instigated  to  hostility. 
He  marched  into  the  heart  of  their  settlements,  and  laid  in 
ashes  their  towns  between  the  Ahamaha  and  Savannah, 
Some  of  the  captives  who  were  taken,  the  avaricious  gov- 
ernor employed  in  cultivating  his  own  fields,  while  others  weio 
sold  for  his  personal  emolument. 

The  Spaniards,  aided  by  the  French,  took  their  turn  for 
invasion  ;  and  Charleston  was  justly  alarmed  at  the  approach 
of  five  hostile  ships,  commanded  by  Le  Feboure.  Land 
forces  were  also  on  the  march  from  St.  Augustine.  But  the 
summons  of  the  invaders  to  surrender,  and  their  consequent 
attack,  was  met  by  the  people  with  a  spirit  kindred  to  that 
manifested  by  Charleston  in  the  days  of  the  revohition  ;  and 
Le  Feboure  and  his  party  retired  with  loss. 

In  1707,  another  colony  of  French  Protestants  settled  on  a 
branch  of  the  Neuse  river. 

In  1712,  the  Tuscaroras,  and  other  Indians  of  North  Caro- 
lina, formed,  with  all  the  cruel  subtlety  of  the  savage  charac- 
ter, a  plot  for  exterminating  the  entire  white  population. 
Having  kept  their  design  profoundly  secret  until  the  night 
fixed  for  its  execution,  they  then  entered  the  houses  of  the 
poor  Palatines  of  Germany  who  had  recently  settled  on  the 
Roanoke,  and  murdered  men,  women,  and  children.  A  few 
who  escaped  gave  the  alarm,  and  the  remaining  inhabitantSj 
collecting  into  a  camp,  kept  guard  night  and  day,  until  aid 
could  be  received  from  South  Carolina.  That  colony  sent  to 
their  relief  six  hundred  militia,  and  three  hundred  and  sixty 
Indians,  under  Captain  Barnwell.  Although  a  wilderness  at 
this  time  separated  the  northern  from  the  southern  settle- 
ments, yet  Barnwell  penetrated  it,  boldly  attacked  the  Indians, 
killed  three  hundred,  and  took  one  hundred  prisoners.  Those 
who  survived,  fled  to  the  chief  town  of  the  Tuscaroras,  where 
they  had  erected  a  wooden  breastwork  for  their  security ;  but 
here  Barnwell's  troops  surrounded  them,  and  they  at  last  sued 
for  peace.  The  Tuscaroras  had  lost  one  thousand  men  in  the 
course  of  this  war,  and  they  soon  after  left  their  country  and 
united  with  the  Iroquois,  making  the  sixth  nation  of  that  con- 
federacy. 

In  1715,  the  Yamasees,  who  resided  northeast  of  the  Sa- 
vannah river,  secretly  instigated  a  combination  of  all  the 
Indians  from  Florida  to  Cape  Fear  against  South  Carolina. 
The  Creeks,  Apalachians,  Cherokees,  Catavvbas,  and  Con- 
garees,  engaged  in  the  enterprise, — and  it  was  computed 
that  their  whole  force  exceeded  six  thousand  fighting  men. 
The  southern  tribes  fell  suddenly  on  the  traders  settled  among 
them,  and,  in  a  few  hours,  ninety  persons  were  massacred. 
Some  of  the  inhabitants  fled  precipitately  to  Charleston  and 
gave  the  alarm. 

Formidable  parties  were  also  penetrating  the  northern  fron- 


A    REVOLUTION    IN    THE    GOVERNMENT    OF    CAROLINA.  Ill 

tier,  and  approaching  Charleston.     They  were  repulsed  hy    PART  II. 
the  militia,  but  their  route  was  marked  by  devastation.    Govern-  I'eriod  u. 
or  Craven  adopted  the  most  energetic  and  judicious  measures. 
At  the  head  of  twelve  hundred  men  he  marched  towards  the 
southern  frontier,  and  overtook  the  strongest  body  of  the  enemy 
at  a  place  called  Saltcatchers,  where  an  obstinate  and  bloody 
battle  was  fought.     The  Indians  were  totally  defeated,  and 
the  governor,  pressing  upon  them,  drove  them  from  their  terri-  rpj^^  y 
tory,  and  pursued  tliem  over  the  Savannah  river.     Here  they  sees  settle  iu 
were  hospitably  received  by  the  Spaniards  of  Florida,  and,     Florida, 
hmg  afterwards,  they  made  incursions  into  Carolina.     Nearly 
fcmr  hundred  of  the  Carolinians  were  slain  in  this  war. 

These  events,  in  their  consequences,  had  heightened  the 
dissensions,  already  existing  between  the  people  of  the  pro- 
vince and  the  proprietors.  The  legislature  had  applied  to  the 
company  for  aid  and  protection,  Avhich  was  denied.  For  tem- 
porary relief,  large  emissions  of  paper  money  were  next  re- 
sorted to.     Directions  were  given  by  the  proprietors  to  the  ^^^^^  P[  ^^^ 

,  ,  .*=    .       .    -^  ,     .    ^      ^™-,  ,  ,       proprietary 

governor,  to  reduce  the  quantity  in  circulation.      1  he  assembly  government, 
then,  resolved   to   appropriate   the    lands,    from    which    the 
Indians  had  been  driven ;  but  the  proprietors  refused  to  sanc- 
tion this  necessary  proceeding.     A  memorial  was  presented         . 
against  their  chief  justice,  Trott, and  the  receiver-general,  Rhett,  tempt  of  the 
who,  for  tyrannical  measures,  had  become  extremely  obnox-      peoole. 
ious  to  the  colony  ;  and  a  request  was  made  that  they  might 
be  removed  from  office.     They  Avere,  however,  not  only  re- 
tained, but  thanked  for  their  services. 

A  general  combination  was  now  formed  throughout  the  colo- 
ny, to  subvert  the  proprietary  government ;  and  the  inhabitants 
bound  themselves  to  stand  by  each  other,  in  defense  of  their     ^^^^ 
lives  and  liberties.     This  was  done  with  such  secrecy  and  Carolinians 
despatch,  that,  before  the  governor  was  informed,  almost  every    revolt  and 
inhabitant  of  the  province  was  engaged  in  the  combination,     choose  a 
A  letter  was  despatched  to  Mr.  Johnson,  then  the  governor,     govern 
from  a  committee  of  the  representatives  of  the  people,  inform- 
ing him  that  they  were  to  wait  on  him  for  the   purpose  of 
offering  him  the  government  of  the  province,  under  the  king  ; 
as  they  were  resolved  no  longer  to  submit  to  that  of  the  pro- 
prietors.    Johnson  refused,  and  endeavored  to  suppress  the 
spirit  of  revolt ;  but  it  had  diffused  itself  beyond  his   con- 
trol :  and,  at  last,  the  people  elected  Moore  governor  of  the 
province. 

The  colonists  stated  their  situation  to  the   crown,  when  it 
was  decided  that  the  proprietors  had  forfeited  their  charter ;  JJlfj^e^^e 
and  that  both  the  Carolinas  should  be  taken  under  the  royal  government, 
protection.     Nicholson,  known  in  the  history  of  the  northern  and  appoints 

•  •     T-v^^  ■        1  "    J  1     ^-u     r  1     Nicholson. 

provinces,  was,  m  1720,  appointed  governor,  and,  early  the  iol-     jiyg^ 

lowing  year,  he  arrived  at  Charleston,  where  he  was  received 
with  every  demonstration  of  joy.  Peace  having  been  made 
between  Great  Britain  and  Spain,  he  had  been  instructed  to 


112 


EARLIEST    SETTLEMENTS  tON    THE    MISSISSIPPI. 


PART  II. 


1729. 

North  and 
South  Caro- 
ina  sepa- 
rated. 


cultivate  the  friendship  of  the  Indians,  and  also  of  the  Spaniards 
of  Florida.  He  accordingly  held  treaties  with  the  Cherokees 
and  Creeks,  in  which  boundaries  were  settled  and  other  ne- 
cessary regulations  made.  Having  thus  secured  the  province 
from  assaults  without,  Governor  Nicholson,  by  the  encourage- 
ment and  support  which  he  gave  to  literary  and  religious 
institutions,  soon  caused  its  internal  affairs  to  assume  a  new 
aspect. 

The  revolution  was  completed  in  1729,  by  an  agTeement 
between  the  crown  and  seven  of  the  proprietors,  whereby,  for 
a  valuable  consideration,  they  surrendered  their  right  and 
interest,  not  only  in  the  government  of  these  provinces,  but 
also  in  the  soil.  North  and  South  Carolina  were  at  the  same 
time  erected  into  separate  governments. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


1699. 

Pensacola 
settled. 


b ebruary  3. 
d'Ibberville 
enters  the 
Mississippi. 


1702. 

Mobile 
founded 


1716. 

Natchez 
founded. 

171§. 

New  Or- 
leans found- 


Extension  of  the  French  Empire. — New  France. 

In  1699,  Pensacola  was  settled  by  three  hundred  Spaniards* 
from  Vera  Cruz.  Scarcely  were  they  established  when  a 
fleet  under  Le  Moine  d'lberville,  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  who 
had  been  distinguished  as  a  discoverer  and  a  warrior,  ap- 
peared along  their  coast,  carrying  several  hundred  persons 
mostly  from  Canada. 

The  company  at  first  erected  their  huts  on  Ship  Island, 
near  the  entrance  of  Lake  Borgne.  After  three  weeks, 
d'Ibberville  proceeded  Avith  forty  men,  and  stemming  the  tur- 
bid current,  he  entered  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
sailed  up  the  stream,  probably  to  Red  River.  Then,  on  his 
return,  he  passed  through  the  bay  which  bears  his  name,  and 
the  lakes  which  he  called  Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain,  to  the 
bay  of  St.  Louis.  On  the  small  bay  of  Biloxi  he  erected  a 
fort,  and  around  it  his  few  emigrants  were  planted. 

Leaving  them  under  the  command  of  his  brother,  Bienville, 
he  went  to  France.  The  climate  proved  fatal  to  numbers,  and 
in  1702,  the  chief  fortress  was  transferred  to  the  western  bank 
of  the  Mobile,  where  was  made  the  first  European  settle- 
ment in  Alabama. 

In  1716,  Bienville  went  up  the  Mississippi  and  built  fort 
Rosalie,  on  the  site  of  Natchez,  the  oldest  European  settle- 
ment of  the  grand  valley  south  of  the  Illinois. 

False  ideas  of  the  wealth  of  Louisiana  had  been  spread  in 
France  for  purposes  of  land  speculation:  and  in  1718,  three 
ships  came  over,  bearing  eight  hundred  emigrants,  who 
founded  a  city,  and  in  honor  of  the  regent  of  France,  named 
it  New  Orleans.     By  this  occupancy,  as  well    as    by   her 


OPERATION  OF  THE  NEW  CHARTER  IN  MASS.  113 

discoveries,  France  laid  claims  to  the  extensive  territory  of    PART  II. 
Louisiana.  period  ii 

The  French  claimed  also,   in  virtue  of  the  discovery  of   chap.  vn. 
Champlain,  the  basin  of  the  lake  which  bears  his  name,  and  ^— ^"v^^^ 
in  1713,  they  erected  on  its  banks  the  fort  at  Crown   Point.     1713. 
Soon  after  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  they  reared  the  fortress  of  <^rown  Poini 
Niagara.     A  colony  of  one  hundred  was  led  to  Detroit  as     ^^^3,3^0. 
early  as  1707,  by  De  La  Motte  Cadillac,  and  another  in  1712,     Detroit 
by   Anthony  Crozat,  who   had  obtained  from  Louis  XIV.  a     170T. 
patent  for  the  exclusive  trade  of  Louisiana.     A  few  years  after,         to 
a  French  interpreter,  having  obtained  leave  of  the  Iroquois  to     1712, 
build  his  dwelling  among  them,  made  a  small  settlement  at  ^^2^^^^^ 
Lewistown.  m.7^1 

Since  the  discoveries  of  the  Jesuits,  the  French  had  been 
in  possession  of  the  various  western  routes  from  the  St.  Law- 
rence to  the  Mississippi;  and  Chicago,  Vincennes,  and  Kas- 
kaskia  were,  at  the  close  of  this  period,  growing  settlements. 
De  Lisle,  the  royal  geographer  of  France,  represented  New    c^  ^    t  1 
France   as  extending  to  the  remotest  waters,  which  flowed  New  Franc* 
west  to  the  Mississippi,  south  to  the  IMobile,  and  north  to  the  as  represent 
St.  Lawrence  ;  and  it  was  the  aim  of  the  government  to  con-     French.* 
nect  this  vast  territory  by  a  line  of  military  posts.     The  Eng- 
lish in  America  had  viewed  their  claims  and  their  operations 
with  alarm,  but  had  been  tardy  in  counter-movements.     Large 
tracts,  inhabited  by  savage  nations,  yet  intervened  between 
the  fortresses  of  the  two  nations ;  but  the  period  drew  nigh 
when  their  conflicting  claims  were  to  be  decided  by  an  appeal 
to  arms. 


1701. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

New  England. — Controversy  in  Massachusetts  respecting  a  fixed  salary  for  the 
royal  governor. 

The  fears  of  England  that  her  American  colonies  would 
finally  throw  ofl^  her  yoke,  and  erect  an  independent  govern-  Attempt  to 
ment,  increased  with  their  growing  strength.    A  bill  had  been    unite  the 
brought  into  the  house  of  commons  to  unite  all  the  charter  charter gov- 
governments  to  the  crown,  but  it  was  defeated  ;  agents  of  the   jj^g  crown, 
colonies  being  present  in  the  house  of  lords  to  defend  their 
rights. 

The  governors  appointed  by  the  crown  had  hitherto  been  1702. 
supported  by  the  voluntary  appropriations  of  the  colonial  as-  Royal  gover 
semblies.  The  government  of  England  perceived,  that,  by  j^  Massa- 
leaving  them  dependent  for  their  salaries  on  the  pleasure  of  chusetts  a 
those  they  governed,  they  would  be  likely  to  subserve  their  ^^^^  ^^^^ 
interest  rather  than  that  of  the  crown :  and  in  1702,  the  gov- 


114 


EMBARRASSMENTS    IN    MASSACHUSETTS. 


Embarrass- 
ments in  the 
currency. 


A  bank. 


1706. 

Shute  suc- 
ceeds Dad- 
ley. 


The  "patriot 
Cooke" 


Assembly 
dissolved. 


ITOy. 

The  same 
members 
rechosen. 


ernor  of  Massachusetts,  then  Sir  Joseph  Dudley,  a  native  ot 
the  colony,  but  a  tool  of  royalty,  laid  before  the  assembly  hi& 
instructions  from  the  queen,  to  demand  for  himself,  and  the 
other  officers  of  the  crown,  a  settled  and  permanent  salary 
The  assembly  declined  complying  with  this  request.  In  the 
other  coloni.es,  the  same  attempt  was  made  by  the  royal  gov- 
ernors, but  notwithstanding  their  demands  met  with  opposition, 
they  were  finally  successful.  In  Massachusetts  this  was  but 
the  commencement  of  a  series  of  controversies  between  the 
representatives  of  the  crown  and  those  of  the  people,  which 
were  continued  through  many  succeeding  years. 

Massachusetts,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  late  war,  had 
made  such  large  emissions  of  paper  money,  that  gold  and  sil- 
ver were  banished  from  the  province.  The  paper  depreciated, 
and  the  usual  commercial  evils  ensued.  The  attention  of  tho 
colony  was  directed  to  remedy  these,  and  three  parties  were 
formed — "  the  first,"  says  Marshall,  "  a  very  small  one,  actu- 
ated by  the  principle  which  ought  always  to  govern — that  hon- 
esty is  the  best  policy,  were  in  favor  of  calling  in  the  paper 
money,  and  relying  on  the  industry  of  the  people  to  replace  it 
with  a  circulating  medium  of  greater  stability."  The  second, 
which  was  numerous,  were  in  favor  of  a  private  bank,  the  bills 
not  redeemable  in  specie,  but  landed  security  to  be  given.  The 
third  party  were  for  a  public  bank,  the  faith  of  the  government 
to  be  pledged  for  the  value  of  the  notes,  and  the  profits  accru- 
ing from  the  bank  to  be  applied  for  its  support.  This  party 
prevailed,  and  fifty  thousand  pounds,  in  bills  of  credit,  were 
issued.  The  bank,  however,  failed  of  its  desired  effect. 
Governor  Shute  succeeded  Dudley,  and,  by  his  recommenda- 
tion, another  emission  of  bills  of  credit  was  made  to  the 
amount  of  one  hundred  thousand  pounds.  The  consequence 
of  this  was,  rather  to  heighten  than  allay  the  existing  difficul- 
ties ;  as  it  was  found,  that  the  gi'eater  the  quantity  of  this  fac 
titious  substitute  for  money,  the  less  was  its  value. 

The  commercial  evils  of  the  times,  being,  by  the  people, 
ascribed  to  the  operation  of  the  public  bank,  its  friends,  among 
whom  was  the  governor,  were  unpopular  ;  and  those  who  had 
favored  a  private  bank,  at  the  head  of  v/hom  was  a  Mr.  Cooke, 
became  the  dominant  party.  A  majority  of  the  general  court 
were  also  of  this  party ;  and  they  refused  to  raise  the  salary 
of  the  governor,  notwithstanding  the  depreciation  of  the  cur- 
rency. They  also  elected  Mr.  Cooke  their  speaker ;  the 
governor  objected,  alleging  that  he  had  a  right  to  negative 
their  choice.  The  house  denied  this  right,  persisted  in  their 
choice,  and  were,  by  the  governor,  dissolved. 

The  irritated  people,  in  almost  every  instance,  chose  the 
same  representatives,  and  when  the  next  session  commenced, 
much  ill-temper  was  shown  on  their  part.  Among  other  pro- 
ceedings, justly  displeasing  to  the  governor,  was  the  omission 
of  the  customary  vote,  at  the  commencement  of  the  session, 


VEXATIONS  OF  THE  EOYAL  GOVERNORS. 


115 


for  the  payment  of  half  his  yearly  salary  ;  and  when  the  tardy 
appropriation  was  made,  it  was  reduced  from  six  to  five  hun- 
dred pounds. 

At  the  next  meeting,  the  governor,  in  the  name  of  the 
crown,  again  demanded  a  fixed  and  adequate  salary.  This 
subject  was  insisted  on,  and  caused  more  violent  disputes  than 
any  which  had  yet  occurred.  In  the  course  of  the  contest, 
the  people  repeatedly  asserted  the  principle,  to  maintain 
which,  they  eventually  took  up  arms,  that  none  but  them- 
selves or  their  representatives  had  a  right  to  control  their 
property. 

Governor  Shute,  wearied  with  contention,  left  the  province 
in  1722,  went  privately  to  England,  and  preferred  complaints 
against  Massachusetts,  in  consequence  of  which,  two  clauses, 
additional  to  her  charter,  were  sent  out,  and,  at  length,  re- 
luctantly submitted  to,  from  the  fear  of  something  worse  ;  the 
one  affirming  the  right  of  the  governor  to  negative  the  choice 
of  speaker ;  and  the  other,  denying  to  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives the  right  of  adjourning  itself  for  any  period  longer 
than  two  days. 

In  1728,  Mr.  Burnet,  who  had  been  removed  from  the 
magistracy  of  New  York,  was  appointed  to  that  of  Massachu- 
setts and  New  Hampshire.  He  was  instructed  by  his  sove- 
reign to  insist  on  a  fixed  salary.  The  general  court  were  no 
longer  as  in  the  administration  of  Shute,  violent  and  provoking 
in  their  measures,  but  resisted  with  calmness  and  caution, 
endeavoring  to  evade  and  postpone  a  decisive  answer.  They 
voted  Governor  Burnet  the  unusual  sum  of  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  pounds  ;  three  hundred  for  his  travelling  expenses, 
and  fourteen  hundred  for  his  salary.  He  accepted  the  ap- 
propriation for  his  expenses,  but  rejected  that  for  his  salary. 
The  people  of  Boston  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  dispute,  and 
the  governor,  believing  that  the  general  court  were  thus  unduly 
influenced,  removed  them  to  Salem.  Continuing  firm  to  their 
purpose,  he  kept  the  court  in  session  several  months  beyond 
the  usual  time,  and  refused  to  sign  a  warrant  on  the  treasurer 
for  the  payment  of  the  members. 

In  April,  1729,  after  a  recess  of  about  three  months,  the 
general  court  again  convened  at  Salem,  but  proving  refractory 
on  the  subject  of  the  salary,  the  governor  adjourned  them,  and 
tliey  met  at  Cambridge  in  August.  Unable  to  make  any  im- 
pression, Burnet  felt  so  severely  the  difliculties  of  his  po- 
sition, that  he  sickened  with  a  fever,  and  died  on  the  17th  of 
September. 

His  successor,  Mr.  Belcher,  who  arrived  at  Boston  in  Au- 
gust, 1730,  renewed  the  controversy  ;  but  the  court,  after  two 
or  three  sessions,  succeeded  with  him,  (and  by  consent  of  the 
crown,)  in  a  policy  which  they  had  vainly  attempted  with 
Burnet,  that  of  paying  him  a  liberal  sum  for  present  use  with- 
out binding  themselves  for  the  future 


PART  II. 


Governor 
Shute  con- 
tends in  vain 

for  a  fixed 
salary. 


1722. 

Charter 

liberties  still 

further 

abridged. 


1728. 

Burnet  tov- 

ernorofMa* 

sachusetts 

and  New 
Hampshire 


Burnet  re- 
moves the 
court  from 
Boston  to 
Salem. 


1729. 

Burnet  die*. 


1730. 

Belcher  sue 

ceeds:  Ma* 

sachusetts 

carries  fier 

point 


116  FIRST    AURORA    BOREALIS. 

PART  II.  jji  I7i9j  more  than  one  hundred  families  emigrated  from 

PERIOD  II.  iiiQ  north  of  Ireland,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Londonderry, 

CHAP.  VII.  jj^  New  Hampshire.    They  introduced  the  foot  spinning-wheel, 

'^-^'^^^^^^  the  manufacture  of  linen,  and  the  culture  of  potatoes. 

ITlf).  A  phenomenon,  singular  at  the  time,  and  not  yet  satisfactorily 

^y^'si^ultd?  explained,  alarmed  the  people  of  New  England  in  17]  Q     This 

o  was  the  Aurora  Bnrealis,  first  noticed  in  the  country  on  the 

Aurora  Bo-       .,         n  t       ■,  r^  i       n    r^  ,  t  -,- 

realis.  night  01  the  1/th  ot  December,  its  appearance,  according  to 
the  writers  of  the  day,  was  more  calculated  to  excite  terror 
than  later  appearances  of  the  same  kind. 

In  1723,  a  fort  was  built  on  Connecticut  river,  in  the  pre- 

1723.     sent  town  of  Brattleborough,  under  the  direction  of  lieutenant 

First  settle-  governor  Dummer,  of  Massachusetts,  and  hence  it  was  called 

mont.    ^'  ^^^^  Dummer.     Around  this  fort  was  commenced  the  first 

settlement  in  Vermont. 

About  this  period,  a  new  colony  was  projected  in  England. 
The  country,  between  the  Savannah  and  Altamaha  rivers,  al- 
though within  the  limits  of  the  Carolina  grant,  was  still  un- 
occupied by  European  settlers.  The  patriotic  deemed  it 
important  that  this  region  should  be  planted  by  a  British  colo- 
ny, otherwise,  it  was  feared,  it  would  be  seized  by  the  Span- 
iards from  Florida,  or  the  French  from  the  Mississippi.  At 
the  same  time,  a  spirit  of  philanthropy  was  abroad  in  England, 
to  ncJtice  the  distresses,  of  the  poor, especially  those  shut  up 
in  prisons,  and  to  provide  for  their  relief. 

Actuated  by  these  generous  considerations,   a  number  of 

Oglethorpe   gentlemen  in  England,  of  whom  James  Oglethorpe  was  the 

pSna^seule-  ^^^^  zealous,  formed  a  project  to  settle  this  tract  by  such  of 

ment.       the  suffering  poor  as  might  be   willing  to  seek,  in  the  new 

world,  the  means  of  subsistence. 

To  this  company,  the  territory  between  the  Savannah  and 
Altamaha,  now,  in  honor  of  the  kino^   denominated  Georgia, 
Q    \^'     was   granted;  and  with  its  settlement  was  completed  that  of 
grantecf  to  a  the  thirteen  veteran  colonies,  which  fought  the  war  of  the  re- 
company  in  volution,  and  whose  emblematic  stars  and  stripes  still  decorate 
^  ^  •    the  banner  of  American  Independence. 


19 


PERIOD    III 


FROM 

tun     FIRST     SETTLEMENT  |    17^13    |  OF  GEORGIA  BY  OGLETIIORP*. 
TO 


S     THB 
AR 


}  -m^^n     5  WHICH     CLOSE 
THE    PEACE   OF    PARIS,  ^  1763.  \  ^^^^^,^    „. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Oecrgia  and  Carolina  engaged  in  war  with  the  Spaniards  o(  Florida. — The 
Slave  Trade. — War  of  the  Frencli  with  the  Chickasaws. 

Oglethorpe  having  prepared  for  the  settlement  of  Georgia,    PART  U 
by  the  assistance  of  a  corporation    consisting  of  twenty-one  period  in. 
persons,  who  were  called  "  Trustees  for  settling  and  estab-     chap.  i. 
lishingthe  colony  of  Georgia,"  embarked  in  November,  1732, 
with  one  hundred  and  sixteen  emigrants  for  iViricrica. 

Large  sums  of  money  had  been  subscribed,  which  were 
applied  to  the  purchase  of  clothing,  food,  arms,  agricultural 
utensils  and  transportation,  for  such  indigent  persons  as  nished'^for 
should  be  willing  to  cross  the  Atlantic  and  begin  a  new  the  colony 
settlement.  ""  ^y/-he  be- 

They  arrived  at  Charleston,  January  15th,  1733.     Governor     En'-land. 
Johnson,  sensible  of  the  importance  of  having  a  barrier  be- 
tween his  people  and  the  southern  Indians,  gave  them  all  the  First  settle- 
aid   in  his   power,   and   accompanied  them  to  the  place  of   mentmade 
their  destination.     This  was  Yamacraw  Bluff,  since   called  *^t  Savannah. 
Savannah,  which  they  r^^.ached  on  the  first  of  February,  and 
Oglethorpe  immediately  commenced  a  fort. 

His   next  care  was  to  propitiate  the  Indians.     The  tribe 
settled  at  Yamacraw  was  considerable.     The  Creeks,  at  this 
period,  could  muster  2,500  warriors  ;  the  Cherokees,  G,000  ;      tribes.^ 
the  Choctaws,  5,000  ;  and  the  Chickasaws,  700  ;  amounting  in 
the  whole  to  14,200.     Aware,  that  without  the  friendship  of 
these  nations,  his  colony  could  not  even  exist,  much  less  pros- 
per, Oglethorpe  summoned  a  general  meeting  of  the  chiefs, 
fifty  of  whom  met  him  in  council  at  Savannah.     By  means  of  Enters  into 
an  interpreter,   he  made  them  the  most  friendly  professions,  ^^ij^ndly  re 
which  they  reciprocated  ;    and  these   amicable  dispositions 
passed  into  a  solemn  treaty. 

Soon  after  these  occurrences,  Georgia  was  increased  by  five 
or  six  hundred  emigrants  ;  but  most  of  them  were  idle,  and 
many  of  them  vicious.     In  order  to  procure  a  more  efficient 
population,  eleven  townships  of  20,000  acres  each,  were  laid  Fifty  acres 
out  on  the  Savannah,  Altamaha,  and  Santee  rivers,  and  divided  ^^^^^^^^ 
uito  lots  of  fifty  acres  each;  cne  of  which  was  to  be  given  to      settler 
10 


116  INVASION    OF    FLORIDA. 

PART  II.  every  actual  settler.  This  arrangement  proved  so  attractive*, 
that  a  large  number  of  emigrants  soon  arrived.  Highlanders 
from  Scotland  built  the  town  of  Inverness,  afterwards  Darien, 
on  the  Altamaha ;  and  Germans,  a  town  which  they  called 
Ebenezer,  on  the  Savannah. 

The  charter  granted  to  the  trustees  of  Georgia,   vested  in 

them  powers  of  legislation  for  twenty-one  years,  and  th'^^v  now 

proceeded  to  establish  regulations  for  the  government  of  the 

/em-  province,  in  which  the  interests  of  humanity  w^ere  regarded 

more  than  those  of  trade. 

1736.         I"^  1736,  Oglethorpe  erected  three  forts,  one  on  the  Savaii- 

Oglethorpe   nah,  at  Augusta ;  another  called  Frederica,  in  the  vicinity  of 

forts^on'^'ter-  ^^®  Scotch  settlement,  on  the  island  of  St.  Simons  ;  and  a 

ritory  claim-  third,    named   Fort  William,   on    Cumberland    island.     The 

ed  by  the    Spaniards  remonstrated,  and  insisted  on  the  evacuation  of  the 

pamarcs.   ^,^^^^1^.^  ^^  ^^^  ^g  ^^iq  thirty-third  degree  of  north  latitude. 

Oglethorpe  about  this  time  returned  to  England.     That  na- 

mander-in^'  ^^^^  being  determined  to  maintain  their  claim  to  the  disputed 

chief  in      territory,    appointed   him   commander-in-chief  of  the  British 

*^^°''v^'^'^  forces  in  Carolina  and  Georgia,  and  sent  him  back  with  a 

^   ■     regiment  of  six  hundred  men.     On  his  arrival  in  America,  he 

established  his  head-quarters  at  Frederica. 

1T38.  About  this  time,  a  number  of  slaves  near  Charleston,  influ- 

Insurrection  enced  by  the  Spaniards,  rose  in  a  body,  armed  themselves  by 

Stono,  near  forcing   open  a  magazine   at  Stono,   and  thence  proceeding 


Charleston,  south  twelve  milcs,  they  killed  all  the  whites  they  met,  and 

S.C.  caused  -^  -  _  .7  ' 

by  the  Span- 


S.  C.  caused  compelled  the  negroes  to  join  them.     At  length,  becoming 


lams. 


intoxicated,  they  were  attacked  and  overcome  by  the  men  of  a 

worshipping  assembly,  who,  according  to  law,  went  armed. 

Most  of  them  were  put  to  death. 

^17^^^^'       England  had  now  declared  war  against  Spain ;  Oglethorpe 

Oglethorpe    invaded   Florida,   and   invested    Diego,    a   small    fort,   about 

ilivades      twenty-five  miles  from  St.  Augustine.     After  a  feeble  resist- 

^Ma'^^'      ^i^<^®5  ^^  capitulated,  and  he  returned.     A  short  time  after,  he 

lT4b.     blockaded   St.  Augustine   with  2,000  men.     But  this   expe- 

His  attempt  dition  proved  unsuccessful,  and  produced  the  unfortunate  re- 

unsucce.ss-    g^lts  of  an  increase  of  the  public  debt,  and  a  temporary  di* 

tsters  ensue,  trust  between  the  people  and  their  general. 

The   same   year,  Charleston    in  South  Carolina,   was  de- 
Char.estcn    stroyed  by  fire.     To  relieve  the  sufferers,  the  British  parlia- 
Uiz-^ed.      ^^^^^  generously  voted  jC20,000. 

f'la  "^^  May,  1742,  a  fleet  was  sent  from  Havanna,  from  which. 

jjjj^g  '  late  in  June,  debarked  a  Spanish  anny  at  St.  Simons.  Ogle- 
Georgia  in-  thorpe,  with  his  wonted  energy,  had  collected  trooDS  and 
faded  by  the  posted  himself  at  Frederica.     He  wa?  not  in  sufhcient  force 

bpaniards.     ^         ,  ,       .  ,  i  •  i  ^  .      i    i 

Bravery  of   Openly  to  attack  the  enemy,  but  was  himself  attacked  by  a 

the  Scotch    party  of  Spaniards.     His  troops,  particular! v  the  Highlanders 

^Tintash ''^*  ^^^^^  Captain  M'c  Intosh,  fought  bravely, — repulsed,  and  slew 

two  hundred  of  the  enemy  at  "  the  Bloody  Marsh." 

Oglethorpe,  on  being  informed  of  a  division  in  thi  ir  carup 


iard«i 


THE    SLAVE    SHIP.  119 

next  determined  on  a  surprise,  and  marched  his  army,  during    PART  11. 
the  night,  within  two  miles  of  their  entrenchments,  when  a  period  ni. 
French  sohlier  of  his  party  discharged  his  musket  and  ran     chap.  i. 
into  their  lines.     Discovery  defeated  every  hope  of  success,   v^— ^v^^w 
and    Oglethorpe   returned  to  his   camp.      He   then   adroitly  Oglethorpe 
planned  to  make  the  Spaniards  believe  that  the  deserter  was  sSrp^me^^and 
a  spy,  and  was  giving  them  information  to  mislead  them.     He        fails, 
wrote  him  a  letter,  urging  him  to  give  the  Spaniards  such  an 
account  of  the  situation  of  his  army  as  should  induce  them  to    Makes  ad- 
attack  him,  or  would,  at  anv  rate,  serve  to  detain  them  in  their    X^"J*ge  oi 

'  .,1  •  1-11  1       1        1  1    his  discom- 

own  camp,  until  the  succours  which  he  expected  should  fiture  to  pun- 
arrive.  This  letter,  as  Oglethope  had  contrived,  fell  into  the  '^h  a  desert- 
hands  of  the  Spaniards  ;  who,  having  loaded  the  deserter  with  the  country 
irons,  were  deliberating  upon  its  contents,  when  they  per-  of  the  Span- 
ceived  ofTthe  coast  some  ships  of  war,  which  South  Carolina 
had  sent  to  Oglethorpe  without  his  knowledge.  Panic-struck, 
the  Spaniards  embarked,  and  left  the  coast  in  such  haste  that 
their  artillery,  provisions,  and  military  stores,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Georgians. 

Georgia,  in  its  early  settlement,  was  distinguished  by  the 
peculiar  humanity  in  which  it  was  founded.     The  chivalric 
Oglethorpe  "  sought  not  himself,  but    others  ;"   and  for  ten 
years  he  gave  his  disinterested  services,  without  claiming  so   Oglethorpe 
much  as  a  cottage  or  a  farm.     Though  a  brave  warrior,  com-  ^^  fo^com- 
passion  was  the  leading  trait  of  his  mind.     Hence  the  im-    passionate 
prisoned  debtors  of  England,  the  unfortunate  adherents  of  the     k.indness. 
Scottish  Stewarts,  and  those  holy  persecuted  men,  the  mis- 
sionary Moravians  of  Germany,  each  found  in  him  a  father. 
His  mercy  was  also  extended  to  the  African  ;  and  he  would 
not,  at  first,  allow  a  slave  in  his  colony. 

But  at  that  day,  the  nations  of  Europe,  especially  England,    Computed 
were  permitting  their  ships  to  go  to  Africa,  and  there,  for  a  that  England 
trifle,  they  purchased  of  victors,  their  captives — of  parents,     Africa"™ 
their  children — and  of  slave-breeders,  their  young  negroes :     number 
and  where  their  shipmasters  could  not  buy,  they  could  steal.  ^'^^^^  \°  ^^^' 

1         JL  r  ■  ^1  11       ,  1    •        1  •!•    1         1  earned  away 

As  the  Atrican  youth  walk  abroad  in  the  twilight,  they  are   by  all  other 
seized,  and   hurried  to   the   slave-ship.     It  is  crowded,  and     nations. 
they  are  manacled.     Water  and  food  fail  ;  disease  agonizes 
their  frames.     They  shriek, — they  seek  to  burst  their  chains,     the^sfave- 
that  they  may  plunge  into  the  deep.     But  youth  and  life  are        ship. 
strong  within  them,  and  perhaps  they  survive — to  be  carried 
to  different  marts — sold  like  cattle — and  bought  to  labor  be- 
neath burning  suns,  till  they  die  I 

Such  is  the  history  of  annual  tens  of  thousands  which  were, 
at  that  period,  carried  wherever  the  slave-dealer  could  find,  or    Nine  mill 
make  a  market.     Before  the  American  Revolution,  nme/;2j7Z?on5'  ^^.^^^  Africa 


Authority 


had  thus  been  taken  from  Africa.     Some  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands were  brought  to   this  country.     But  when  they  were   Abbe  Ray 
once  bought  by  the  Anglo-American  colonists,  their  condition,  ^^j  Jy  J^°* 
in  far  the  crreater  proportion  of  cases,  became  better  than  it    Bancisft 


120  LOUISIANA  REVERTS  TO  FRANCE. 

PART  II.    xvas  elsewhere  ;  incomparably  better  than  it  had  been  in  their 
PERIOD  III.  own  country,  where  scarce  a  gleam  of  moral  light  illumined 

CHAP.  I.     the  darkn*^ss  of  their  minds. 

v-rf'-v-^-^       The  refusal  of  Oglethorpe  to  allow  the  Georgians  to  pos- 

Slivos  at     sess   slaves,   when  the   adjoining  colonies   carried  on    their 

'tJ^J-^to   pl3.ntatioiis  by  their  labor,  was  greatly  injurious  to  its  pecu- 

(^,«.fgia.     niary  prosperity  ;  and  at  length,  even  the  pious  Moravians,  a 

party  of  whom  were,  for  a  time,  in  Georgia,  agreed,  that  if 

The  ^^[■^^i-  their  salvation  was  regarded,  it  was,  under  the  circumstances, 

field' and  the  proper  to  own  and  employ  them.     This  opinion  at  length  pre- 

two  West-    vailed,  it  being  also  justified  by  the  ardent  and  eloquent  Whit- 

G^i%ia      fi^ltl,  who,  with  the  two  Wesleys,  the  three  founders  of  the 

1734      sect    of    Methodists,    sympathized    with    Oglethorpe    in   his 

to  benevolence  ;  and  each  spent  some  time  in  America,  assisting 

1740.     hijxi  in  his  enterprise.     Whitfield  founded,  near  Savannah,  a 

house  for  orphans. 
1752.  In  1752,  the  trustees,  wearied  with  a  troublesome  and  profit- 

Georgia  a    iggg  charge,  resigned  their  office,  and  Georgia  became  a  royal 

royal   pro-  o    '  b  '  o  J 

vince.       province. 

April.  Louisiana,  after  having  been  for  fourteen  years  under  a  com- 

1732.      pany  of  avaricious  speculators  formed  at  Paris,  reverted  to  the 

Louisiana.    French  crown  ;  and  Bienville  was  appointed  governor.     The 

governor.     Chickasaws  were  the  dread  of  the  Louisianians      They  had 

1735.  incited  the  Natchez  to  commit  cruel  murders  upon  the  whites, 
The  Chicka-  which  had  ended  in  the  entire  destruction  of  that  peculiai 
*i^ French?  nation  ;  the  Great  Sun  himself,  with  four  hundred  of  his  sub- 
jects, having  been  sold  into  slavery.     The  Chickasaws  occu- 

TheNatchez  pjgj  ^  large  and  beautiful  tract,  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
on  the  head  of  the  Tombecbee.  This  they  would  not  allow 
the  French  to  occupy,  but  maintained  their  own  indepen- 
dence. Between  the  two  rivals,  they  favored  the  English 
rather  than  the  French. 

1736.  It  was  concerted,  in  France,  that  a  force,  under  Bienville, 
The  French  g^ould  ascend  the  Tombecbee  to  meet  an  army  collected  from 

with  the     ^^  region  of  the  Illinois,  under  the  young  and  valorous  d'Ar- 

Chickasaws.  taguette.     At  the  time  appointed,  the  ardent  young  warrior, 

with  his  small  army,  was  in  the  country  of  the  hostile  savages; 

but  the  laggards  from  the  south  had  not  seasonably  arrived. 

After  a  brave  efTort  to  subdue  the  Chickasaws,  he  was  over- 

(TArta-      come.     Bienville  at  length  arrived,  but  the  Indians,  aAvare  of 

bf"*a^t^d^    his  approach,  and  aided  by  English  traders,  received   their 

stroyed  by    army  in  such  a  manner  that  they  threw  their  artillery  into  the 

the  dilatory  Tombecbee,  and,  crest-fallen,  returned  down  its  stream.    The 

^m^emille.  Chickasaws  compelled  the  brave  d'Artaguette  to  witness  the 

torture  and  death  of  his  companions,  one  of  whom  was  the 

same  Yincennes  who  had  given  his  name  to  the  capital  of 

Illinois.     The  young  warrior  was  then  dismissed  to  go  and 

relate  to  the  whites  the  deeds  of  the  Chickasaws. 

Four  years  afterwards,  a  larger  French  and  Indian  force, 
aided  by  troops  from  Canada,  invaded  the  country  of  the  Chick 


WAR    WITH    FRANCE.  121 

asaws  ;  but  sickness  wasted  them,  and  at  length  Bienville,  who 

led  them,  was  s^Iad  to  treat  with  the  Indians  on  their  own  terms. 

On  his  return  he  talked  largely  of  having  subdued  them  ;  but 

he  left  the  country  in  their  possession.     They  guarded  it  from 

the  occupancy  of  the  French;  and  as  the  event  proved,  kept     17<10. 

it  for  the  En  dish. 


CHAPTER    II 


174t. 


Old  French  War. — Capture  of  Louislmrg. — French  and  English  claims  to  the 
Basin  ot  the  Mississippi. 

As  France  and  Spain  were  at  this  time  governed  by  differ- 
ent branches    of  the    house  of  Bourbon,   it  was  not   to  be     War  Le* 
expected  that  the  former  nation  would  long  continue  at  peace,  tween  Eng- 
whilf  the  latter  was  at  war  with  Great  Britain.     Accordingly      p"^'  ^^^ 
in  1744,  war  was  proclaimed  between  England  and  France. 

Louisburg,  the  capital  of  the  island  of  Cape  Breton,  had 
been  fortified  with  great  care  and  expense,  and  was  now  called, 
from  its  strength,  the  Dunkirk  of  America  ;  while,  from  its 
position,  it  commanded  the  navigation  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  the  fisheries  of  the  adjoining  seas. 

On  this  fortress.  Governor  Shirley  of  Massachusetts,  now     Shirley 

meditated  an  attack.     He  first  applied  to  the  British  ministry  P'"^"]^  ^^i-^ 
r  ,  .  ,  .  ,      ^  ^        .  .        ^  11-1    ^3ck.,  which 

for  naval  assistance  ;  but,  without  waiting  for  returns,  he  laid   is  opposed. 

open  his  designs  to  the  general  court  of  the  colony,  having   then  sanc- 
previously  required  of  the  members  an  oath  of  secrecy.     The  ^°cmir»  ^f  * 
plan  being  thought  too  great,  too  hazardous,  and  too  expensive,       Mass. 
it  was  apparently   abandoned  ;  but  an  honest  member,  who 
performed  the  family  devotions  at  his  lodgings,  inadvertently 
discovered  the  secret  by  praying  for  the  divine  blessing  on  the 
attempt.     The  people  approving  the  project,  with  which  they 
became  thus  accidentally  acquainted,  were    clamorous  in  its 
support.      It  was  revived  by  the  court,  and  after  a  long  deliber- 
ation, the  vote  in  its  favor  was  carried  by  a  single  voice. 

Troops  were  immediately  raised   by  Connecticut,  Rhode     1 745 
Island,  and  New  Hampshire,  to  aid  those  of  Massachusetts.  Forces  coin 
The  command  of  these  forces  was  given  to  Colonel  William  "^^"^^5^ ''y 
Pepperell,  a  merchant  of  Maine,  who  sailed  on  the   25th  of    '^p^e" ell. ^"^ 
March,  and  arrived  at  Canso  on  the  4th  of  April. 

The  da}-  before  leaving  Boston,  an  express-boat,  which  had 
been  sent  to  the  West  Indies  to  ask  the  assistance  of  Commo-  British  nava 
dore  Warren,  returned  with  the  intelligence  that  he  had  de-  force  under 
clined  to  furnish  the  aid  required.     The  resolute  colonists  ^'vv^ren." 
rashly  determined  to  proceed  without  his  co-operation  ;  but 
subs*^quently  he  received  orders  from  England,  and  hastened 
with  his  squadron  to  join  the  colonial  armament.     The  whole 


122 


LOUISBURG    TAKEN 


April  3d. 
Arrive  at 
Louisburg 

Hardihood 
and  resolu- 
tion of  the 
besiegers. 

Commodore 

Warren 
takes  the  Vi- 
gilant. 


June  16. 
Louisburg 
surrenders. 


1746. 

Colonies 
flightenedby 

a  great 
French  fleet. 


174§. 
Peace  of  Aix 
'a  Chapelle 


A  war  with- 
out results, 

Mid  a  peace 
without  se- 
curity. 


Extent  of 
New  France 
as  stated  by 
French  ge- 
ographers. 


fleet  arrived  at  Chapeau  Rouge  bay,  on  the  30th  of  April.  Its 
appearance  brought  to  the  French  the  first  intelligence  of  the 
meditated  attack. 

The  army  effected  their  landing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  for- 
tress, though  not  whhout  opposition.  Colonel  Vaughan,  of  New 
Hampshire,  conducted  a  detachment  through  the  woods,  and 
against  all  sober  calculation,  succeeded  in  possessing  himself 
of  a  battery  which  coimuanded  the  place.  The  siege  was 
now  commenced.  For  fourteen  nights  successively  did  these 
hardy  veterans  perform  a  drudgery,  which,  from  the  want  of 
roads,  would  have  been  impossible  for  oxen,  by  drawing  to  the 
battery  the  cannon  from  the  landing-place,  two  miles  through 
a  deep  morass.  Coiumodore  Warren  now  captured  the  Vigi- 
lant, an  expected  ship,  having  on  board  five  hundred  and  sixty 
men,  and  stores  for  the  garrison.  Preparations  were  immedi- 
ately made  for  an  assault  upon  the  fort  by  sea  and  land.  A 
mutiny  had  occurred  in  the  French  garrison  before  the  arrival 
of  the  English  ;  which,  giving  to  the  soldiers  a  disposition  to 
desert,  rendered  a  sortie  from  the  fort  impracticable.  In  view 
of  these  discouraging  circumstances,  the  governor,  on  the 
forty-ninth  day  of  the  siege,  surrendered  Louisburg,  and  the 
island  of  Cape  Breton.  When  the  New  England  men  entered 
the  place  as  conquerors,  and  beheld  the  strength  of  the  works, 
some  of  them  were  half  frightened  at  what  they  had  attempted, 
and  quite  astonished  at  what  they  had  achieved. 

The  French,  exasperated  at  their  loss,  sent  a  powerful 
armament,  under  d'Anville,  with  orders  to  ravage  the  whole 
coast  of  North  America.  Tempest,  disease,  and  other  disas- 
ters attended  this  force,  and  the  fleet  returned  to  France  with- 
out having  effected  any  other  object  than  that  of  alarming  the 
colonies. 

Peace  was  proclaimed  in  17-18,  and  a  treaty  signed  at  Aix 
la  Chapelle,  by  commissioners  from  England,  France,  and 
Spain,  the  basis  of  which  was  the  mutual  restoration  of  all 
places  taken  during  the  war  :  and  Louisburg,  to  the  grief 
and  mortification  of  the  colonies  reverted  to  the  French.  Its 
capture,  had,  however,  done  credit  to  their  military  prowess, 
as  it  had  been  by  far  the  most  brilliant  exploit  of  the  entire 
war  ; — a  war  which  showed  the  wretched  condition  to  which 
the  European  people  were  reduced  by  a  knavish  policy  on 
the  part  of  their  rulers,  the  miserable  counterfeit  of  wisdom. 
The  blood  and  treasure  of  the  many  had  been  spent  without 
result,  for  the  gratification  of  the  few  ;  and  peace  was  now 
concluded  without  any  settlement  of  differences,  which  were 
still  existing,  and  which  were  ready  at  any  moment  to  break 
out  again  into  open  hostility.  This  was  especially  the  case 
in  regard  to  the  American  claims  of  the  contracting  powers 

The  French,  in  virtue  of  the  discoveries  of  Champlain, 
Marquette,  La  Salle,  and  others,  claimed  all  the  lands  occu- 
pied by  the  waters  flov/ing  into  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the 


RIVA.L    CLAIMS    OF    ENGLAND    AND    FRaNi;jJ.  123 

Lakes  ,  and  all  watered  by  the  Mississippi  and  its  branches.  PART  II. 
In  fact,  our  whole  country,  according  to  their  geographers,  period  iii. 
was  New  France,  except  that  east  of  the  great  ranges  of  chap.  n. 
mountains,  whose  streams  flow  into  the  Atlantic  ;  and  of  this  ^^^''v-'"*^ 
portion  they  claimed  the  basin  of  the  Kennebec,  and  all  Maine 
to  the  east  of  that  valley. 

The  British,  on  the  other  hand,  asserted  a  right  to  the  en- 
tire country,  on  account  of  the  discovery  of  Cabot,  as  may  be      British 
seen  by  their  early  patents,  to  which  they  gave  an  extension  ^3^^"  Jg^'* 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.     This  title  they  hud  sought       toi-y. 
to  strengthen.     The  chiefs  of  the  confederate  Iroquois  had  set 
up  a  claim,  that  their  nations  had,  at  some  indefinite  period, 
conquered  the  country  of  the  Mississippi ;  and  this  title,  such 
as  it  was,  the  English  had  bought. 

But  in  this  contest  for  the  right,  which  was  rather  v/ith  the 
savage  occupants  of  the  soil,  than  with  either  of  the  disputants,  Anapproacb- 
one  thing  was  evident ;  the  question  would  ultimately  be  settled  "^°  contest, 
between  them,  by  an   appeal  to   arms  ;  and   the   crisis  ap- 
proached. 

The  French  had  formed  the  vast  plan  of  a  chain  of  forts  to     Qham  of 
connect  their  settlements,  recently  made  at  the  mouth  of  the    forts  from 
Mississippi,  with  their  earlier  colonies  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  St.  Law 
They  had  accomplished  their    purpose  in  part,  having  for-  Mississippi 
tresses  along  the  lakes  as  far  as  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 
Erie,   where  they  had  two  forts,  one  at  Presque  Isle,  and 
another  on  French  creek,  twelve  miles  south.     On  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  on  the  Ohio  and  its  branches,  they  had  also  their 
fortifications. 

A  number  of  gentlemen,  mostly  in  Virginia,  of  whom  Law- 
rence Washington  was  one,  procured,  in  1750,  an  act  of  the 
British  parliament,  constituting  them  "  the  Ohio  Company," 
and  granting  them  six  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  on  or 
near  the  Ohio  river.     They  caused  the  tract  to  be  surveyed, 
and  opened  a  trade  with  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity.     This     1750. 
becoming  known  to  the  French,  the  governor  of  Canada  com-  ^pt^any^rr 
plained  to  the   authorities   of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  complained 
threatening  to  seize  their  traders  if  they  did  not  quit  their  ter-    °^^j?  ,^^" 
ritory  ;  and  several  of  their  number  were  accordingly  taken 
and  carried  to  the  fort  at  Presque  Isle. 

The  governor  of  Virginia,  the  zealous  and  active  Dinwiddle, 
alarmed  at  these  movements  on  the  part  of  the  French,  had 
sent  a  trader  among  them  as  a  spy,  v/ho  returning,  increased 
his  fears  by  vague  accounts  of  the  French  posts  near  Lake 
Erie,  without  gratifying  his  curiosity  as  to  the  number  or  ob- 
ject of  their  forces.     Dinwiddie   determined,   although  the 
season  was  advanced,  to  send  immediately  a  trusty  person  to 
require  the  French  commandant  to  quit  the  territory  ;  and  also    ^^  ygiecis 
to  bring  back  such  an  account  of  his   strength  and  position,  Washinsjton 
that  if  he  refused  peaceably  to  retreat,  some  feasible  method  as  his  envoy 
of  ejectment  might  be  adopted.     A  young  man  of  twenty-two. 


124 


WASHINGTON. 


PART  II.  an  officer  of  the  militia,  was  chosen.     His  figure  was  com- 
PERIOD  m.  manding,  his  air  inspired  respect  and  confidence.     His  name 
CHAP.  iiL    was  George  Washington. 


The  Ameri- 
can Wash- 
ingtons. 
John, 
Lawrence  ; 
Augustine, 
George 
Washing- 
ton, 
born  in 
Westmore- 
land, Vir- 
ginia. 
February  22, 
1T32. 

1T43. 

His  fatiier 

dies. 


His  excel- 
lent mother 
his  sole  guar- 
dian. 


His  early 
moral  char- 
acter. 


His  activity. 


His  limited 
advantages 
over  bal- 
anced by 
great  self- 
exeition. 


CHAPTEE  III. 

Georgo  Washington.— His  birth,  parentage,  and  education.— His  conduct  in  placet 
of  trust,  private  and  public. 

Lawrence  Washington,  the  grandfather  of  George,  and 
Augustine  Washington  his  father,  had  continued  the  family 
residence  in  Westmoreland  county,  where  his  great  grand- 
father, John,  already  mentioned,  had  fixed  his  seat :  and  there, 
he  who  is  now  regarded  as  the  Father  of  his  Country,  v/as 
born  on  the  22nd  of  February,  1732,*one  year  before  the  last 
of  the  old  thirteen  colonies  was  settled  by  Oglethorpe.  In 
1734,  his  father  removed,  with  his  family,  to  Slafibrd  county, 
opposite  to  Fredericksburg,  on  the  Rappahannock;  little  think- 
ing that  his  playful  boy,  then  but  two  years  old,  was  marked 
by  Providence  for  a  career  so  elevated. 

In  1743,  Augustine  Washington  died,  and  left  to  each  of  his 
sons  valuable  landed  estates.  To  Lawrence,  his  oldest,  he 
bequeathed  a  beautiful  tract  on  the  bank  of  the  Potomac ; 
and  to  Georo^e,  the  lands  and  mansion  where  he  died.  Gcorcre 
was  the  oldest  offspring  of  a  second  marriage;  and  his  mother, 
Mary  Washington,  was,  by  his  father's  will,  his  sole  guardian 
She  was  a  rare  woman,  affectionate,  judicious,  firm  and  ener 
getic  :  and  it  was  under  her  maternal  guidance,  and  in  the 
common  school,  that  Washington  developed  those  physical, 
intellectual,  and  moral  elements, which  formed  his  greatness. 
When  in  school  he  was  assiduous,  pains-taking,  and  exact  in 
the  performance  of  his  exercises  ;  and  he  was,  at  the  same 
time,  so  true  in  his  words,  so  righteous  in  his  actions,  and  so 
just  in  his  judgment,  that  his  school-mates  were  wont  to  bring 
their  differences  before  him  for  decision.  Superior  also  in 
bodily  health  and  vigor,  he  excelled  in  athletic  sports,  and 
adventurous  exploits.  He  loved  the  military ;  and  tradition 
reports  that  the  first  battles  hi  which  he  commanded,  were  tho 
mimic  engagements, which  he  taught  to  his  school-fellows. 

He  learned  to  read  and  to  write  well,  and  he  thoroughly  mas 
tered  arithmetic.  This  was  all  which  the  school  hel[)ed  hhn  to 
acquire.  Of  himself  he  practiced  composition;  and  he  happily 
formed  a  style  suited  to  the  lofty  tone  of  his  moral  sentiments, 
and  the  directness  and  energy  of  his  character.  The  higher 
mathcinatics  he  learned  with  pleasure  and  mental  profit,  his 
object  being  to  prepare  himself^  for  the  occupation  of  surveyor 

*  En;?li9h  papei-s  have  recently  (1851)  claimed  that  Washington  was  born  in  Eng- 
land. This  has  brou'^ht  to  li.nht  the  fact,  that  in  1815,  the  house  of  his  birth  having 
been  di^molishod,  several  gentlemen,  of  whom  (leorgo  1'.  Ciistis,  the  relator,  was  one, 
sailed  up  the  Rappahannoc,  taking  with  them  a  stone,  which  they  laid  upon  the  spot, 
bearing  this  inscription—'''  Geokqk  Washington  ;  Here  Burn  173^,  Fob.  11,  O.  S." 


HIS    EARLY    LIFE.  125 

He  set  every  thing  down  in  his  books,  his  diagrams,  his  ob-  _PARTJL 
servations  on  manners,  and  his  rules  of  behavior.  Nothing  period  hi 
was  too  hiborious,  or  too  tedious  for  his  determined  mind.  chap,  m 

His  brother  Lawrence  was  early  an  officer  in  the  British  v^-'^v^**^ 
navy.    He  was  under  that  Admiral  Vernon  in  1740,  who  brought     1740. 
over  m  thirty  sail  of  the  line  27,000  men;  and  who,  in  attempt-.  Admiral Ver- 
ing  to  take  Carthagcna,  witnessed  such  great  sufferings  from    , 
disease  and  death  in  his  army.     It  was  in  commemoration  of  Washin'-toa 
his  beloved  commander,  that  Lawrence  Washington  gave  the     wishes  to 
name  of  iNIount  Vernon  to  his  estate.     Noticing  the   military     "hi-oUier* 
turn  of  his  young  brother,  he  procured  for  him  a  midshipman's     George  a 
warrant  in  the  British  navy ;  but  his  mother  interfered  and  ^^''^t^^'i  ""<! 
prevented  his  acceptance.  supman. 

Lawrence  Washington  had  married    a   relative   of   Lord 
Fairfax;   and    through  this  connection,  George  became   ac-      March 
quainted  with  that  family,  by  whose  elevated  society  he  de-     1'74§. 
rived  various  advantages.     To  survey  the  great  estates  of  He  become* 
Lord  Fairfax,  now  residing  in  Virginia,  he  early  began  his    amon^the 
career  of  active  life.     Though  a  boy  of  just  sixteen,  he  was   mouniams 
intrusted  with  what  would  have  been  responsible,  arduous, 
and  difficult  duty,  to  a  sound  and  able  man.     Among  the  forest 
wilds    of  the    Alleghanies,    the   young    surveyor    frequently 
ranged  alone  ;  but  on  the  summits  he  rejoiced  in   the  beauty 
of  the  earth  and  sky ;  and  in  the  valleys  he  examined  well    Cheerfully 
all  rare  and  curious  things.     He  had  often  no  bed  to  lodge  in,    hardships 
and  no  roof  to  shelter  him;  and  with  his  own  hands  he  dressed 
the  game  which  his  musket  had  procured.     Sometimes,  how- 
ever, he  shared  the  wigwam,  and  the  unpalatable  fare  of  the 
native.     But  these  hardships  were  an  important  preparation 
for  the  service  he  had  afterwards  to  perform.     His  employ-     He  gams 
ment  also  was  lucrative  ;  and  he  discharged  its  duties  in  a  Property  and 
manner  that  made  men  regard  him  as  a  youth  of  extraordinary 
promise. 

He  was  only  nineteen  when  he  was  made  an  adjutant  gen-     }i75i 
eral  of  the  Virginia  militia,   with  the  rank  of  Major.     About  Made  Adju- 
this  time  he  accompanied  to  the  West  Indies  his  brother  Law-  tant  with  title 
rence,  now  declining  with  a  pulmonary  disease.     His  voyage     °  ^^^Jo^. 
was  advantageous  to  himself,  from  his  great  observation  and    p'^^.^' 
industry;  but  his  brother's  disease  remained,  and  he  died  du-    title  to  the 
ring  the  next  year.     By  his  will  he  left  George  his  executor ;  Mount  Ver- 
and  gave  him  a  reversionary  title  to  the  Mount  Vernon  estate,    no"^^'"^^' 

Major  Washington  was  now  placed  over  one  of  the  four  di-  ^^^  ^"^^' 
visions  into  which  Dinwiddle  had  portioned  the  militia  of  northern  di- 
"the  Dominion"  the  style  then  given  to  Virginia.  He  intro-  vision  of  the 
duced  a  uniform  discipline,  and  infused  throughout  his  com-  ^"  '"^ '  ^^' 
mand,  his  own  military  spirit.  It  was  at  this  period  that  he  to^iipfr^p^l'i 
was  chosen  by  the  governor  as  his  envoy  to  the  French.  The  widdie's  let- 
seat  of  government  for  Virginia  was  Williamsburg.  Thither  tcracrossih« 
Washington  repaired,  and  was  furnished  with  instructions, 
and  dispatches ;  the  most  important  of  which  was   a  letter 


126 

.^.f  ^^TiL_  from  Dinwiddle,  to  St.  Pierre  the  French  conixiiandant,  requir- 
PEiiiOD  III  ing  him  with  threats,  to  withdraw  from  the  territory  belong- 
cHAP.  HI.    ing  to  the  Enghsh  sovereign. 

Washington  departed  on  the  31st  of    October,    to  traverse 
more  than  five  hundred  miles,  much  of  the  way    a  pathless, 
as  well  as  a  wintry  desert.     His  route  lay  through  Fredericks- 
burg, Alexandria,   and   Winchester,   to    Will's  Creek,  since 
Cumberland.     Here,  taking  leave  of  every  vestige  of  civiliza- 
tion, and  having  procured  Mr.  Gist,  agent  of  the  Ohio  coinpa- 
ny,  as  interpreter  and  guide,  his  party  of  eight  plunged  into 
Leaves      the  recesses  of  the  wilderness.     They  passed  through  snow 
Cumberland  and    stomis,    over   mountain   precipices,    and    down    among 
^"tracSess  ^  thickets  into  flooded  valleys,  to  ford  unbridged  and  swollen 
wilderness,  rivers,  on  frail  and  dangerous  rafts.     Coming  upon  the  Yough- 
iogeny  they  followed  it  to  the  Monongahela  and  that  to  its 
junction  with  the   Alleghany.     "  The  Fork,"  as  the   site  of 
Pittsburg  was  called,  was  then  a  desert,  but  Washington  notic- 
ed, and  afterwards  reported  it,  as  a  suitable  place  for  a  fort. 
From  the  Fork,  he  went  down  the  river  twenty  miles  to 
At  Logsto'vvn  Logstown,  where  he  was  to  deliver  friendly  greetings  from 
on  the  Ohio,  Dinwiddle  to  the  great  chief  of  the  Southern  Hurons,  Tana- 
^j^^^f^^^jj^^  charison,    or  the    Half-king;  whose  friendship  was   courted 
both  by  French  and  English.     The  chief  received  him  with 
kindness.     He  had  been,  he  told  Washington,  to  the  French 
camp  and  had  there  made  a  set  speech,  in  which  he  declared 
^v^^w^V^^  to  the  officers,   that  the  land  in  question,   belonged  neither  to 
the  speech  he  the  English  nor  the  French  ;  but  the  Great  Spirit  had  given  it 
had  made    to  the  Indians,  and  allowed  them  to  make  it  their  residence. 
the  French.  "  J  tleslrc  you  therefore,"  said  he,  "to  withdraw,   as  I  have 
our  brothers,  the  English  ;  for  I  will  keep  you  at  arm's  length." 
After  Major  Washington  had  attended  a  friendly  council  with 
Goes  with   the  Indians,  Tanacharison  and  three  of  his  principal  men,  ac- 
Washington  companlcd  him  north,  more  than  a  hundred  miles  to  the  en- 
French      campment  at  French  Creek.     Here  St.  Pierre,  who  had  been 
camp.       but  a  few  days  in  command  of  the  post,  received  him  with 
the  courteous  bearing  and  hospitable  attentions  of  the  French 
gentleman.      But  to  Dinwiddle's  request,  that  he  would  leave 
St  Pierre's  ^^®  territory  which  belonged  to  the  British,  he  replied,  after 
gentlemanly  two  days  consultation  with  his  officers,  that  it  did  not  become 
w^^^^"<!  "^  ^^^^  ^^  discuss  treaties  ;  such  questions  should  rather  be  ad- 
a^ndTol-^'^  dressed  to  the  governor-general,  the  Marquis  du  Quesne  ;  he 
di«rly  reply  acted  under   his  orders,  and  those  he  should  be  careful  to 

Washington  and  his  party,  by  previous  concert,  had  been 

making  every  possible  observation  on  the  state  of  the  forces 

and  camp,  and  now  receiving  the  reply  of  St.  Pierre,  he  was 

Tanacha-     desirous  to  depart ;  but  the   French  were  tampering  Avitli  the 

sonstaiicy.   Indians,  and  unwilling  to  dismiss  the   Half-king,  until  they 

had  corrupted  his  fidelity  ;  but  in  this  they  failed. 

The  return  of  Washington  in  the  dead  of  winter,  was  full  of 


DEFEAT  AND  DEATH  OF  DE  JUMONVILLE.  127 

Startling  and  perilous  adventure.  Once  a  treacherous  guide  IM:^^T_iL- 
aimed  his  musket  at  him,  hut  it  missed  fire  ;  and  once,  on  the  I'iiiuou  iii 
Alleghany  river,  he  and  his  guide,  having  made  in  a  day,  with  chap.  m. 
one  poor  hatchet,  a  miserable  rait,  they  at  sunset,  trusted  them-  ^--"^^-^^^w/ 
selves  upon  it,  to  cross  the  swollen  river,  amidst  large  masses  The  perils  of 
of  floating  ice.  It  came  down  upon  them,  and  threw  them  ton's'rciufa. 
ftv.Ti  their  raft  into  ten  feet  water.  But  they  saved  themselves 
by  swimming  to  an  island. 

Major  Washington  arrived  at  Williamsburg  on  the  16th  of  Returns 
January,  having  been  absent  only  eleven  weeks.  The  bold-  Jan.  16. 
ness,  energy,  and  prudence,  Avith  which  he  had  met  and  over-  ^^'*7{ 
come  dangers,  and  the  ability  which  he  had  manifested  in  the  weeks 
discharge  of  his  trust,  sunk  deep  into  the  minds  of  his  coun-  absence. 
trymen  ;  and  his  written  reports  were  published  with  applause,  appfauded. 
not  only  through  the  colonies,  but  in  England. 

Troops  were  now  raised  in  Virginia  ;  and  Washington  was     l'y54. 
made  lieutenant  colonel  and  intrusted  with  the  command.     In  He  is  again 
April,  1754,  he  marched  into  the  disputed  territory,  and,  en-    a^^^-ce'to 
camping  at  the    Great  Meadows,  he  there  learned  that  the  maintain  the 
French  had  dispossessed  the  Virginians  of  a  fort,   which  in      English 
consequence  of  his  recommendation  they  were  erecting  at  the 
Fork,  and  which  the   French  finished,  and  named   Fort  du  French  build 
Quesne.     He  was  also  informed  that  a  detachment  of  French        Fort 
troops,  had  been  sent  against  him,  and  were  encamped  but  a        Quesne. 
few  miles  west  of  the  Great  Meadows. 

Surrounding  their  encampment,  he  surprised,  and  defeated  Washington 
them.     The  commander  de  Jumonville*  was  killed  with  ten  of  surprises 
his  party.     On  his  return  to  the  Great  Meadows,  he  was  re-  ^"^  party.^  ^* 
inforced  by  regulars  from  New  York  and  South  Carolina,  and     lo  killed, 
erected  there  a  small  stockade  called  Fort  Necessity.  22madepris- 

TTr-  TTr     1  •  11  oners,  May 

With   less  than    400   men,   Washington  now  marched  to         2S. 
dislodge  the  enemy  from  Fort  du  Quesne  ;  but  after  proceeding 
thirteen  miles  he  received  the  intelligence  that  they  had  been 
reinforced  from  Canada,  when  he  reluctantly  relinquished  the  French  rein- 
enterprise  and  retired.     Unable  to  continue  his  retreat,  from  Washin'^ton 
a  failure  of  expected  munitions,  he  entrenched  his  little  army  disappointed 
within  Fort  Necessity.     A  party  of  1,500  French,  under  Mon-  of  ^^PPl^es. 
sieur  de  Villiers,  soon  followed  and  assaulted  the  fort ;  the 
Americans  bravely  resisted,  from  ten  in  the  morning  until  dark.  ,     u^-    a  * 

•'  '^  Is  obli'^ed  to 

Washington  deeming  it  folly  longer  to  contend  with  so  un-  capitulate  at 
equal  a  force,  signed,  in  the  course  of  the  night,  articles  of  ca-  Ft.  Necessi- 
pitulalion,!  by  which  the  fort  was  surrendered;  but  the  garri   ^^'     "^ 

*  Washington  has  been  unjustly  censured  in  this  affair.  It  has  been  repre- 
sented that  (le  Jumonville  came  as  an  envoy  and  was  murdered.  But  he  came 
in  arnr.s,  with  a  warlike  party,  and  they  were  lurking  and  concealing  themselves 
in  the  woods,  and  had  been  so  concealed  for  three  days.  The  French  had  forcibly 
dispossessed  the  English  at  Fort  du  Quesne.  Washington  followed  the  orders 
ne  had  received  from  Dinwiddle,  and  the  house  of  burgesses  approved  his  con- 
duct. 

t  Washington  not  understanding  the  French  language,  a  Dutch  captain  by 
.he  name  of  Vanbraam,  translated  to  him  and  his  officers,  the  articles  of  capitu- 
lation.    It  Avas  afterwards  found  that  Washington  had  signed  what  he  knew 


28  COLONIES    UNITE    FOR    MUTUAL    DEFENSE. 

PART  II.    son  permitted  to  march  out  with  the  honors  of  war,  and  return 
PERIOD  III  unmolested  to  their  homes 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Congress  at  Albany. — Convention  of  governors  meet  BraJdock  in  Virgimt 

The  British  cabinet  had  perceived  that  a  war  was  inevitable. 
Accordingly,  in  their  instructions  to  the  colonies,  in    1753, 
British  pro-  ^[^Qy  directed  thern  to  cultivate  the  friendship  of  the  Six  Na- 
amongthe   tions  ;  and  recommended  what  they  had  at  a  former  period 
colonies,    proposed,  though  not  formally,  that  a  union  be  formed  among 
the  colonies  for  their  mutual  protection  and  defense.     Agree- 
ably to  these  instructions,  a  congress  was  held  at  Albany. 
r^^"^-     June  14,  1754,  to  which  delegates  were  sent  from  Massachu- 
colonies     sctts,  New  Hampshire,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York, 
send  dele-    Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland.     About  one  hundred  and  lift)' 
^^^Tan*  ^''  ^^i^i^^s  of  the  Six  Nations  were  present,  with  whom  the  con- 
vention concluded  an  explanatory  and  pacific  treaty  ;  and  then 
proceeded  to   consider  the   subject  of  the  proposed  union. 
Their  situation,   with  regard  to  the  French,  called  for  imme- 
diate and  effectual  measures  ;  and  it  vv^as  unanimously  resol- 
ved "  that  a  union  of  the  colonies  was  absolutely  necessary  for 
their  preservation."     Desiring  that  their  counsels,  treasure, 
Articles  of   and  strength  might  be  employed  in  due  proportion  against  the 
by  Beni^itnin  common  enemy,  a  committee,  consisting  of  one  member  from 
Franklin,     each  colony  represented,  was  appointed  to  draAv   a  plan  of 
Iulv4.      union.     That  which  was  drawn  by  Benjamin  Franklin,  oi 
Pennsylvania,  was  substantially  adopted  and  signed  on  the 
4th  of  July,  twenty-two  years  before  this  great  statesman  sign- 
ed that  more  important  instrument,  which  he  also  assisted  in 
forming — the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
^  ,  The  delegates  from  Connecticut  alone  refused  their  con- 

from  Con-  sent  to  this  plan,  and  on  the  ground,  that  it  gave  too  much 
necticut  power  to  the  presiding  general,  who  was  to  be  appointed  over 
^'^'^^(.JJjg^"'  the  colonies  by  the  crown.  It  was  presented  to  the  colonial 
legislatures  and  the  British  parliament  for  their  sanction  ;  but 
it  was  rc^jected  by  both  ;  by  the  colonies,  because  it  gave  too 
much  power  to  the  crown  ;  and  by  the  crown,  because  it 
gave  too  much  power  to  the  people  :  thus  showing  hoAv  wide- 
ly different,  even  at  this  period,  were  the  views  of  Great  Brit- 
ain and  her  colonies,  respecting  the  rights  of  the  latter  ;  and 
foreboding  the  contest  and  separation  which  afterwards  fol- 
lowed. 

nothing  of,  in,  at  least,  two  respects.  One  was  a  promise,  not  to  bear  arms  foi 
a  year  against  the  French  ;  and  another,  an  expression  which  made  him  a  party 
to  the  slander  against  himself,  as  the  murderer  of  de  Jumonville,  a  peaceful  en- 
voy.    Vanbraam  was  svispected  of  treachery. 


FRENCH    EXPEDITION.  129 

The  ministiy,  having  rejected  this  scheme  of  union,  propo-   PART  IL 
scd  to  Gov.  Shirley  and  others,  that  the  governors  of  the  colo-  period  hi 
nies,  (most  of  whom  were  appointed  by  the  crown,)  attended    chap,  iv 
by  one  or  more  of  their  council,  should  meet,  from  time  to  v--*^v^^«^ 
time,  to  concert  measures  for  ihe  general  defense,  with  power  Anful  plaji 
to  draw  on  the  British  treasury  for  such  sums  of  money  as  colnmcscon'- 
they  needed ;  which  sums  were,  however,  lo  be  reimbursed  sent  lo  taia- 
by  a  tax,  to  be  imposed  on  the  colonies.     But  the   colonies  tion rcjcciwl 
were  not  so  to  be  drawn  into  a  consent  to  submit  to  taxa- 
tion, by  Great  Britain,  and  they  rejected  the  plan.     As  the 
only  alternative,  the    crown  then   resolved  to  carry  on  the 
war  with  British  troops,   and  such  auxiliary  forces  as  the  co- 
lonial assemblies   might  voluntary  furnish  ;  and  to   this  the 
Americans  cheerfully  assented. 

The  establishment  of  French  posts  on  the  Ohio,  and  the     1755. 
attack  upon  Col.  Washington,  were  stated  by  the  British  gov-    Braddock 
ernment,  as  the  commencement  of  hostilities  ;  and  1 ,500  troops,  ^['soo^irien. 
under  Gen.  Braddock,  were  dispatched  from  England.     On  his 
arrival  in  America,  he  requested  a  convention  of  the  colonial  Assembles 
governors  to  assemble  in  Virginia,  to  conce'rt  wdth  him  a  plan     the  gov 
of  military  operations.  ernors. 

Four  expeditions  were  here  resolved  upon.     General  Brad- 
dock was  to  attack  Fort  du  Quesne ;    Gov.  Shirley  was  to  P^anoftha 
lead  the  American  regulars  and  Indians  against  Niagara;  the  ° 

militia  of  the  northern  colonies  were  to  be  directed  against 
Crown  Point ;  and  Nova  Scotia  was  to  be  invaded. 

Early  in  the  spring,  the  French  sent  out  a  powerful  fleet, 
carrying  a  large  body  of  troops,  under  the  Baron  Dieskau,  to 
reinforce  the  army  in  Canada. 

For  the  expedition  against  Nova  Scotia,  three  thousand 
men,  under  generals   Monckton   and  Winslow,   sailed  from 
Boston  on  the  20th  of  May.     They  arrived  at  Chignecto,  on 
the  Bay  of  Fundy,  the  first  of  June.     Here  they  were  joined 
by  300  British  troops,  and  proceeding  against  Beau  Sejour,      ^""^- 
now  the  principal  post  of  the  French  in  that  country,  invested      d^e  the 
and  took  possession  of  it,  after  a  bombardment  of  five  days.    Frei.ch  in 
The  fleet  appearing  in  the  river  St.  Johns,  the  French  set  fire  ^'o^a Scotia. 
to  their  works,  and  evacuated  the  country.     Thus,  wdth  the 
loss  of  only  three  men,  the  English  found  themselves  in  pos- 
session of  the  whole  of  Nova  Scotia. 

Col.  Washington,  on  his  return  from  the  Great  Meadows,  Washington 
had  public  thanks  voted  him  by  the  house  of  burgesses.     He  receives  an 
rejoined  his  regiment  at  Alexandria,  and  w^as  ordered  by  the  ^  lo^niarch 
governor  to  fill  up  his  companies  by  enlistments — go  back  back  in  tne 
immediately — conquer  the  French,  and  build  a  fort  beyond     ^^^"^^r. 
tlie  mountains.     He  wrote  to  a  member  of  the  council,  show- 
ing the  folly  and  impracticability  of  the  scheme  ;  and  it  Avas 
given  up. 

Dinwiddie  had  new^  plans.     He  reorganized  the  militia  into  Is  deprived 
independent  companies,  so  that  there  was  now  no  higher  oflice  °^"^^  ^"^^ 


130  BATTLE    ON    THE    MONONGAHELA. 

PART  II.  than  captain.  Washington  promptly  offered  his  resignation* 
PERIOD  Til.  but  his  services  being  needed,  he  was  warmly  solicited  to  re- 

CHAP.  IV.    j^^[^^  ^^([  [^  ^y^g  binted  that  he  might  keep  his  commission. 

*"^*'''^^^"'**^  This  he  indignantly  rejected,  as  neither  rank  or  emolument 
fes!v-rrooer  ^"^^^^  offered  with  it ;  and  he  wrote,  that  those  who  supposed 


s'unc. 


he  would   accept  it  on  such  terms  must  think  him  "more 
empty  than  the  commission  itself." 

Braddock,  when  he  arrived,  requested  Col.  Washington  to 
Becomes  aid  become  one  of  his  military  family,  preserving  his  rank.     TMs 
to  Braddock.  Washington  did  not  hesitate  to  accept,  because  he  knew  his 
own  value  to  his  country,  and  wished  to  improve  in  military 
Braddock's   skill.     Gen.  Braddock  marched  from  Virginia  on  the  10th  of 
army  begin  June  ;  but  sucli  were  the  delays  occasioned  by  the  difficulty 
their  march.  ^^  procuring  horses,  v/agons,  and  provisions,  that,  by  the  ad- 
vice of  Washington,  he  left  the  heavy  baggage  behind,  under 
the  care  of  Col.  Dunbar,  with   an   escort  of  600  men,  and 
placing  himself  at  the  head  of  1,200  select  troops,  he  pro- 
ceeded  by  more  rapid  marches,  towards  Fort  du  Quesne. 

Braddock  was  not  deficient  in  courage,  or  military  skill ; 
but  he  was  wholly  ignorant  of  the  mode  of  conducting  warfare 
in  American  woods  and  morasses,  and  at  the  same  time  he 
held  the  opinions  of  the  colonial  officers  in  contempt.     Never- 
theless, Washington  had  ventured  to  suggest  the  expediency 
Smtemns    ^^  employing  the  Indians,  who,  under  the  Half-king,  had  offered 
and  disre-   their  services,  as  scouting,  and  advanced  parties.     Braddock 
gards  advice,  j^q^;  only  disdained  the  advice,  but  offended  the  Indians  by  the 
rudeness  of  his  manner.     Thus  he  rashly  pushed  on,  Avithout 
knowing  the  dangers  near. 

Washington  had,  the  day  before,  rejoined  the  army,  from 
which  he  had  been  for  a  short  time  detained  by  severe  illness. 
It  was  noon,  on  the  ninth  of  July,  when  from  the  height  above 
the  right  bank  of  the  Monongahela,  he  looked  back  upon  the 
ascending  army,  which,  ten  miles  from  Fort  du  Quesne,  had 
just  crossed  the  stream  for  the  second  time.     Every  thing 
July  9.      looked  more  bright  and  beautiful  than  aught  he  had  ever  wit- 
Fine  appear-  nessed  before.     The  companies,  in  their  crimson  imiform, 
dock's  army!  with  burnished  arms   and  floating  banners,  were  marching 
gaily  to  cheerful  music  as  they  entered  the  forest. 

Suddenly  there  burst  upon  them  the  Indian  war-whoop, 
They  fall     and  a  deadly  fire,  from  opposite  quarters,  and  from  unseen 
dTan  ambus-  ^^^^'     ^^^"7  ^^^^'     Panic-stricken,   their   ranks   broke,    and 
cade,  and  by  they  Avould  have   fled,   but   Braddock  rallied  them ;   and,  a 
Braddock's  bigot  to  the  rulcs  of  European  warfare,  he  constantly  sought 
uifa^cTde-   ^^  preserve  a  regular  order  of  battle.     Thus  he  kept  his  meu 
feated       like  sheep  penned  in  a  fold,  fair  marks  for  a  foe  beyond  their 
reach,  and  whose  numbers  were  so  much  inferior  to  their 
own,  that  they  had  not  dreamed  of  defeating,  but  only  ex- 
pected to  annoy  and  delay  the  British  army.    Their  places  of 
concealment  were  two  ravines  on  each  side  of  the  road ;  but 
Braddock  would  neither  retreat,  or  pass  beyond  that  fatal  spot 


BRADDOCK  DEFEATED  AND  SLAIN.  13| 

The  Indians,  singling  out.  the  officers,  shot  do\vn  every  one    PART  II. 
on  horseback,  Washington  alone  excepted.     He,  as  the  sole  period  in 
remaining  aid  of  the  general,  rode  by  turns  over  every  part  of     chap.  v. 
the  field,  to  carry  his  orders.     The  Indians  afterwards  averred  *^--\^-**^ 
that  they  had  specially  noticed  his  bearing,  and  conspicuous  The  officers 
figure,  and  repeatedly  shot  at  him  ;  but  at  length  they  became    ^'^°^.  down, 
convinced  that  he  was  protected  by  an  Invisible  Power,  and  Washington. 
that  no  bullet  could  harm  him.     After  the  battle  was  over,  His  wonder- 
four  were  found  lodged  in  his  coat,  and  two  horses  had  been  fid  preserra- 
killed  under  him ;  but  the  appointed  guardian  of  his  country,       ^^"^ 
escaped  without  a  wound. 

Braddock,  who  had  been  undismayed  amidst  continued  Braddock 
showers  of  bullets,  at  length  received  a  mortal  wound.  Q^^i  ^^^°' 
Upon  his  fall,  the  regular  troops  fled  in  confusion.  Wash-  and  nearly 
ington  formed,  and  covered  their  retreat  with  the  provincials,  ^^o  privates. 
whom  Braddock  in  his  contempt  had  kept  in  the  rear.  The  I^"«f"y's 
defeat  was  total ;  sixty-four  officers  out  of  eighty-five,  and  but  not ' 
nearly  half  the  privates,  were  killed  or  wounded.  known. 

The  flight  of  the  army  was  so  precipitate,  that  it  made  no 
halt  till  it  met  the  division  under  Dunbar,  then  about  forty        flee^'"^ 
miles  in  the  rear,  where   Braddock  died.     To  this  division 
was  communicated  the  same  spirit  of  flight,  and  they  con-    Dunbar  .n 
tinned   to  retreat   till   they  reached    Fort    Cumberland,  one    command. 
hundred  and  twenty  miles  from  the  place  of  action.     The  j 
command  now  devolved  on  Colonel  Dunbar,  who  withdrew     gi^ia  de- ' 
the  regulars  to   Philadelphia,  leaving  the  whole  frontier  of    fenseless 
Virginia  open  to  the  depredations  of  the  French  and  Indians. 

The  French  at  Fort  du  Quesne  attempted  to  seduce  the 
Cherokees  from  the  English  interest.  Some  of  their  tribe 
gave  notice  of  this  to  the  governor  of  South  Carolina,  Avho, 
at  their  suggestion,  met  a  council  of  the  Cherokee  chiefs  in  '^hg^^hJJ^ 
their  own  country,  and  concluded  with  them  a  treaty  of  peace  keea 
and  amity,  in  which  they  ceded  to  Great  Britain  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  South  Carolina. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Remainder  of  the  campaign!  of  1755. — Campaign  of  1756 

The  troops  destined  for  Crown  Point,  amounting  to  more  June- 

than  4,000,  arrived  at  Albany  the  last  of  June.     They  were  jJ^J^f^^^ 

under  the   command  of  Gen.   AVilHam  Johnson,   and   Gen.  Lyman. 
L\Tnan.     Here  they  were  joined  by  a  body  of  Mohawks, 
under  their  sachem,  Hendrick. 

Lyman  advanced  with  the  main  body  of  the  army,  and  Erect  Fon 

erected  Fort  Edward  on  the  Hudson,  for  the  security  of  the  '^^^ 


132  FRENCH  BEATEN  AT  LAKE  GEORGE. 

PART  II.    batteaux,  provisions,  artillery,  and  other  necessaries,  requisite 
'»ERiOD  III.  for  the  expedition,  which  were  forwarded  from  Albany  by 
CHAP.  V.     Johnson.     The  army  were  thus  employed  for  six  weeks, 
^-i^^v^**-^       Towards  the  last  of  August,  Johnson  removed  his  force, 
1755.      and  encamped  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  George.     Here  he 
Move  10    ^yg^g  engaged  in  preparing  to  cross  the  lakes. 
GcOTge  ^^  ^^^®  mean  time  the   Baron  Dieskau  led  an  army  from 

Montreal  for  the  defense  of  Cro\\m  Point.     Not  finding  there 
Baron  Dies-  his  foe,  he  proceeded  south  to  seek  him,  till  within  three 
kau  attacks  niiles  of  the  American  camp  he  fell  in  with  a  detachment 
Telatfment'' under    Hendrick  and   Col.   Williams.     He  fought   and   con- 
under  Wil-   quered  them;  killed  the  leaders,  and  followed  the  flying  to 
H^"d  ■^"k     ^^^  camp.     Johnson,  now  aware  of  his  approach,  was  pre- 
pared ;  and  when  Dieskau  made  the  attack,  he  was  repulsed, 
and  his  army  in  turn  sought  safety  by  flight.     He  was  pur- 
Is  defeated  Sued  by  the  Americans,  who,  as  Johnson  had  been  v»^ounded 
by  the  main  early  in  the  action,  were  led  by  Gen.  Lyman.     Dieskau  was 
°  ^*        found   alone  in  the  woods,  seated  on  the  ground,  reclining 
against  a  tree,  pale  and  bleeding.    His  M^ounds  proved  mortal. 
Johnson,  in  representing  this  affair  to  the  British,  made  no 
mention  of  Gen.  Lyman,  but  obtained  for  himself  X5,000  and 
Johnson's     ^  baronetcv.     The  public  impression  was,  that  the  reward 

honors  ttir*  j  i  i  ^ 

ftish  his  char-  belonged  at  least  equally  to  Lyman.     But  the  success  was 
acter.       important,  and  Johnson,  afterward  Sir  William,  was  the  com- 
mander. 

The  poor  dispirited  remains  of  Dieskau's  army  halted  at 

French  Mountain,  where  they  were  the  next  day  cut  off  by  a 

The  remains  detachment  from    Fort    Edward.     Their  dead   bodies  were 

ofthe French  thrown  into  a  small  lake,  since  called  "the   Bloody  Pond." 

destroyed.    ]y[ay  the  time  soon  come,  when  the  pure  waters  of  our  mother 

earth  shall  no  longer  be  dyed  by  the  blood  of  her  children, 

barbarously  shed  by  each  other's  hands ! 

The  success  at   Lake   George  revived  the  spirits  of  the 

colonies;    but   Sir  William   Johnson,  instead  of  proceeding 

with  his  army  to  reduce  Crown  Point,  employed  the  remain- 

^^Johnson™  ^^^  ^^  ^^®   campaign  in   strengthening   the   works    at    Fort 

wastes  the    Edward,  and  erecting,  at  the  scene  of  his  achievements  on 

K^^PlfVo  ^"  ^^^®  southern  shore  of  Lake  George,  a  fort,  which  he  called 

Willfam      William  Henry.    On  the  last  of  November,  the  troops,  except 

Henry.      six  hundred  who  were  left  to  garrison  these  forts,  returned  to 

their  respective  colonies. 

The  enterprise  against  Niagara  was  undertaken  by  Gov. 

August '^l     S^ii'l^y  i"^  person.     He  did  not  arrive  at  Oswego  until  the 

Shirloy  loses  2 1st  of  August,  and  he  there  waited  for  supplies  until  the 

Ihc  campaign  season  was   too   far   advanced    for   crossing    Lake    Ontario. 

"Supplies"    F«eaving  700  men,  under  Col.  Mercer,  to  garrison  the  fort,  he 

returned  to  A  loany. 
^i^^  V'         In  1756,  war,  after  having  actually  existed  for  two  years, 
dared.      was  formally  proclaimed  between  France  and  England. 

By  the  destruction  of  Braddock's  army,  the  frontiers  of 


CAMPAIGN  OF  1756  BADLf  CONDUCTED.  133 

Pennsylvania  and   Virginia  were  left  to  the  mercy  of  the    PART  n. 
savages.     Washington,  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  did  his  teriod  nj 
utmost  to  oppose  them  ;  and  he  strenuously  urged  that  oflen-     chap.  v. 
sive  ni'jasures  should  be  again  adopted,  and  especially  against  ^— '''^^"^^^ 
Fort  du  Quesne,  which  he  knew  was  their  starting  point. 

In  common   with  the  other  colonial  officers,  Washington  The  mortifl* 
was  subject  to  mortifications   which  he  keenly  felt,  from  the  J^'^l '""''.  *"^ 
assuming  manners  of  inferior  officers    bearing  royal  commis-  'tho"^colon^al 
sions :  and  not  oidy  this,  but  his  whole  force  was,  on  one  ^iiicero  er- 
occjsion,  in  danger  of  falling  into  confusion,  by  the  conduct  ^'W^-''^^'^^^^ 
of  a  company  of  regulars  stationed  within  his  precincts,  under  ton's  affair 
one  Dagworthy,  who  held  the  king's  commission  as  captain.    "^^I'l^  J^^s* 
To  prevent  general  insubordination,  Washington  appealed  to     ^'^^^^^y- 
Dinwiddie.     He    gave    him    advice    which,    either    through  » 

weaJvuess  or  treachery,  was  calculated  to  mislead ;  but  he     Shirley 
took  not  the  responsibility  of  directing  Dagworthy  to  obey  mamier^in- 
Col.  Washington  as  his  superior.     In  the  mean  time,  Shirley      chief. 
having  been  made  commander-in-chief,  Washington  mounted     j^*^^q 
his  horse,    and  though  in  winter,  rode  five  hundred  miles,  Fei.m!ir/4, 
to  Boston,  where,  laying  the  case  before  that  amiable  patriot,  Washington 
he  received  the  requisite  order,  and  returning,  he  soon  reduced  ''°^^ton.  ^ 
Capt.  Dagworthy  and  his  men  to  due  subjection. 

The  campaign  of  1756   had   been,  during  the   preceding 
autumn,  provided  for  by  the  colonists  ;  but  the  bad  arrange-   ^•^,'J^^j'^'^ 
ments  of  the  British  cabinet  palsied  their  eflbrts.     Although  in  England. 
Shirley  had  been  appointed  by  the  crown,  commander-in-chief 
of  the  forces,  yet  Winslow,  in  consequence  of  his  success  in     Shirley's 
Nova  Scotia,  had  the  confidence  of  the  people,  without  which  "^^='J'^'^^^"" 
troops  could  not  be  raised.     The  generous  Shirley  ceded  his 
claim,  and  the  unfinished  plans  of  the  preceding  campaign 
were  to  be  again  attempted. 

Gen.  Abercrombie  was  in  the  sprint  sent  from  England  to  ., ''""^- ,. 
take  the  supreme   command;    and   after  him   Lord   Loudon  sent  out  gov. 
came  over  as  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  forces,  and  gover-  ernor  of  Vir- 
nor  of   Virginia.     The    British   officers   still    paraded   their  colnmandex- 
authority,   and    assumed   ofl^ensive    arirs    of  superiority   over     In-chie'. 
those  of  the   colonies  ;    but,   though  considerable  bodies  of     July  24. 
British  troops  were  in  the  field,  thousands  of  the  colonists    ^^rui^»i- 
called  from  the'r  homes,  and  heavy  expenses  were  going  on,      ^W,^ 
yet  nothing  oi   consequence  was  effected,  during  the  whole 
campaign. 

11 


134 


MASSACRE    AT    FORT    WILLIAM    HENRY. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

Campaigns  of  1757  and  1758. 


The  campaign  of  1757  was  made  no  less  disgraceful  to  the 
English,  than  the  former,  by  the  futile  schemes,  and  ineffi- 
cient measures  of  Lord  Loudon.  It  is  chiefly  memorable  in 
our  annals,  for  the  dreadful  "  massacre  at  Fort  William  Hen- 
ry." Montcahn,  the  French  commander,  had  early  concen- 
tiated  his  forces,  amounting  to  9,000  regidars,  Canadians  and 
Indians,  on  the  shores  of  the  Champlain,  at  Ticonderoga 
Passing  up  Lake  George,  he  laid  siege  to  Fort  William  Hen- 
ry, which  was  commanded  by  Col.  Monroe,  a  British  officer. 
Gen.  Webb  was  at  the  time  lying  at  Fort  Edward,  with  the 
main  British  army,  four  or  five  thousand  strong.  Monroe, 
being  vigorously  pressed,  while  he  defended  himself  with  spir- 
it, earnestly  entreated  Gen.  Webb  for  aid.  But  he  entreated 
in  vain,  and  necessity  compelled  him,  on  the  2d  of  August,  to 
surrender.  By  the  articles  of  capitulation,  Montcalm  enga- 
Stipulaies  ged  that  the  English  should  be  allowed  to  leave  the  fort  with 
^f  war^and'^^^^  honors  of  war  ;  and,  in  order  to  protect  them  from  the  In- 
dians, that  an  escort  should  be  provided  to  conduct  them  to 
Fort  Edward. 

Soon  after,  a  detachment  of  the  French  took  possession  of 
the  works.      At  the  same  moment,  the  Indians,  who  had  en- 
gaged to  serve  in  the  war  on  the  promise  of  plunder,  irritated 
at  the  terms  of  the  surrender,  rushed  over  the  parapet,  and 
began  their  outrages.     Monroe,  feeling  the  horrors  of  his  sit- 
uation, Avith  his  troops  exposed  at  midnight,  within  the  camp, 
to  the  cruelty  of  the  savages,  vainly  attempted  to  conduct  them 
forth  ;  but  no  sooner  had  he  put  them  in  motion,  than  he  found, 
foUs^of  his    ^^^^'  ^^^  ^^  ^^^^  their  position  within,  it  was  worse  without ; 
engagement,  for  the  woods  were  infested  with  ferocious  Indians,  thirsting 
and  .ne  In-   fof  blood  and  plunder.     He  complained  to  Montcalm,  and,  de- 
^urderwith-  rn'inding  the  promised  escort,  left  the  camp  at  morning,  to  be- 
aut restraint,  gin  his  march  for  Fort  Edward.       The  French,  themselves 
intimidated,  gave  them  only  the  poor  meed  of  advice,  to  yield 
up  their  private  property  as  a  means  of  appeasing  the  furious 
savages,  and  saving  life.      They  attempted  this,  and  threw 
them  their  money  and  effects ;  but  their  rapacity  increasing 
with  this  partial  gratification,  they  rushed,  tomahawk  in  hand, 
upon  the  English,  now  a  band  of  desperate  fugitives,  who, 
stripping  off  their  clothes,  were  glad  to  escape  naked,  with 
their  lives.     The  sick,  the  wounded,  the  women,  and  the  chil- 
dren unable  to  escape,  were  murdered.      Webb,  on  receiving 
intelligence  of  the  capitulation,  ordered  five  hundred  men  to 
meet  the   captured  troops,   and  conduct  them  to  his  camp 


PART  11. 

PERIOD  HI 

CHAP.    VI, 


1757. 

Montcalm 
besieges 
Fort  Wil- 
liam Henry. 


August   2. 

Monroe  com 

pelled  to  sur 

render. 


protection. 


Indians  kill 

iheir  prison 

ers. 


WILLIAM    riTT    PRIME    MINISTER.  135 

The  few  who  survived  were   discovered  flying  through  the    PART  li. 
woods,  singly  or  in  small  parties — some  distracted,  and  many  perTod  hi. 
bleeding  with  the  horrid  cuts  of  the  tomahawk — faint,  and    chap.  vi. 
nearly  exliausted.  ^^-^^-^^-^^ 

TJiere  is  little  in  the  separate  civil  history  of  the  colonies, 
during  this  period,  which  deserves  particular  attention      In  '^["^  ^""'^'^^ 
all  their  proceedings  with  the  royal  governors,  as  well  as  in  offendin'^the 
their  direct  intercourse  Avith  Great  Britain,  the  colonists  evin-  Americans 
ced  that  jealousy  of  their  liberties,  which  prevented  any  bold   ""''"o  ^'^^ 
attempt,  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain,  to  enforce  restrictive 
measures,  especially  during  the  war. 

In  Pennsylvania,  a  dispute  arose  between  the  proprietary     1757, 
governor  and  the  assembly,  respecting  the  right  of  the  pro-  Dispute  he- 
prietors  to  exempt  their  own  lands  in  the  province  from  a  tax-   ^^■*^'^"  }^^ 

■  1         i-x/-,-!  r        1        1    r  r  1  proprietors 

ation,  the  object  ot  which  Avas  to  pay  tor  the  defense  of  those  and  inhabit- 

lands.     To  adjust  this  dispute,  Benjamin   Franklin  was  sent   ants  of  Pa, 
to  England,  and  the  business  Avas  soon  closed,  by  the  propri-     Franklm 
etors  submitting  their  property  to  be  taxed,  provided  the  as-  ^^laniUVom" 
sessments  Avere  fair  and  equitable.  Pa. 

The  languid  and  spiritless  manner  in  AA^hich  the  Avar  had 
been  conducted,  and  its  consequent  ill  success,  aroused  both 
England  and  America,  and  produced  a  reaction  Avhich  brought 
forward  as  prime  minister,  the  greatest  statesman  of  the  Brit-   ^, 
ish  annals,  William  Pitt,  afterwards   Earl  of  Chatham.     So     William 
powerful  Avas  his  eloquence  and  so  austere  his  patriotism,  that       P^^^- 
he  controlled  at  length  the  energies  of  the  government,  and 
the  spirit  of  the  people.       His  dreaded  A^oice  fearlessly  de- 
nounced the  selfishness  and  pusillanimity  of  the  public  agents. 
With  intense  search  he  found  out  Avorth,  and  resolutely  brought     "^^  ^^^ 

•      r  1     r  ,,•  1  TT-  -^  ^        quence,  pa- 

It  forward  for  public  employment.       His  perseverance  Avas  triotism,  and 

equal  to  his  energy ;  and  his  efforts  Avere  guided  by  a  judg-      eneriiy. 
ment,  Avhich  Avhile  it  Avas  rapid,  Avas,  at  the  same  time,  pro- 
found and  comprehensiA'e. 

AAvare  that  the  colonies  Av^ere  in  danger  of  becominjr  dis- 
couraged  by  the  inefficiency  of  the  parent  country,  the  minis-  p-^  ,  ]i 
ter  assured  them,  in  a  circular  Avhicli  he  addressed  to  the  gov-  the  colonies 
ernors  of  the  provinces,  that  an  effectual  force  should  be  sent  piomising  to 
against  the  French  ;  and  he  exhorted  them  to  use  their  utmost  ^^,.,wfnLti''^ 
exertions  to  raise  men  in  their  respectiA^e  colonies,  pledging 
himself  that  their  own  choice  should  direct  by  Avhat  officers 
their  troops  should  be  commanded  ;  and  that  those  of  the  colo-       He  is 
nies  should  no  longer  be  made  inferior  to  British  officers  of  the  the 'colonies 
game  rank.      Reassured  and  animated  by  this  call,  the  colo-   renew  their 
nists  rencAved  their  efforts,  and  increased  their  army  to  tAventy    exertions, 
tliousand. 

Gen.  Abercrombie  Avas  appointed  to  succeed  the  earl  of  Lou-  ^^  000  ^n"* 
don  in  the  command  of  all  the  British  forces  in  America.     An    Anierica. 
armament  Avas  sent  out  under  Admiral  BoscaAven,  conveying  ,,  f  rom 
12,000  British  troops  commanded  by  General  Amherst,  Avhich,  Conn.  siooo' 
with  the  British  forces  previously  in  America,  and  the  provin-  N.  tL  3.000' 


on 


130 


LOUISBURG    AGAIN    TAKEN. 


PART  II. 


Plan  of  ope- 
rations. 


A larg2  ar- 
mament sails 
to  attack 
Louisburg. 


July  26. 
Louisburg 
surrenders. 

James  Wolfe 
the  master- 
spirit of  the 
military. 

6,000  prison- 
ers sent 
across  the 
Atlantic. 


July  5. 
Abercrombie 

proceeds 
against  Ti- 
conderoga. 


Lord  Howe 
killed. 


The  Britisn 
renulsed 

with  a  loss 
of  2,000. 


August  27. 
(.'olonel 
Bradstrcet 
takes  Foit 
Frontenac. 


cials,  made  up  an  army  far  greater  than  had  ever  before  existed 
in  America.  These  troops  were  all  in  readiness  for  action  early 
in  the  spring.  Nor  were  they  delayed  by  irresolution  as  to 
the  objects  to  be  attempted.  These  having  been  well  con- 
sidered the  precednig  winter,  three  expeditions  were  resohcd 
on,  against  Louisburg,  Crown  Point,  and  Fort  du  Quesne. 

The  possession  of  Louisburg  was  deemed  important,  prin 
cipally,  because  it  would,  by  opening  the  gulf  of  St  Lawrence 
to  the  English,  facilitate  the  seizure  of  the  capital  of  Canada ; 
the  grand  project  of  the  British  minister  having  in  vi<!W 
the  absolute  destruction  of  the  French  power  in  America. 
The  enterprise  against  this  fortress  was  conducted  by  the  land 
and  naval  commanders,  Amherst  and  Boscawen,  with  20  ships 
of  the  line,  and  14,000  men.  The  armament  left  Halifax  on 
the  24th  of  May,  and  arrived  before  Louisburg  on  the  2d  of 
June. 

A  regidar  siege,  the  best  conducted  of  any  which  had  ever 
been  laid  in  America,  placed,  ontbe  26tli  of  July,  this  fortress 
in  the  hands  of  the  British.  It  was  by  his  gallant  conduct  du- 
ring this  siege,  that  James  Wolfk  began  his  high  career  of 
military  renown.  The  loss  of  Louisburg  was  deeply  lelt  by 
France,  and  its  gain  by  England  and  her  rejoicing  colonies. 
The  garrison  and  mariners,  to  the  amount  of  nearly  6,000, 
were  sent  prisoners  tc  England,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
place  were  transported  to  France.  With  Louisburg  the  whole 
island  of  Cape  Breton,  and  that  of  St.  John's,  fell  under  the 
power  of  the  British. 

Gen.  Abercrombie  at  the  head  of  16,000  men,  proceeded 
against  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.  On  the  5th  of  July 
he  crossed  Lake  George,  and  debarking  at  its  northern  ex- 
tremity, he  attempted,  with  unskillful  guides,  to  pass  the  three 
miles  of  dense  woods  which  lay  between  his  army  and  Ticon- 
deroga. As  he  approached  that  fort,  a  detachment  of  the 
French  fell  upon  him,  and  an  engagement  ensued  in  which  the 
assailants  lost  300  men  ;  but  of  the  British,  fell  the  amiable 
Lord  Howe  ;  a  young  officer  of  great  promise,  and  much  be- 
loved both  in  England  and  America. 

Abercrombie,  learning  that  reinforcements  were  daily  ex- 
pected by  the  French,  without  waiting  for  his  artillery,  made 
a  brave  but  imprudent  assault  upon  the  fort,  and  was  repulsed 
with  the  hea\y  loss  of  nearly  2,000  killed  and  wounded. 

He  then  retired  to  his  former  quarters,  on  the  south  side  of 
Lake  George.  Here  he  consented,  at  the  solicitation  of  Col. 
Bradstreet,  to  detach  him  with  3,000  men,  against  Fort  Fron- 
tenac.  With  these  troops,  who  were  mostly  provincials,  he 
marched  to  Oswego,  embarked  on  Lake  Ontario,  and  landed 
on  ihe  2oth  of  August  within  a  mile  of  the  fort,  opened  his 
batteries,  and  in  two  days  forced  this  important  fortress  to  sur- 
render. As  this  fort,  afterwards  named  Kingston,  contained 
tlie  military  stores  which  were  intended  for  the  Indians,  and 


FORT    PITT    ERECTED.  137 

for  the  supply  of  the  south-western  troops,  its  demolition  con-    t'^KT  II. 
tributed  to  the   success    of   the   expedition  against  Fort   du  I'ERIOD  IE 
Quesne.  chap.  vi. 

To  Gen.  Forlies,  with  an  army  of  8,000  men,  was  assigned  •-i*-^'^'*^ 
the  capture  of  this  fort.      Early  in  July  the  army  marched  from     General 
Philadelphia  to  Ray's  Town.      Washington,  gratified  that  the   ^H^^d  Ijy 
expedition  was  at  length  to  be  undertaken,  w^as   at  Cumber-    interested 
land  with  the  Virginia  militia,  whom  he  conmianded,  and  who  posons  into 

,.         '^        .    .        ,  .  T,  ,       ,  ,  the  wrong 

were  m  readiness  to  join  the  main  army.-    Here  he  learned  to  measure  of 
his  surprise,  that  Gen.  Forbes,  induced  by  the  citizens  of  Phil-    opening  a 
adelphia,  had  decided  to  open  a  new  road  from  Ray's  Town  '^'^porrdu-^ 
to  the  Ohio.      In  vain  Washington  remonstrated.     The  new     Quesne. 
road  was  made,  and  he,  as  became  his  duty,  rendered  every 
possible  assistance.     But  before  the  army  had  arrived,  the 
weather  became  so  cold  and  the  men  endured  such  severe 
suflerings,  that  a  council  of  officers  decided  that  they  must 
abandon  their  object  and  return.     This  they  Avere  about  to  do, 
when  they  received  such  intelligence  of  the  w^eakness  of  the  ^j^    p 
French  garrison,  that  they  roused  to  fresh  eflbrt,  and  on  the     bum  the 
25th  of  November  reached  du  Quesne.      But  it  was  only  a    works  and 
sohtary  pile  of  ruins  which  they  found.     On  the  preceding  pi^ce^^to  the 
night  the  French  had  set  fire  to  the  fort,  and  embarked  to  go     English, 
down  the  Ohio.  Nov.  25 

While  the  army  were  engaged  in  making  the  new  road,  tj  r  t 
Major  Grant  with  a  detachment  had  been  suffered  to  throw    capture  of 
himself  forward,  so  as  to  encounter  the  full  force  of  the  French  Majfir  Gram 
garrison.     He  was  totally  defeated  and  made  prisoner,  with     ^^^^gn. 
eighteen  of  his  officers.     Three  hundred  of  his  party  were 
either  killed  or  taken  by  the  enemy. 

New  works  were  erected  on  the  site  of  du  Quesne,  and 
named  Fort  Pitt.  Now%  under  the  appellation  of  Pittsburg, 
this  place  is  the  Manchester  of  America.  The  neighboring 
Indians  were  invited  to  the  fort,  and  peace  was  re-established 
with  their  chiefs.  Gen.  Forbes,  exliausted  with  fatigue,  died 
on  his  way  to  Philadelphia. 

More  distant  Indian  tribes  also  felt  that  their  safety,  since  cilatEasion 
the  capture  of  Fort  du  Quesne,  was  best  consulted  by  peace 
with  the  English,  and  at  a  grand  council  held  in  Easton,  Penn., 
deputies  from  the  Six  Nations  met  W' ith  those  from  New  Eng- 
land, and  from  the  tribes  ranging  along  the  eastern  Allegha- 
nies,  as  far  south  as  North  Carolina.  On  the  part  of  the  Eng- 
lish, Sir  William  Johnson  and  the  governors  of  New  York 
and  New  Jersey,  entered  with  them  into  friendly  relations, 
and  the  calumet  sent  up  to  heaven  a  far  more  grateful  odor 
than  the  steam  of  reeking  battle-fields. 


138  GENERAL    WOLFE.   IN    COMMAND 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Campaign  of  1759. 

PART  11.  The  campaign  of  1759,  had  for  its  object  the  entire  reduc- 
PERiOD  III.  ^ion  of  Canada.  After  the  disaster  of  Ticonderoga,  the  chief 
CHAP.  vn.  command  of  the  British  forces  was  given  to  Gen.  Amherst, 
v.^,^^-^^.-^^  The  army  was  divided  into  three  parts,  exhibiting  the  follow- 

1759.  ^"&  order.  The  first  division,  under  Wolfe,  was  to  make  a 
The  plan  of  direct  attempt  upon  Quebec.  The  second,  under  Amherst, 
ilie  campaign  -yy^g  ordered  to  take  Ticonderogfa  and  Crown  Point,  and  then 

three  ob-     proceed  northerly  ;  and  the  third,  under  Gen.  Prideaux,  con- 

jects ;       sisting  of  provincials  and  Indians,  was  to  reduce  Niagara,  then 

ture  Ticon-  ^^  .?^  down  the  St.  Lawrence,  and,  jointly  with  the  second  de- 

deroga  and  tachment,  attack  Montreal.     Thus  the  several  divisions  were 

Crown 
Point. 


Crown      ^^   enter   Canada  by  different  routes,  but  were  all  destined. 


eventually,  to  meet  before  Quebec,  and  it  was  against  that  key- 
2  To  take  gtone  of  the  arch,  which  sustained  the  P'rench  power  in  Ameri- 
MontTea^!^    ca,  that  the  grand  final  effort  was  to  be  made. 

Prideaux  besieged  Niagara  on  the  6th  of  July.     He  was  kil- 
t^  T?  ^h^"   ^®^  ^y  ^^^®  bursting  of  a  shell,  and  the  command  devolved  up- 
'  on  Sir  William  Johnson.     The  French  gave  battle  to  the  Eng- 
lish, but  the  Indians  in  their  alliance  deserted  them  in  the  heat 
July  6.      of  the    engagement,  and    victory  declared  in  favor    of   the 
kiUejfTn  be-  English.     The  garrison,  consisting  of  600  men,  fell  into  the 
sieging  Ni-  hands  of  the  British,  who  now  possessing  this  important  post, 
^sara.       ^n  communication  between  the  northern  and  southern  posses- 
surrenders,   sions  of  the  French  was  barred,  and  the  quiet  behavior  of  the 
Indians  secured. 

After  the  taking  of  Louisburg,  Wolfe  returned  to  England. 
Pitr  sustains  -^^^^'  '^^'^^^  ^^'"^^  discerned  his  extraordinary  qualities  while  he 
Wolfe.      was  yet  obscure,  and  had  brought  him  forward  against  the 
prejudices  of  the  King,  and  resolutely  sustained  him,  confided 
to  him  the  command  against  Quebec.     His  subordinate  officers 
Provides     were  carefully  chosen.     He  was  provided  with  a  choice  army 
army.    ^  o^  8,000  men,  and  a  hea\^  train  of  artillery.     Admirals  Saun- 
ders and   Holmes,  seamen  of  great  merit,  commanded  the 
fleet. 

It  was  late  in  June  when  the  army  debarked  upon  the  Isl- 
and of  Orleans.     From  this  spot  Wolfe  reconnoitered  the  po- 
junt.       sition  of  his  enemy,  and  saw  the  ftdl  magnitude  of  the  difiicul- 
He  lands  hi:;  ^jgg  which  surroundcd  him.     The  city  of  Quebec  rose  before 
isle  of  Or-    him,  upon  the  north  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence  ;  its  upper  town 
leans.       and  strong  fortifications,  situated  on  a  rock,  whose  bold  and 
steep  front  continued  f\ir  westward,  parallel  with  the  river,  its 
base  near  to  the  shore  ;  thus  presenting  a  wall,  which  it  seem- 
ed impossible  to  scale.     From  the  northwest  came  down  the 


HE  PRETARES  TO  ATTACK  QUEBEC.  139 

St.  Charles,  entering  the  St.  Lawrence  just  below  the  town ;  PART  II. 
its  banks  high  and  uneven,  and  cut  by  deep  ravines  ;  while  period  m 
armed  vessels  were  borne  upon  its  waters,  and  floating  batte-  giiap.  vn. 
ries  obstructed  its  entrance.  A  few  miles  below,  the  Mont-  ^^i^^  .^x^ 
morenci  leapt  down  its  cataract  into  the  St.  Lawrence  ;  and,  1 759. 
Strongly  posted  along  the  sloping  bank  of  that  river,  and  be-  Difljculties 
twecn  these  two  tributaries,  the  French  army,  commanded  by  ^'  !".^  P^ 
Montcalm,  displayed  its  formidable  lines. 

The  lirst  measure  of  Wolfe,  was  to  get  possession  of  Point 
Levi,  opposite  Quebec.       Here  he  erected  and  opened  heavy      July  9. 
batteries,  which  swept  from  the  lower  town,  the  buildings  along  at  Pt.  Levi- 
the  margin  of  the  river  ;  but  the  fortifications,  resting  on  the 
huge  table  of  rock  above,  remained  uninjured. 

Perceiving  this,  Wolfe  next  sought  to  draw  the  enemy  from 
his  entrenchments,  and  bring  on  an  engagement.     For  this 
purpose  he  landed  his  army  below  the  Montmorenci ;  but  the 
wary  Montcalm  eluded  every  artifice  to  draw  him  out.     Wolfe  He  attacks 
next  crossed  that  stream,  with  a  portion  of  his  army,  and  at-   ^^ontcaim 
tacked  him  in  his  camp.     The  troops  which  were  to  com-    morenci! 
mence  the  assault  fell  into  disorder,  having,   with  irregular 
ardor,  disobeyed  the  orders  of  the  general.     Perceiving  their 
confusion,  he  drew  them  off"  with  the  loss   of  four  hundred  Loses  400 
men,  and  recrossed  the  Montmorenci.      Here  he  was  inform- 
ed that  his  expected  succors  were  likely  to  fail  him.      Am- 
herst had  found  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point  vacated,  and 
was  preparing  to  attack  the  French  forces  withdrawn  from  -^""herst  is 
these  forts  to  the  Isle  aux  Noix.    Prideaux  had  lost  his  life,  but   attack  the 
his  plans  were  carried  out  by  Sir  William  Johnson.     But  the    French  at 
enemy  were  in  force  at  Montreal ;  and  from  neither  division  ^^'^^'■i-'^^o^ 
of  the  British  army  could  the   commander  at   Quebec  now 
hope  for  any  assistance. 

At  this  point  of  the  enterprise,  Wolfe  was  severely  tried. 
Success  seemed  to  fly  from  his  grasp ;  yet  he  knew  that  suc- 
cess alone  would  be  the  criterion  of  his  merit.  He  sighed  ^olfe  per 
frequently.  His  countenance  sometimes  flashed  with  his  plexed 
lofty  designs;  and  sometimes  sunk  in  gloom,  as  he  dreaded 
their  failure,  which  he  determined  not  to  survive.  His  mind 
towered  above  the  sensibilities  of  his  heart,  and  he  kept  on 
his  course  ;  but  his  bodily  health  failed.  When,  however,  he 
was  again  able  to  mingle  with  the  army,  every  eye  was  raised 
to  him  with  affection  and  hope. 

The  plan  which  he  had  revolved  in  his  mind,  and,  with  the 
approbation  of  his  oflicers,  had  determined  to  attempt,  was  to  ^^p^'^s^c^. 
scale,  in  the  night,  and  at  some  distance  above  Quebec,  the      ing  the 
bold  precipice   on  which  the   fortifications   were    built,   and   Height.^  of 
thus    reach   the   level    plain    above,    called    the  Heights   of 
Abraham. 

Montcalm  perceiving  that  something  was  to  be  attempted, 
dispatched  ^I.  de  Bourgainville,  with  one  thousand  five  hun- 
dred men,  to  move  higher  up  the  St.  Lawrence    and  watch 


140 


FRENCH  DEFEATED  ON  THE  HEIGHTS  OF  ABRAHAM. 


PART  II. 


September. 
He  returns 
to  Orleans. 


He  gains 
the  plains  of 

Abraham, 
and  prepares 

for  battle. 

Sept.  13. 


the  motions  of  the  English.  Wolfe,  pursuant  to  his  plan, 
hroke  up  his  camp  at  Montmorenci,  and  returned  to  Orleans. 
Then  embarking  with  his  army,  he  directed  Admiral  Holmes, 
who  commanded  the  fleet,  in  which  himself  and  the  army 
had  embarked,  to  sail  up  the  river  several  miles  higher  than 
the  intended  point  of  debarkation.  This  movement  deceived 
De  Bourgainville,  and  gave  Wolfe  the  advantage  of  the  cur- 
rent and  the  tide,  to  float  his  boats  silently  down  to  the  des- 
tined spot. 

This  was  done  about  an  hour  before  daylight.  Wolfe  was 
the  first  man  who  leaped  on  shore.  When  he  saw  the  difli- 
culties  around  him,  he  said  to  some  one  near,  "  I  do  not  be- 
lieve there  is  a  possibility  of  getting  up,  but  we  must  do  our 
endeavor."  The  rapidity  of  the  stream  was  hurrying  along 
their  boats,  and  some  had  already  gone  beyond  the  narrow 
landing-place.  The  shore  was  so  shelving,  that  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  ascend  ;  and  it  was  lined  with  French  sentinels 
One  of  these  hailed,  and  was  answered  by  a  captain,  who  fully 
understood  the  French  language,  and  who  had  been  especially 
instructed  for  this  purpose.  Escaping  these  dangers  at  the 
water's  edge,  they  proceeded,  though  with  the  utmost  difli- 
culty,  to  scale  the  precipice,  pulling  themselves  up  by  the  roots 


and  branches  of  the  trees  and  the  projectin 


2  rocKs  1 


n  their 


British  loss, 
100  killed, 
500  wound- 
ed. 

French  kill- 
ed and 
wounded, 

1,000. 

Prisoners, 

1,000. 

Death  of 

Wolfe  ; 


of  Mont- 
calm. 


1T59. 

Sep.  18. 

Quebec  sur 

renders. 


way.  The  first  party  who  reached  the  heights  secured  a 
small  battery,  which  crowned  them ;  and  thus  the  remainder 
of  the  army  ascended  in  safety  ;  and  there,  on  this  lofty  plain, 
Avhich  commands  one  of  the  most  magnificent  prospects  which 
nature  has  formed,  the  British  army,  drawn  up  in  a  highly 
advantageous  position,  were,  in  the  morning,  discovered  by 
the  French. 

Montcalm,  learning  with  surprise  and  deep  regret,  the  ad- 
vantage gained  by  his  opponent,  left  his  strong  position, 
crossed  the  St.  Charles,  and  displaying  his  lines  for  battle, 
intrepidly  led  on  the  attack.  Being  on  the  left  of  the  French, 
he  was  opposed  to  Wolfe,  who  was  on  the  right  of  the  British. 
In  the  heat  of  the  engagement  both  commanders  were  mor- 
tally wounded. 

The  wound  with  which  Wolfe  fell  was  the  third  which  he 
had  received  in  the  battle.  He  was  removed  from  the  field ; 
but  he  watched  it  with  intense  anxiety,  as  faint  with  the  loss 
of  blood,  he  reclined  his  languid  head  upon  the  supporting 
arm  of  an  officer.  A  cry  was  heard,  "  they  fly,  they  fly  !" — 
"  Who  fly  ?"  he  exclaimed.  "  The  enemy,"  was  the  repl)' 
'*  Then,"  said  he,  "  I  die  content ;"  and  expired.  Not  less 
heroic  was  the  death  of  Montcalm.  He  rejoiced  when  told 
that  his  wound  was  mortal ;  "  For,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  not  live 
to  see  the  surrender  of  Quebec." 

After  the  battle,  the  affairs  of  the  English  were  conducted 
with  great  discretion  by  General  Townshend;  whereas,  the 
French,  in  their  panic,  appear  to  have  yielded  at  once  to  the 


BRITISH    IN    POSSESSION    OF    QUEBEC.  14J 

suggestions  of  iheir  fears.  The  capitulation  of  Quebec  was  PART  II. 
signed  within  five  days  after  the  battle.  Townshend  gave  period  hi 
favorable  terms  to  the  garrison,  for  he  knew  that  the  resources  chap.  vni. 
of  the  French  were  by  no  means  exhausted.  v^-^-v-^^y 

General  'I'ownsend  returning  to  England,  General  Murray- 
was    left  in  command  with  a  garrison  of  5,000  men.     The 
French  army  retired  to  Montreal  ;  and  M.  de  Fevi,  who  had 
succeeded  Montcalm,  being,  in  the  course   of  the  winter,  re- 
inforced by   Canadians   and   Indians,  returned  the   following     1760. 
aprinn-,  with  a  force  of  (3,000  to  Quebi^c.     General  Murray    French  at- 
left   the    fortress,  and  the  Heights  of  Abraham  became  the  o^amQuebec 
scene   of  another  battle  more  bloody,  though  not  equally  im-  ° 
portant  in  its  consequences  with  the  first.     The  armies  on 
each  side  sustained  the  loss  of  1,000  men.     The  battle  was 
not  decisive,  but  the  advantage  was  on  the  side  of  the  French, 
who  maintained  their  oround  while  the  EnoHsh  retired  within 
the  fortress.     Here  they  were  closely  invested  until  they  re- 
ceived reinforcements,   when   M.    de    Levi,    abandoning    all 
thoughts  of  obtaining  possession  of  Quebec,  returned  to  Mont- 
real, where  Vaudreuil,  the  governor,  assembled  all  the  force 
of  Canada. 

In  the  mean  time,  General  Amherst  had  made  arrangements 
for  assembling  before  this  place  all  the  British  troops,  from 
Lake   Ontario,   Lake    Champlain,    and    Quebec.     Here  they 
fortunately  arrived  within  two  days  of  each  other,  and  imme- 
diately invested  the  place.     Vandreuil   found    the    force    too      t^^ 
strong  to  be  resisted  ;  and  on  the   8ih  of  September,  he  sur-  Canada  sui 
rendered    Montreal,    Detroit,  Mackinaw,  and  all  the  French    rendered, 
possessions  in  Canada. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Wars  with  the  Indians. — English  politics. — Peace  of  Paris. 

The  French,  in  retiring  from  Fort  du  Quesne,  passed 
into  Louisiana.  On  their  route,  they  had  intrigued  with  the 
Chcrokses,  who  continued  a  predatory  war  upon  the  Caro- 
linians. General  Amherst  sent  Colonel  Montgomery  with 
a  body  of  regulars  to  their  relief.  Being  joined  by  such  Vloiitg^ornei^ 
forces  as  could  be  raised  in  CaroUna,  he  marched  into  the  *^r^^!^^f^-^^ 
Cherokee  country,  destroyed  all  their  lower  towns,  and  was 
approaching  Etchoc,  the  first  of  their  middle  settlements,  when 
he  was  attacked,  in  an  almost  impenetrable  thicket,  by  a  large 
body  of  savages.  In  the  battle  which  ensued,  the  English 
claimed  the  victory ;  but  so  great  was  their  loss,  that  thev 
immediately  retreated  from  the  country. 


1760. 

Colonel 


l42  PONTIAC    CONQUERS    BY    ARTFrL    DEVICES. 

I*A.RT  II.  The  savages  continuing  hostile,  the  following  year  General 

FERIOD  III  Amherst  detached  several  regiments  under  Colonel  Grant, 

chap.  VIII.  who,  early  in  June,  gave  battle  to  the  Cherokees,  at  the  place 

v^.^-v-^.^  where   Colonel    Montgomery  had   encountered   them.     The 

1761.  English  prevailed,  and,  pursuing  their  enemy  to  Etchoc, 
The  Eng-  burned  their  dwellings,  and  laid  waste  their  country.  The 
lish  defeat  grj^yaggs  being  humbled,  peace  was  restored. 

waste'their       Interesting  events,  closely  connected  with  the   cession   of 
/•ountr> ,  and  tj^e   French  territory,  were   already  in  progress  among  the 
°°t™n^eace^'"  savages  of  the  northwest.     We  have  seen  with  what  deep 
policy  the  missionaries  and  the  traders  of  that  nation  had  won 
English  less  the  hearts  of  the  Indians.     Said  one  of  their  orators,  "  when 
P°P^}^^.^^'^\'^  the  French  arrived,  they  came  and   kissed  us.     They  called 
than  the  '  US   their   children,  and  we  found  them  fathers."     When  the 
French,      more  haughty,  and  less  attentive  English  were  preparing  to 
take  possession  of  the  western   ports,  Pontiac,   the    highly 
gifted  chief  of  the  Ottawas,  who  sought,  like  Philip,  to  regain 
the  primitive  independence  of  his  race,  made  use  of  the  attach- 
ment of  the  red  men  to  the  French,  to  unite  them  in  a  general 
conspiracy  against  their  conquerors.     As    the   English  had 
expelled    the    French,    if    the    Indians    coidd    exterminate 

1762.  them  before  their  power  were  fully  established,  they  would 
^tSve^thr'  ^g^i^  b^  ^ords  of  the  forest.     The  plan  of  Pontiac  was  not 

daring      inferior  in  boldness,  to  that  formed  by  Pitt  for  the  final  con- 
scheme  of  q^est  of  Canada.     It  was  no  less  than  a  simultaneous  attack 
their  "posts,   upon  all  the  British  posts  near  the  lakes,     Pontiac,  by  his  in- 
ventive genius,  his  eloquence,  and  his  energy,  had  acquired 

1763.  such  power  over  the  northwestern  tribes,  that  all  was    ar- 
/^^y  7.      ranged  without  discovery.     On   the  7th  of  July,  1763,  nine 

British  posts  o^   ^^^   British  forts    were    surprised   and   captured   by   the 
captured.     Indians. 

Pontiac  had  arranged  plans  of  stratagem  which  had  thus 

^Hhe  nine^  far  succeeded.     At  Maumee,  the  commanding  officer  had  been 

taken  by     lured  forth  by  the  piteous  entreaties  of  a  squaw,  who  feigned 

stratagem,    iq  plead  for   a  wounded  man,  dying  without  the  fort.     Such, 

"^   '      by  savages  in  ambush,  he  hims^elf  was  soon  made. 

At  Mackinaw,   a  more    important   post,  the   Indians   had 
July  7.      gathered  by   hundreds.     They  began   among    themselves    a 
tlso^takenW  spirited  game  at  ball.     One  of  the  two  parties  who  played, 
a  stratagem  drove  the  Other,  as  if  by  accident,  towards  the  palisades  which 
''^Ponlhic^^  inclosed  the  grounds  of  the  fort.     They  came  on,  shouting, 
and  sporting,  and  the  soldiers  went  forth  to  view  the  game. 
At  length  the  ball  was  thrown  over  the  pickets,  and  the  Indians 
jumped  after  it  within  the  inclosure.     Then  began  the  butch- 
ery.    The  soldiers  of  the  garrison,  appalled  and  unprepared, 
could  make  no  resistance.     The  commandant,  Major  Henry, 
jj,-j^'p^j     is  writing  within  his  room.     He  hears   the  Indian  war-cry, 
scene  wit-    and  the  shrieks  of  the  murdered  ;  and,  from  his  window,  per- 
nessed  by    reives  four  hundred  savages,  cutting  down  with  their  toma- 
dant.        hawks,  his   dearest  friends.     He  sees  them  scalping  them 


INTRODUCTION    OF    THE    MORAVIAN    MISSIONARIES.  143 

while  yet  in  their  deatli  struiroles,  their  necks  beneath  their    PART  II. 
feet,  or  their  heads  hekl  between  the  knees  of  the  scalpers. 
They  had  already  taken  the  fort.     Through  strange  perils, 
Henry  himself  escaped  to  relate  the  horrible  scene. 

Pontiac  chose  to  connnand  in  person  at  Detroit,  that  post 
being  regarded  as  the  key  to  the  upper  country.     On  the  6lh, 
the  Indians,  to  the  number  of  six  hundred,  had  collected  in 
the  woods  around  the  fort.     In  the  evening,  a  squaw  who  had     Pontiac 
been  kindly  treated,  betrays  to  Major  Gladwyn,  the  comman-  'pe^rou/bu* 
dant,  the  designs  of  the  savages.     On  the  7th,  Pontiac,  Avith  a   his  sirata- 
partv  of  his  chiefs,  present  themselves  as  in  peace,  desiring   p"^  'f  ^^: 
to  hold  a  council  with  the  ofticers  within  the  tort.      I  hey  are     defeated, 
admitted,  but  to  their  surprise  immediately  surrounded  by  the      ^^^y  7. 
garrison,  fully  armed.     Major  Gladwyn  approaches  Pontiac, 
lifts  his  blanket,  and  finds  a  short  rille  concealed  beneath  it. 
Similar  ones  are  sought  for  and  found  upon  each  of  his  party. 
Thus  unexpectedly  discovered,  Pontiac  himself  was   discon- 
certed.    The  Indians  from  without  were  not  let  in  ;  but  the 
chief  escaped,  or  was  suflered  to  go  forth. 

He  then  besieged  the  fort,  holding  the  garrison  confined  for  He  holds  ttw 
many  months,   and  cutting  off  supplies  and  reinforcements.  ^'^g^eKed*^" 
At  length  his  allies  grew  weary  of  war,  and  peace  was  con- 
cluded.    Pontiac  died  three  years  afterwards. 

It  was  during  this  period,  that  the   "  United  Brethren,"  or 
Moravians,  planted  themselves  in  America.     A  short  time  be-     Gennans 
fore  Oglethorpe's  emigration,  these  persecuted  Germans  had  (rom  Mora- 
been  expelled  from  their  native  land,  and  in  a  town  in  Poland,  ^J^  PoCLd 
we  find  them  with  Count  Zinzeiidorf,  son  to  one  of  the  first 
officers   of  the  court,   as  their   spiritual   head.     They  were  x^gy  regard 
closely  united  as  brethren  and  sisters,  and  believed  themselves    themselves 
called  to  spread  the  gospel  to  benighted  regions.     To   labor  ^c'^ai™'^ 
for  the  salvation  of  the  heathen   aborigines,  they  sought   and 
obtained  means  of  introducing  several  of  their  number  into    Some  go  to 
this  country.     A  part  went  first  to   Georgia,  where  they  re-     Georgia, 
mained  until,  in  the  war  with  the  Spaniards,   they  were  re- 
quired to  take  up  arms.     But  regarding  Christianity  as  oppo-    r^ 
sed  to  war,  they  left  Georgia,  and  joined  the  other  division,  join  others 
who  had  settled  at  Nazareth  and  Bethlehem,   in  Pennsylva-  >"  Pemisyl 

„:.,  vania. 

nia. 

Here  the  society  increased  their  territory  by  purchase  and  "^^^Y  "^=^jj« 
by  gift  from  the  savages.  They  erected  buildings,  holding  and^Bethle- 
their  goods  in  common.  Brother  Ranch  soon  penetrated  to  hem  their 
the  savage  residences  east  of  the  Hudson,  where,  nine  miles    ^^"V;  ^^^ 

-   .  '  sill'  m. 

east  of  Rhinebeck,  he  established  amission,  which  was  called 

Shekomeko.     Others  followed,  and  two  chapels  were  erected     1Y43. 

within  the  confines  of  Connecticut.     Instances  among  the  In-     Found  a 

dian  converts  of  a  total  change  of  life  and  habits,  of  sacrifices   jJJ^p^  y^^" 

and  suflerings  willingly  endured — of  religious  emotions,  pa-   and  two  in* 

thetic  and  sincere,  evinced  the   transforming  power  of  the  ConnectJcut 

gospel. 


144  THE    PEACE    OF    PARIS 

PART  II.        Jealousies  on  the  part  of  the    whites,  that  the   Moravian 

PERIOD  m.  teachers  would  act  the  same  part  as  the   French  Jesuits  had 

CHAP.  viii.  formerly  done,   caused  them  to  be  expelled  from  New  York. 

'"-*'^"~^^'**^  They  returned  to  Nazareth  and  Bethlehem,  and  were  follow 

.  1740.     ed  by  forty-six  of  their  attached  converts.     These  they  provi- 

A  ^^^^p11  (1  ^®^  ^^^'  ^^^  watched  over  as  children.     Here   they  spread 

nd  return  lo  their  settlements,   to  two  of  which  they  gave  German  names, 

Pennsylva-  signifying  "  Tents  of  Peace"*  and  "  Tents  of  Grace"t     At 

whJre^thev  Mahony  they  had  a  mission-house,  where  nearly  twenty   of 

flourish."    their  number  were  lodged. 

The  learned  Augustus  Spanzenberg  was  the  first  American 

Spanzen-    bishop  of  the  Moravians.     Count   Zinzendorf  himself  came 

American    ^^^^  ^^   ^^^^^  them,    accompanied  by  his   daughter.       David 

bishop.      Zeisberger  went  intrepidly  forth  to  confer  with  the  chiefs  of 

A  visit  from  ^\^q  gj^  nations  at  the  o^reat  council-fire  at  Onondajra.     They 

Count  Zin-  .,,..,  '='  ,,  i»  -^ 

zenciorf.     received  mm  with  courtesy  ;    but  they  gave  not  the  same  en- 
Zeisberger.   couragement  to  the  mission,  as  did  the  less  warlike  Delawares. 
The  breaking  out  of  the  French  war  was   the  signal  of 
Sufferings    trouble  and  distress  to  the  Moravians.     Desiring  peace  with 
French  wa    ^^^'  ^^^^  ^^^  incurred  the  suspicions  and  hostilities  of  each  of 
*  the  three  parties,  English,  French,  and  Indians.     Of  the  latter, 
a  party  mostly  of  Shawanesc,  made  a  midnight  attack  on  the 
1755.      mission-house  at  Mahony,  killed  twelve  of  the  liiissionaries 
Nov.  2i.     g^jjjj  burned  the.  house.     The   Moravians  called  in  their  out- 
sacie  at  Ma-  posts,  and  sheltered  their  converts  in  Bethlehem  and  Nazareth 
hony.       until  the  war  was  passed  ;  then,  with  fresh  alacrity,  they  pre- 
pared  to   extend  their    efforts  along  the    Susquehanna,   and 
across  the  mountains,  to  the  wild  regions  of  the  Ohio. 

George  III.  succeeded  to  the  throne  of  England  soon  after 
the  capture  of  Quebec  ;  and  Mr.  Piit,  not  finding  his  influence 
October      with  the  new  king  sufficiently  great  to  allow  him  the  measures 
1761.     for  which  alone  he  was  willing  to  become  responsible,  re- 
Pitt  resigns,  signed  the  seals  in  October,  1761  ;  and  the   following  year, 
Lord  Bute,   the  earl  of  Bute  was  made  prime  minister.     The  first  object 
of  the  new  administration  was  to  restore  peace  ;  and  contrary 
to  the  wishes  of  the  nation,  the  preliminaries  were   settled. 
Scarcely  was   this  accomplished,  when  Lord  Bute  resigned 
his  place,  which  was  given  to  Mr.  George  Grenville. 

The  definitive  treaty  was  signed  at  Paris  in  February,  1763, 
by  which  England  obtained  from  France  all  her  possessions 
1703.  in  America,  east  of  the  Mississippi,  excepting  the  island  of 
Pea3e^o(  New  Orleans  ;  the  navigation  of  that  river  being  left  open  lo 
both  nations.  From  Spain  she  obtained  Florida  in  exchange 
for  Havana,  which  had  been  captured  during  the  war.  And 
France,  at  the  same  time,  gave  to  Spain  the  territory  of 
Louisiana. 

*  Friedenheuten.  t  Gnadenheuten. 


PART  III, 


FROM    1763  TO   1789. 


PERIOD    I. 


THB    PEACE     I  1*763,  I     OK    PARIS, 


THE   DECLARATION    <  1T76.  >    OP    INDEPENDEKCB. 


CHAPTR  I. 


Causes  of  the  Revolutionarj-  War. 

We  come  now  to  trace  the  causes  by  which  England  lost 
her  colonies,  and  America  gained  her  independence. 

If  we  look  back  upon  the  general  current  of  events,  we 
shall  find,  that  the  determination  which  was  made  by  Eng- 
land, soon  after  the  peace  of  Paris,  to  tax  her  American  colo- 
nies, and  their  subsequent  resistance,  to  which  the  revolution 
is  often  solely  referred,  were  themselves  events  naturally 
arising  from  the  wide  diversity  of  public  sentiment  and  feel- 
in^,  on  certain  subjects  ;  so  intimately  connected  with  their 
mutual  relations,  that,  in  one  way  or  another,  the  discontents 
thence  arising,  must,  sooner  or  later,  have  come  to  the  test  of 
open  and  determined  opposition.  If  a  father  fully  believes 
himself  justly  possessed  of  power  over  his  son,  or  an  elder 
brother  over  a  younger,  which  the  son,  or  younger  brother, 
solemnly  considers  as  a  mere  tyrannical  assumption,  to  which 
he  cannot  submit,  without  degrading  himself  to  a  state  of  sla- 
very, it  is  not  difficult  to  predict,  that,  without  a  change  of 
opinion,  on  one  side  or  the  other,  a  contest  must  arise ;  and, 
if  the  power  of  the  elder  party  cannot  force  submission  from 
the  younger,  a  separation  must  ensue. 

Perhaps,  the  figm'ative  language,  by  which  England  was 
called  the  mother  country,  had  no  inconsiderable  share  in 
^viug  to  the  nation,  to  which  all  allowed  a  parental  name, 
the  idea  that  she  had  rights  similar  to  those  which  a  parent 
has  OAcr  a  child ;  whereas,  to  the  English  then  on  the  stage, 
that  old  England,  which  our  forefathers  left,  was  as  much  a 
parent  land,  as  to  the  Americans.  Had  the  epithet  been  used 
in  common,  and  the  language  of  the  parties  such  as  showed 
ihem  to  be,  what  they  really  were,  fellow  subjects  of  the  same 


PART  III. 


Honest  pa- 
triots in  Eng- 
land and 
America  dif- 
fer widely  in 
opinion  con 
cerning  the 
riKht. 


The  terra 

mother 

country 

niisunder* 

stood. 


146 


COLONIES  DETERMINE  TO  RESIST  INTERNAL  TAXATION. 


PART  III. 


Internal 
taxation 
made  by 
Americans 
the   ground 
of  resist- 
ance. 


England  de- 

♦>ermined  lo 

humole  and 

subjugate 

America.  ■ 


Delay  f  11  the 
close  of  the 
French  war. 


laws,  and  brethren  of  the  same  blood,  England  might  not  have 
been  unjust,  nor  her  colonies  driven  to  revolt. 

England  believed,  contrary  to  the  opinion  of  the  colonies, 
that  she  had  a  right  to  change  their  governments,  although 
established  by  royal  charters.  She  maintained  that  she  could 
at  her  pleasure,  regulate  and  restrict  their  commerce  ;  and  to 
this  opinion  the  colonies  did  not  in  general  object ;  but,  in 
particular  cases,  they  believed  she  carried  this  power  to  an 
oppressive  extent.  Finally,  she  claimed  a  right  to  collect 
from  the  provinces,  a  revenue,  either  by  external  duties 
imposed  for  the  regulation  of  trade,  or  by  internal  taxes,  on 
articles  to  be  consumed  by  the  colonists.  It  was  the  subject 
of  internal  taxation,  on  which  the  most  decided  opposition  of 
opinions  prevailed.  The  Americans  did  not  dispute  the  right 
of  the  British,  in  respect  to  external  taxes,  except  when  car- 
ried to  a  vexatious  extent,  as  in  the  case  of  the  law,  called  the 
Sugar  Act ;  but  the  subject  of  internal  taxes,  having  been 
deeply  considered,  they  deliberately  determined  not  to  submit 
to  their  imposition  in  any  manner,  or  by  any  assembly,  except 
by  one  composed  of  their  own  representatives. 

It  has  been  already  seen  in  how  many  instances,  the  Bri- 
tish, acting  consistently  with  these  views,  had  attempted  what 
the  colonists  considered  encroachments  upon  their  rights ; 
and  that  they  had  reluctantly  submitted,  evaded,  or  resisted, 
as  the  circumstances  of  the  occasion,  or  the  apprehended  im- 
portance of  the  contested  right,  seemed  to  require.  In  many 
instances,  they  had  opposed  the  governors  sent  over  by  the 
crown  ;  and  those,  by  their  complaints,  had  made  the  English 
government  believe  that  their  American  provinces  were,  by 
degrees,  shaking  ofl'  the  authority  of  the  crown,  and  tending 
to  a  state  of  independence  ;  to  prevent  which,  measures  must 
be  taken  to  humble  and  subjugate  them. 

Such  Avas  the  state  of  affairs  at  the  commencement  of  the 
late  war,  between  England  and  France,  in  which  the  colonies 
had  so  deep  an  interest,  and  in  which  they  bore  so  large  a 
share.  While  pressed  by  a  common  enemy,  these  causes  of 
dissension  remained  latent ;  but  as  soon  as  this  war  termi- 
nated, and  while  yet  the  colonies  were  rejoicing  in  being  de- 
livered from  a  foe,  who  had  so  long  instigated  the  savages  to 
midnight  murder,  the  government  of  England  began  to  delibe- 
rate by  what  means  they  could  best  bend  the  stubborn  provin- 
cials, to  what  they  considered  due  subjection.  This  was  not, 
however,  the  only  motive  of  the  British  ministry,  in  the  acts 
which  ensued.  The  expenses  of  the  war  had  added  more 
than  three  hundred  millions  of  dollars  to  their  national  debt. 
To  find  the  means  of  defraying  its  annual  charges,  and  other 
increased  expenditures,  was  now  the  difficult  duty  of  the  Bri- 
tish government. 

As  early  as  1760,  the  mutual  jealousies  between  the  colo- 
nies and  the  mother  country  appeared  in  Massachusetts,  on 


AMERICAN    INDEPENDENCE     FIRST    ASSERTED. 


U7 


the  occasion  of  nn  attempt  to  enforce  the  act,  hy  which  duties 
were  Uiid  on  foreign  sugar  and  molasses,  which,  having  been 
considered  oppressive,  had  been  evaded.  The  custom-house 
oflicers  were  directed,  in  case  of  suspecting  these  articles  to 
be  concealed,  to  apply  to  the  superior  court  of  the  colony  for 
what  were  termed,  "  writs  of  assistance,"  which  were  a  kind 
of  general  search  warrant.  Any  petty  custom-house  officer, 
armed  with  one  of  them,  might,  on  pretence  of  searching  for 
these  articles,  invade,  at  his  pleasure,  the  family  retirement 
of  any  gentleman  in  the  province. 

The  people  of  Boston  determined  to  oppose  the  gTanting 
of  writs  of  assistance,  and  employed  two  of  their  most  emi- 
nent lawyers,  Oxenbridge  Thatcher  and  James  Otis,  for  this 
purpose.  The  latter  of  these  gentlemen  defended  the  cause 
of  American  rights  with  such  impetuous  eloquence,  that 
one  wdio  heard  him,  John  Adams,  afterwards  himself  so  highly 
disthiguished,  said,  "  Otis  was  a  flame  of  fire  !  Every  man 
of  an  immensely  crowded  audience  w^ent  away  ready  to  take 
arms  against  writs  of  assistance.  Then  and  there  was  the 
first  scene  of  opposition  to  the  arbitrary  claims  of  Great  Bri- 
tain ;  then  and  there  American  independence  was  born." 
The  wTits  were,  however,  under  certain  restrictions,  granted; 
but  such  was  their  unpopularity,  that  they  were  little  used. 

In  1762,  plans  were  on  foot  for  changing  the  American 
governments.  This  much  dreaded  measure  had,  as  was 
learned,  by  intercepted  letters,  been  recommended  by  Sir 
Francis  Bernard,  Avho,  in  1760,  had  arrived  in  Massachusetts, 
as  the  royal  governor.  Bernard,  in  his  letters,  charged  the 
colonists  with  being  hostile  to  British  rule,  and  aiming  at  ab- 
solute independence.  He  said  "the  attempt  to  enforce  the 
Sugar  act,"  which,  though  enacted  in  1733,  had  been  evaded, 
"  had  caused  m.ore  alarm  than  the  massacre  at  Fort  William 
Henry."  He  avowed  the  opinion,  that  parliament  had  full 
power  to  alter  the  colonial  governments,  and  to  change  their 
respective  boundaries,  notwithstanding  the  royal  charters  ;  he 
counselled,  that  several  of  the  smaller  provinces  should  be 
consolidated,  to  make  one  more  respectable,  and  more  easily 
governed  ;  he  recommended  the  establishment  of  a  hereditary 
nobility,  and  asserted  the  right  of  parliament  to  tax  the  colo- 
nies', but  suggested  the  expediency  of  admitting  into  that  body, 
rejiresentatives  from  America.  The  publication  of  these  let- 
ters caused  n^reat  alarm  and  bitter  resentment  against  the  man, 
who  as  they  believed,  had  thus  acted  the  part  of  deadly  hos- 
tility to  their  vital  interests. 


PART  III. 


lYCO. 

Dilliculty  in 

enforcing  th» 

sugar  act 


February', 
1761. 

Speech  of 

James  Otis 

against  writ* 

of  assist 

ance 


1762. 

Governor 
Bernard, 

Intercepted 
letters. 


recommend 
measures 

hostile  to  the 
colonies 


148  LORD    GRENVILLE    PROPOSES    A    DUTY    ON    STAMPS. 

CHAPTER  II. 

British  Taxation.— The  Stamp  Act. 

FART  III.       Ix  1764,  Lord  Grenville  gave  notice  to  the  American  agents 
PERIOD  I.   in   London,  that  it  was  his  intention  to  draw  a  revenue  fronr. 
OHAP.  II.    the  colonies,  and  that  he  should,  in  the  ensuing  session  of 
v^.-.i-v'-*.^  parliament,  propose  a  duty  on  stamps.     He  wished  them  to 
ITO'l.     communicate  with  their  constituents,  and  learn  whether  any 
Stamp  duty  other  duties,  equally  productive,  and  more  agreeable  to  the 
and^oUieVs    colonies,  might  be  substituted.     Soon  after,  resolutions  were 
made  per-   passed  in  the  house  of  commons,  continuing,  and  making  per- 
petual,     petual,  the  odious  duties  on  sugar,  and  molasses,  and  some 
other  articles  imported  into  the  colonies,  and  subjecting  sup- 
posed offenders  to  be  tried  by  courts  of  admiralty,  in  such  a 
manner  as  would  deprive  them  of  trial  by  jury,  and  might  take 
them  far  from  their  homes. 

The  colonial  agents  in  London  informed  their  respective 

colonies  of  the  intended  system  of  taxation.     A  great  alarm 

scus'^Vi'r-    ^^'^^  excited.     Massachusetts  instructed  her  agents  to  deny 

cinia,  and    the  right  of  parliament  to  impose  taxes  upon  those  who  were 

New  York   ^^^  represented  in  the  house  of  commons.     The  house  ot 

take  bold     ,  ^  .       ,,.      .    .  .         ,  -.^         . 

ground.      ourgesses  in   Virginia  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  an 
address  to  the  king  and  parliament,  expressing  their  sense  of 
the  destructive  consequences  of  such  a  measure.     The  assem- 
bly of  New  York  also  sent  petitions,  which,  in  a  spirit  more 
bold  and  decided  than  those  from  any  other  colony,  asserted 
their  own  rights,  and  the  limitations  of  British  power.     Asso- 
Sock'ties    ciations  were  formed  in  all  the  colonies  to  encourage  home 
[nr?t^he*Brit-  i^^^nufactures,  and  prohibit,  as  much  as  possible,  the  use  of 
ish  trade  in  British  goods.     The  tendency  of  this  judicious  measure  was 
America,    ^q  yniike  the  colonists  less  dependent,  and,  b}^  operating  inju- 
riously on  the  British  merchants,  to  make  them  a  party  against 
the  ministry. 

The  British  government  were  aware  that  they  had  to  deal 

with  a  spirited  people  ;  yet  they  closed  their  eyes  to  the  full 

evidence  of  the  stern  independence  of  the  American  character. 

R.*WaIpole  ^^^*  Robert  Walpole,  in  the  reign  of  George  H.,  had  under- 

ncr  Mr.  Pin  stood  it  better,  when,  in  reply  to  those  who  advised  him  to 

would  voti-   raise  a  revenue  by  taxing  America,  he  said,  "  he  left  that  to 

ihe  colonies,  those  who  should  come  after  him — who  had  more  courage 

than  himself;"    and   Mr.  Pitt,  also,  when,  according  to  his 

1765.     own  expression,  he  did  not  choose  "  to  burn  his  fingers  with 

SrT.r'lVr;  ^^  American  tax." 

troduceSintO  tvt  •    i  ^^  ^  •    •  1   •     1         •  1 

parliament        Notwithstanding  the  opposition,  which,  m  truth,  was  not 

\ixfi  Stamp   unexpected,  in  1765,  Lord  Grenville,  pursuant  to  his  declared 

intention,  introduced   into  the    British  parliament,  his  plan 


HOSTILE    MEASURES    OF    THE    BRITISH    PARLIAMENT.  149 

for  taxing  America,  to  commence  witli  duties  on  stamps.     In  PART  III 
the  house  of  commons,  the  project,  though  ably  supported,   peri'.'D  l 
.net  with  ardent  and  animated  opposition.     It  was  on  this    chap.  h. 
occasion,  that  Colonel  Barre  was  roused  to  that  unpremedi-   ^^-^--^^^ 
tated  ellbrt  of  eloquence,  which  has  made  his  name,  to  this 
day,  appear  to  Americans,  like  that  of  a  friend. 

In  answer  to  Charles  'I'ownshend,  he  having  caught  that     1765. 
orator's  last  expression,  he  rose  and  exclaimed,  "  C^hildren  ^"'f^'ifl  Bar 
planted  by  your  care  !     No  !     Your  oppressions  planted  them   th^uroreat 
in  America!     They  fled  from  your  tyranny  to  an  uncultivated  Brit:iiii  owes 
land,  where  they  were  exposed  to  all  the  hardships  to  which  colmriesiilan 
human  nature  is  liable,  and,  among  others,  to  the  cruelties  of  they  to  her 
a  savage  foe,  the  most  subtle,  and  I  will  take  it  upon  me  to 
say,  the  most  terrible,  that  ever  inhabited  any  part  of  God's 
earth.     They  nourished  by  your  indulgence !     No !     They 
grew  by  your  neglect!     When  you  began  to  care  about  them, 
that  care  was  exercised  in  sending  persons  to  rule  over  them, 
whose  character  and  conduct  has  caused  the  blood  of  these 
^ons  of  liberty  to  recoil  w^ithin  them.     Thev  protected  by  ,,     , 
your  arms  !     They  have  nobly  taken  up  arms  in  your  defense  !  that  they  are 
The  people  of  America  are  as  truly  loyal  as  any  subjects  the     loyal,  but 
king  has,  but  a  people  jealous  of  their  liberties,  and  they  will    cateVneir 
vindicate  them."  liberty. 

Neither  the  eloquence  of  Colonel  Barre,  the  petitions  of  the 
London  merchants,  nor  the  remonstrances  of  the  colonies,  March  22nd 
could  prevent  the  passage  of  the  stamp  act.    Of  three  hundred,  ernmentpas* 
who  voted  in  the  house  of  commons,  only  fifty  were  against    the  stamp 
it ;  in  the  house  of  lords,  there  was  not  a  single  dissenting        ^^^' 
voice  ;  and  the  royal  assent  w^as  readily  obtained. 

By  this  act,  no  written  instrument  could  be  legal,  unless 
the  paper  was  stamped  on  which  it  was  drawn ;  and  this 
stamped  paper  was  to  be  purchased,  at  exhorbitant  prices,  of 
the  agents  of  the  British  government. 

Provision  was  made  for  the  recovery  of  penalties  for  the 
breach  of  this  act,  as  of  all  others  relating  to  trade  and  reve-    Courts  of 
nue,  in  any  admiralty,  or  king's  marine  court,  throughout  the    ^^  '""^'^  ^* 
colonies.     These  courts  preceded  in  trials,  without  the  inter-  Trial  by  jury 
vention  of  a  jury.     This  act,  both  in  regard  to  the  suspension   suspended 
of  what  the  colonists  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  important  of 
their  rights,  that  of  trial  by  jury,  and  also  in  regard  to  that 
extension  of  jurisdiction,  by  which  they  Avere  liable  to  be  call- 
ed to  trial,  for  real  or  supposed  offenses,  to  distant  provinces, 
was,  next  to  that  for  direct  taxation,  the  most  obnoxious  to  the 
colonies  of  any  aggression  of  the  British  government. 

Anticipating  opposition  to  these  measures,  parliament  pass-  ^^^  ^^^ 
ed  laws  for  sending  troops  to  America,  and  obliging  the  inhab-  tering  troo^.. 
itants  of  those  colonies  to  which  they  should  be  sent,  to  fur-  '"  America, 
nish  them  with  quarters,  and  all  necessary  supplies. 

The  stamp  act  was  to  take  effect  on  the  first  day  of  Novem-   Franidm's 
ber.      The   night  after  its  passage,   Dr.  Franklin,  then   in      lett 


150 


NEWS    OF    THE    STAMP    ACT    REACHES    AMERICA. 


PART  III 


rhompson's 
reply. 

wSpirited   op- 
position. 


May  29. 
The  five  re- 
solutions of 
the  house  of 
burgesses  in 

Virginia. 


Patrick 
Henry. 
His  daring 
eloquence 
makes  the 
first  public 
opposition. 


London  as  agent  for  Pennsylvania,  wrote  to  liis  friend  Charles 
Thompson,  "  The  sun  of  liberty  is  set ;  you  must  light  up  the 
candles  of  industry  and  economy."  "  Be  assured,"  said  Mr. 
Thompson,  in  reply,  "  we  shall  light  up  torches  of  quite  anoth- 
er sort." 

On  the  arrival  of  the  stamp  act,  the  smothered  feelings  of 
the  colonists  broke  forth  into  one  general  burst  of  indignation 
The  house  of  burgesses  in  Virginia  were  at  that  time  in  ses- 
sion. It  was  here  that  the  first  public  opposition  was  made 
to  the  odious  act ;  and  the  man,  by  whom  the  resolulions. 
which  expressed  this  opposition,  were  introduced,  was  the 
eloquent  and  ardent  Patrick  Henry,  then  a  young  lawyer,  and 
a  member  of  the  house.  Of  his  five  celebrated  resolutions, 
the  first  four  asserted  the  rights  and  privileges  claimed  by  the 
colonists  ;  the  last  declared  they  were  not  bound  to  yield  obe- 
dience to  any  law,  imposing  taxes  upon  them,  excepting  such 
as  were  passed  by  the  general  assembly  of  the  colony.  These 
resolutions,  more  especially  the  last,  were  warmly  opposed  by 
the  house  of  burgesses  ;  but  the  bold  and  irresistible  eloquence 
of  Henry  finally  prevailed,  and  they  were  passed  by  a  major- 
ity of  a  single  voice.  In  the  heat  of  the  debate,  the  conduct 
of  the  king  was,  for  the  first  time  in  any  public  body  in  Ameri- 
ca, arraigned ;  and  Patrick  Henry,  in  this,  dared  Avhat  might 
have  cost  him  his  life.  He  asserted  that  the  king,  in  assent- 
ing to  the  law  for  taxing  the  colonies,  had  acted  the  part  of  a 
tyrant ;  and  alluding  to  the  fate  of  other  tyrants,  he  exclaim- 
ed, "  Cffisar  had  his  Brutus,  Charles  1.  his  Cromwell,  and 
George  HI."-^-he  was  interrupted  by  the  cry  of  "  treason  !" — 
pausing  for  a  moment,  he  deliberately  concluded — "  may  profit 
by  their  example  ; — if  this  be  treason,  make  the  most  of  it." 

The  next  day  the  members  were  alarmed,  on  considering  the 
bold  stand  which  they  had  taken  ;  and  in  the  absence  of  Henry, 
the  fifth  resolution  was  rescinded  ;  but  it  had  already  with  the 
others  gone  forth,  and,  although  at  first  cautiously  circulated, 
all  were  at  length  openly  published,  and  produced  "^"lolent  ex- 
citements throughout  the  country. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Congress  at  New  York — Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act 


Before  the  proceedings  in  Virginia  had  become  Known  Id 

"^y^^osed^tf  Massachusetts,  the  general  court  of  that  colony  had  assem- 

Massachu-   ^^^^^^  ^i^^^l  adopted  measures  to  produce  a  combined  opposition 

Kelts.    Dele-  to  the  oppressive  measures  of  parliament.      Letters  were  ad* 

^from^  nirle'^  dressed  to  the  assemblies  of  the  other  colonies,  proposing  thai 

colonies,     a  congress,  composed  of  deputies  from  each,  should  meet  to 


INTENDED    AND    REAL    EFFECTS    OF    THE    STAMP    ACT.  151 

consult  on  their  common  interests.     This  proposition  was  not   PART  111. 
agreed  to  by  all,  and  hideed  it  met,  at  first,  a  general  opposi-    period  l 
tion.     Delegates  were,  however,  elected  from  jVIassachusetts,    chap.  m. 
Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,   New  Jersey,   Penn-   ^— '^v^^^ 
sylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  South  Carolina. 

On  the  fa'st  Tuesday  in  October,  which  was  the  day  desig-     1765. 
nated  bv  Massachusetts  for  the  meeting  of  the  conoress,  the    r..^^^- ''  . 
delegates  assembled  at  New  York.     Their  first  measure  was  ncntal  crt 
to  draw  up  a  declaration,  in  which  they  asserted  that  the  col-  6'''^«s-  Tjieir 
onists  were  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  natural     ^^  Sts"^ 
born  subjects  of  Great  Britain ;    that  the  most    essential  of 
these  were  an  exclusive  right  to  tax  themselves,  and  the  privi- 
lege of  trial  by  jury ;  and  that  the  late  acts  of  parliament,  im- 
posing taxes  on  the  inhabitants  without  their  consent,  and  ex- 
tending the   jurisdiction   of  the  courts  of  admiralty,   had  a 
manifest  tendency  to  subvert  these  rights  and  liberties.     The  petitions  to 
congress  then  prepared  an  address  to  the  king,  and  petitions  the  king  and 
to  both  houses  of  parliament.     The  colonies  which  were  not  Parliament 
represented  in  this  congress,  also  forwarded  to  England  simi- 
lar petitions. 

As  the  day  approached  on  Avhich  th^.  stamp  act  was  to  take   q,.       r 
effect,  the  popular  feeling  against  it  increased.       Had  duties  turesofthe 
been  laid  on  articles  of  convenience  or  luxury,  these  might    stamp  act 
have  been  dispensed  with ;  but  this  law  was  so  framed,  that 
the""  evil  intended  as  a  penalty  for  disobedience,  was  no  less    obeyed  or 
than  the  suspension  of  the  whole  machinery  of  the  social  or-  civil  govern- 
der,  and  the  creation  of  a  state  of  anarchy.     Neither  trade  nor    ^"^^^  sus- 
navigation  could  proceed ;  no  contract  could  be  legally  made, 
no  process  against  an  offender  could  be  instituted,  no  appren- 
tice could  be  indented,  no  student  could  receive  a  diploma, 
nor  even  could  the  estates  of  the  dead  be  legally  settled,  until 
the  stamp  duty  Avas  paid. 

Measures  were  taken  to  make  the  situation  of  all  concerned  Colonists de 
in  its  collection   so  unpleasant,  that  no  one  might  be  found  ^^™i"^^  \^ 

11  1  n-  .       r»  .        ,         to  make  it 

hardy  enough  to  engage  as  an  officer.      At   Boston,  m  the    impossible 
month  of  August,  the  populace,  after  burning  the  effigy  of  Mr.   for  any  of5- 
Andrew  Oliver,  the  proposed  distributer  of  stamps,  assembled    ^^Yribute^' 
at  his  house,  broke  his  windows,  and  destroyed  his  furniture.       stamps 
Mr.  Oliver  then  formally  pledged  himself  to  have  no  concern 
in  the  execution  of  the  obnoxious  statute.     The  houses  of  an 
officer   of  the  court  of  admiralty,  and  of  one  of  the  custom- 
house officers,  were  entered,  and  their  efl^ects  purloined.     But  t./"^J-^^' 
the  greatest  damage  was  done  in  the  mansion  of  Lieut.  Gov.    o/bosio"' 
Hiitcliinson,  whose  loss  in  furniture,  plate,  pictures,  and  mon-  roughlyused 
ey,  was  very  considerable ;  and  was  a  chief  item  in  a  claim  n^or  HuSn 
which  Great  Britain  afterwards  made  against  Massachusetts,      son,  and 
In  New  Haven,  Mr.  Ingersol,  like  Mr.  Oliver,  was  obliged  to    ^j''1"m'^* 
declare  his  resolution  not  to  become  a  distributer.     Similar      Haren. 
scenes  occurred  in  other  places. 

The  first  of  November,  the  day  on  wliich  the  act  was  to 


152  AMERICA    WILL    NOT    PEACEABLY    SUBMIT. 

PART  III,  take  effect,  was  ushered  in  by  the  tolling  of  bells,  as  for  a  fu 
PERIOD  I.  iieral  procession,  and  signs  of  mourning  and  sorrow  appeared 
CHAP.  III.    in  all  the  colonies.      In  New  York,  the  stamp  act  was  hawk- 
•^-•"''v-'*-^  ed  about  with  a  death's  head  attached  to  it,  under  the  title  of 
Nov.  1.     i}iQ  "  Folly  of  England  and  the  ruin  of  America."     "  In  Ports- 
stamp  acL   mou^^5  New  Hampshire,"  says  Dr.  Holmes,  "  a  coffin,  neatly 
Singular  de-  ornamented,  and  inscribed  with  '  Liberty,  aged  CXLV  years/ 
monsti-a-     ^y.^^  prepared  for  the  funeral  procession,  which  began  from 
the  state  house,  attended  with  two  unbraced  drums.      Minute 
In  Portis-    guns  were  fired  until  the  corpse  arrived  at  the  grave,  when 
mouth,  N.  H.  an  oration  was  pronounced,  in  honor  of  the  deceased.     Scarce- 
'Liberty^s    ^Y  ^'^^  ^^®  oration  concluded,  when,  some  remains  of  life  hav» 
death,  bu-    ing  been  discovered,  the  corpse  was  taken  up.     The  inscrip- 
rial  and  re-  j-j^j.^  ^^^  |.]^g  jjj  qj^  ^^le  coffin  was  changed  to  Liberty  Revived  ! 
The  bells  suddenly  struck  a  cheerful  sound,  and  joy  again  ap- 
peared in  every  countenance." 

In  line,  the  opposition  to  the  law  was  general  and  systema- 

1765.  ^^^-  ^^^'^^^  ^^^6  women,  animated  by  the  same  spirit,  united 
The  women  with  the  men  in  their  exertions  to  prevent  the  importation  ol 
unite  to  pre- Bfi^g]^  ooods  ;  and  cheerfully  relinquished  every  species  of 

rent  t!ie  use  '^         1,-t,  •  i-     a         i-       t-       ^       i  'ni, 

of  British    Ornament,  which  was  manuiactured  m  Lngland.       1  he  pro- 

Koods.       ceedings  of  the  courts  of  justice  were  suspended,  in  order 

that  no  stamps  might  be  used ;  and  those  engaged  in  disput-es 

were  earnestly  and  effectually  exhorted,  by  the  leading  men, 

to  terminate  them  by  reference. 

In  the  mean  time,  a  change  had  taken  place  in  the  British 

ministry  ;  the  authors  of  the  stamp  act  had  been  removed,  and 

Lord  Grcn-  their  places  supplied  by  those  who  were  supposed  to  be  more 

ville  sue-    favorable  to  the  interests  of  the  colonies.      The   Marquis  of 

«ie  Duke  of  Rockingham  was  made  lord  of  the  treasury,  and  the  Duke^  of 

Grafton.     Grafton  and   General   Conway,   secretaries   of  state.     They 

were  now  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed,  for  they  perceived  that 

measures  must  be  taken,  either  to  repeal  the  obnoxious  statute, 

or  oblige  the  Americans  to  submit  to  it,  by  force  of  arms.     In 

1766.  January,  1766,  the  petitions  of  congress,  and  other  papers  re- 
January,     lating  to  the  affairs  of  America,  were  laid  before  the  house  of 

4edareri'ts  commons.  After  their  examination,  a  resolution  was  introdu- 
rightto  bind  ced  by  General  Conway,  declaring  that  parliament  "had  full 
the  coLjics.  power  to  bind  the  colonies,  and  people  of  America,  in  all  cases 

P  whatsoever ;"  which,  after  an  animated  debate,  was  adopted. 

Dr.  Frank-  The  next  day,  the  ministry,  now  bent  on  a  repeal  of  the 
Kn  examined  stamp  act,  instituted  inquiries  upon  the  subject,  and  among  othei 
^'houTe  of^  persons.  Dr.  Franklin  was  examined  before  the  house  of  corn- 
commons;  mons.  He  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  the  acts  of  parliament 
declares  the  fy^  taxing  America,  had  alienated  the  affections  of  the  people 
not"subrnit.  f^om  the  mother  country,  and  that  they  would  never  submit  to 
BiU  to  repeal  ^^^  Stamp  duty,  unless  compelled. 
the  stamp        The  resolution  to  repeal  that  act,  was  opposed  by  Lord 

ar.tudvo-     Grenville  and  his  adherents,  who  were  answered  by  Mr.  Pitt. 

eated  by  Mr.  _,,  ,      ' .       ,     ,  .  •'  , 

Pitt.        That  great  statesman  maintained,  that  taxation  was  no  part  oI 


1.0RD    ClIVTTIAM    IN    THE    MINISTRY.  153 

■ 

the  governing  or  legislative  power  which  parHament  had  a  right  PART  III. 
to  exert  over  the  colonies  ;  and  concluded  with  a  motion,  "  that  pkiuod  l 
the  stamp  act  be  repealed,  totally,  absolutely,  and  immedi-    '^"^p-  i^. 

'J'he  bill  for  its  repeal,  at  length  passed  the  commons,  and  Passes  the 

was  sent  to  the  house  of  lords,  where  it  met  with  much  op-  co"'mtns; 

position.      But  the  cause  of  the  colonies  was  ably  advocated  li,e  house  of 

by  Lord  Camden.     "  ^ly  position,"  said  he,  "  is  this;  I  re-  lonls  by 

peat  it,  I  will  maintain  it  to  my  last  hour — taxation  and  repre-  jc,^' '™' 
sentation  are  inseparable.       'iliis  position  is  founded  on  the 
laws  of  nature  ;  it  is  more — it  is  itself  an  eternal  law  of  na- 
ture :  for  whatever  is  a  man's  own  is  absolutely  his  own ;  no 
man  has  a  right  to  take  it  from  him  without  his  consent. 

Whoever  attempts  to  do  it,  attempts  an  injury  ;  whoever  does  March  18. 

it,  commits  a  robbery."     The  bill  for  repeal  at  length  passed  Pixsses  t.he 

the  house  of  Lords,  but  with  it  was  another,  called  the  "  de-  lordTkit  its 

claratory  bill,"  in  which  the  resolution  was  repeated,  that  salutary 

*'  parliament  had  a  right  to  bind  the  colonies  i?i  all  cases  what-  ^^^^^  ^®' 

^  °  stroyed 

soever. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Second  attempt  to  tax  America. — Opposition. 


Although  the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act  gave  joy  to  the  col-     ^^^f 

onists,  yet,  while  a  principle  was  at  the  same  time  asserted,     Colonics 
upon  which,  any  future  ministry,  with  the  sanction  of  parlia-  jealous  and 
mentary  authority,  might  oppress  them,  they  continued  a  jeal-     watchful. 
ous  watch  over  the  British  government. 

General  Conway  recommended  to  the  colonies,  to  make 
compensation,  to  those  who  had  suffered  in  attempting  to  en- 
force the  stamp  act.     Governor  Bernard  laid  this  recommend- 
ation before  the  assembly  of  Massachusetts,  as  a  requisition 
with  which  they  must  of  necessity  comply.     With  this  they  Massachu* 
were  offended,  as  it  disabled  them,  they  said,  from  voluntarily    setts  con 
granting  to  the  king  such  favors  as  he  requested.     At  first  they  ^r^^l^J''  •^*' 
refused  to  make  any  compensation  to  the  sufferers,  but  they  but  pai^ii 
finally  consented,  though  in  a  manner  highly  displeasing  to  the  rioters. 
the  British  government,  for  the  same  act  which  made  the  ap- 
propriation for  the  damage,   expressed  a  pardon  to  those  by 
whom  it  was  done. 

In  July,  another  change  took  place    in  the  British  ministry,       j^iy. 
and  a  cabinet  v/as  formed  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Pitt,  now    Pitt  a^  the 
Earl  of  Chatham.     The    proceedings  of  the  Americans  had  J^^f^.°^^^u^ 

,^  1         T-,   •  •  ?  11  Jtritjsh  cabi- 

given    great   ottense    to    the    British,    and    they    were    con-        net 
-denmed  by  many  who  had  heretofore  espoused  their  cause. 


154 


MASS.    AGAIN    PROMINENT    IN    THE    GENERAL    CAUSE. 


PART  III. 


Parliament 

imposes  new 

taxes. 


1T6§. 
Massachu- 
setts re- 
quests the 
co-operation 
of  the  other 
colonies. 


Displeasure 
of  the  Brit- 
ish ministry. 

Bernard  dis- 
solves the 
Msembly. 


June  la 
Seiiure  of 
Hancock's 
sloop  re- 
sented. 

Non  impor- 
tation agree' 
ments. 


Boston  vain- 
ly petitions 
the  governor 
to  call  an  as- 
sembly. 


In  May,  1767,  Charles  Townshend,  then  chancellor  of  the 
exchequer,  influenced  by  Lord  Grenville,  brought  into  parlia- 
ment a  second  plan  for  taxing  America,  by  imposing  duties  on 
all  tea,  glass,  paper,  and  painter's  colors,  which  should  be  im- 
ported into  the  colonies.  This  bill  passed  both  houses  ol 
parliament  without  much  opposition.  And  during  the  same 
session  an  act  was  passed,  suspending  the  authority  of  the 
assembly  of  New  York,  until  they  should  comply  with  the 
requisition  to  quarter  troops,  which  they  had  refused  ;  and 
another,  appointing  the  officers  of  the  navy,  as  custom-house 
officers,  to  enforce  the  acts  of  trade  and  navigation. 

These  three  acts  following  each  other  in  quick  succession, 
caused,  throughout  America,  a  revival  of  the  same  feelings 
which  the  passage  of  the  stamp  act  had  produced.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1768,  the  assembly  of  Massachusetts  prepared  a  petition 
to  the  king,  and  sent  letters  to  those  persons  in  Great  Britain, 
who  had  been  most  active  in  defending  the  cause  of  America, 
again  asserting  what  they  considered  their  rights,  and  claim- 
ing deliverance  from  those  unjust  and  oppressive  taxes,  which 
had  been  imposed  by  the  recent  acts  of  parliament.  They 
also  addressed  circulars  to  the  other  colonial  assemblies,  en- 
treating their  co-operation,  in  obtaining  the  redress  of  their 
grievances. 

The  British  ministry  viewed  this  measure  as  an  attempt  to 
convene  another  congress ;  and  as  they  had  always  dreaded 
the  effects  of  voluntary  colonial  union,  independent  of  th? 
crown,  they  instructed  Gov.  Bernard,  to  require  the  assemblj 
to  rescind  the  vote  by  which  the  circulars  were  sent  to  the  oth- 
er colonies  ;  and,  in  case  of  their  refusal,  to  dissolve  them ; 
at  the  same  time,  addressing  letters  to  the  other  colonial 
governors,  to  prevent,  if  possible,  their  compUance  with  the 
request  of  Massachusetts.  In  the  assembly  of  that  province, 
ninety-two,  out  of  one  hundred  and  nine  representatives,  refu- 
sed to  rescind  the  vote,  or  disapprove  of  their  former  proceed- 
ings, and  the  governor,  in  consequence,  dissolved  the  assembly. 
But  instead  of  intimidaljrig,  these  measures  did  but  exasperate 
ihe  people. 

In  June,  the  custom-house  officers  seized  a  sloop  belonging 
to  John  Hancock,  a  merchant  of  eminence,  and  a  patriot  much 
beloved  by  the  people  of  Boston.  They  assembled  in  crowds, 
insulted  and  beat  the  officers,  and  compelled  them  to  leave 
the  town.  Non-importation  agreements,  with  regard  to  all  ar- 
ticles on  which  duties  had  been  laid,  were  now  extensively 
adopted. 

The  assembly  of  Massachusetts  had  not  convened,  since  its 
dissolution  by  Gov.  Bernard.  A  report  was  circulated,  that 
troops  were  ordered  to  march  into  Boston.  A  town  meeting 
was  called,  and  the  governor  was  earnestly  entreated  to  con- 
voke the  assembly.       His  reply  was  "  that  he  could  not  call 


FIRST  ACT  OF  A    FREE  ASSEMBLY   IN   VA.  BY    WASHINGTON.  155 

another  assembly  this  year,  without  fiirtlicr  comniaiids  from   PART  ill, 
the  king." 

A  convention  was  then  proposed,  and  accordingly  held,  on 
the  22d  of  September.      The  members  petitioned  the  govern- 
or, that  an  assembly  might  be  called :  but  he  refused,  calling    ^^^^^'^''^' 
them  rebels.      They  transmitted  to  the  king  a  respectful  ac- tio,/f,.j^fj,tl], 
count  of  their  proceedings,  and  then  dissolved,  after  a  session      sevcnil 

„r  r         1  towns  does 

of  five  days.  ^  ,  ,        .  the  same 

Orders  were  given  to   General   Gage,  the   commander-in- 
chief  of  the  British  troops  in  the  colonies,  to  station  a  force  in 
Boston,  to  overawe  the  citizens,  and  protect  the  custom-house 
officers  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty.     Two  regiments  were 
accordingly  ordered  from  Halifax,  and  escorted  by  seven  arm-     Sept.  28. 
ed  vessels,  they  arrived  at  Boston  on  the  28th  of  September.    Two  regi 
The  fleet  took  a  station  which  commanded  the  town,  and  the  from  Halifai 
troops  having  landed  under  the  cover  of  their  guns,  inarched    to  lioston, 
into  Boston  without  any  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  inhabit- 
ants.    The  select  men  of  the  town  refusing  to  provide  them    quartered 
with  quarters,  the  governor  commanded  the  state  house  to  be       in  the 
opened  for  their  reception.     The  presence  of  the  soldiers,  had  state  house 
great  influence  in  restraining  outward  violence,  yet  so  oflen- 
sive  was  the  measure,  that  it  greatly  increased  hostile  dispo- 
sitions. 

Early  in  the  succeeding  year,  news  was  received  that  the 
late  proceedings  in  Massachusetts  were  delared  by  parliament 
to  be  "  illegal,  unconstitutional,  and  derogatory  to  the  rights  of 
the  crown  arid  parliament."     Both  houses,  in  a  joint  address     1769. 
to  the  kin^,  had  recommended  vigorous  measures,  and  had  Threatening 

r  X     1  1,    v        *      r        *  *i  C    attitude  of 

even  gone  so  tar  as  to  beseech  him  to  direct  the  governor  ol   Qj.eat  Brit- 
Massachusetts  Bay,  to  make  strict  inquiries,  as  to  all  treasons        ain. 
committed  in  that  province  since  the  year  1767  ;  in  order  that 
the  persons  most  active  in  committing  them,  might  be  sent  to 
England  for  trial. 

The  house  of  burgesses  in  Virginia  met  a  few  days  after 
this  address  was  received  in  the  colonies.  They  passed  reso- 
lutions, in  which  they  boldly  denied  the  right  of  the  king  to  gpint  iTvii^ 
remove  an  o (Tender  out  of  the  colony  for  trial ;  and  voted  an  ginia. 
address  to  the  crown,  v/hich,  though  in  a  style  of  loyalty, 
stated  their  deep  conviction  that  the  complaints  of  the  colo- 
nists were  M^ell  founded. 

When  the  intelligence  of  these  proceedings  reached  the       ]\ray, 
governor,  he  suddenly  dissolved  the  assembly.     But  the  cur-  Lord  Bote- 
rent  of  opposition  was  too  strong  to  be  stayed.     The  members  ^°ernor,  dil^ 
assembled  at  a  private  house  ;  elected  their  speaker,  Peyton    solves  the 
Randolph,  Esq.,  moderator  ;  and  proceeded  to  pass  some  deci-   1^^^*^"^^,°^ 
ded  resolutions  against  importing  British  goods.     These  w^ere  'phey  make 
introduced  by  Colonel  Washington,  who  had  been  a  member  themselves 
of  the  house  since  his  resignation.     This  example  was  fol-  je^tassem 
lowed   by  other   colonies ;  and  non-importation   agreements,        bly. 
which  had  before  been  entered  into  by  Boston,  Salem,  the  citv 


156 


AFFRAY  WITH  THE  MILITARY  AT  BOSTON 


PART  III,  of  New  York,  and  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  now  became 
general. 

In  May,  the  assembly  of  Massachusetts  convened.  They 
refused  to  proceed  with  business  while  the  state  house  was 
surrounded  by  an  armed  force.  The  governor  would  not  re- 
move it,  but  adjourned  them  to  Cambridge.  Here  they  ex- 
pressed their  decided  behef,  that  the  estabhshment  of  a  stand- 
ing army  in  the  colony  in  time  of  peace,  was  an  invasion  of 
their  natural  rights.  They  refused  to  make  any  of  the  appro- 
priations of  money  which  the  governor  proposed,  and  he  again 
prorogued  them.  In  August,  Governor  Bernard  was  recalled, 
and  the  government  left  in  the  hands  of  Lieutenant  Governor 
Hutchinson. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1770,  some  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Boston  insulted  the  military,  while  under  arms  ;  and  an  affray 
took  place,  in  which  four  persons  were  killed.  The  bells 
Affray  with  were  instantly  run<T ;  the  people  rushed  from  the  country  to 
the  aid  of  the  citizens  ;  and  the  soldiers  were  obliged  to  retire 
to  Castle  William,  in  order  to  avoid  the  fury  of  the  enraged 
multitude.  A  trial  was  instituted  :  the  soldiers  arraigned  were 
all  acquitted,  except  two,  who  were  found  guilty  of  manslaugh- 
ter. The  moderation  of  the  jury,  and  the  ability  with  which 
they  were  defended  by  two  of  the  leading  opposers  of  British 
der,  and  ably  aggression,  John  Adams  and  Josiah  Quincy,  were  honorable 
to  the  individuals,  and  to  their  country.  T'his  event,  hov/ever, 
increased  the  detestation  in  which  the  stationing  of  a  soldiery 
among  the  people,  was  held. 

In  England  Lord  North  was  appointed  to  the  ministry.  He 
introduced  a  bill  into  parliament,  which  passed  on  the  12th  of 
April,  removing  the  duties  which  had  been  laid  in  1767,  ex- 
cepting those  on  tea.  But,  as  had  been  predicted  by  those 
who  opposed  this  partial  removal,  the  people  of  America  were 
not  satisfied,  while  the  system  was  adhered  to  and  parliament 
claimed  the  riarht  of  taxing-  the  colonies. 


March  5. 


the  British 
tjoops 


They  are 
tried  for  mur 


defended  by 

John  Adams, 

and  Josiah 

Quincy. 

ITYl. 

January. 
Lord  North 
vainly  pur- 
sues a  tem- 
porizing pt 
licy. 


1772. 
The  minds 
of  the  peo- 


In  1772,  meetings  were  held  in  the  towns  throughout  Mas- 


sachusetts, where  committees  were  appointed  to  maintain  a 
pie  turned  to  correspondence    with  each  other.     These    meetings,   v/hich 
the  subject  pj-Qved  the  nurseries  of  independence,  were  censured  bv  Greal 

of  their        U   .      .  ,      .  11         ,      1         ,•  1        I     IT        "' 

wrongs.      Britain  as  being  the  hot  beds  or  treason  and  rebellion. 
June.  In  Rhode  Island,  a  daring  resistance  was  made  to  the  cus- 

The  Gaspee  tom-house  officers  ;  and  the  Gaspee,  an  armed  schooner  which 
'^^mS^it.^^  had  been  stationed  in  that  colony  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing 
the  acts  of  trade  was  destroyed. 


THE    BOSTON'    "TEA    PARTY.  167 

CHAPTER   V. 

Seizure  of  Tea. — Boston  Port  Bill. — Arrival  of  British  Troops 

The  non-importation  agreements,  rigidly  observed  in  re-  PART  III. 
spect  to  the  article  of  tea,  now  began  to  eflect  the  commercial 
interest  of  Great  Britain.  Parliament  passed  an  act  allowino- 
the  East  India  Company  to  export  to  America  its  teas,  free  of 
all  duties  in  England,  thus  enabling  them  to  reduce  its  price 
in  the  colonies.  Tea  was  accordingly  shipped  in  large  quan- 
tites.  The  colonists  foresaw,  that  if  it  should  be  landed,  the 
duty  would  probably  be  paid.  Resolutions  were  therefore 
extensively  adopted,  that  the  tea  should  not  be  received  on 
shore,  but  sent  Iback  to  England. 

At  Philadelphia  the  pilots  were  enjoined  not  to  conduct  the     1773 
ships   into   the  river.     At  New  York  the    governor  ordered    Tlie  com- 
some  of  the  tea  to  be  landed,  under  the  protection  of  an  armed  ™i[^ee  of  vi- 
ship,  but  the  people  took  it  into  custody,  and  allowed  none  of  determined 
it  to   be  sold.     In  Boston  it  was  apprehended   that  as  the  that  no  tea 
loaded  vessels  lay  in  the  harbor,  the  tea  would  be  landed  in     ^l^isej*^^ 
small  quantities :    and   several    men,    disguised    as   Indians,  „    .     *  , 
boarded  the  ships  during  the  night,   and  threw  their  cargoes  destroy  342 
into  the  water.     Three  hundred  and  forty-two  chests  of  tea  chests  of  tea. 
were  thus  broken  open  and  their  contents  thrown  overboard. 

When  the  news  of  these  transactions  reached  the  parlia- 
ment of  England,  they  resolved  "  to  make  such  provisions  as 
should  secure  the  just  dependence  of  the  colonies,  and  a  due 
obedience  to  the  laws,  throughout  all  the  British  dominions."     1774. 
In  order  to  punish  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  in  an  exemplary   Parliament 
manner,  and  oblige  them  to  restore  the  value  of  the  tea  which     ^'^^'^^^J^^ 

Till  11-11  i-iri  .  PO"    O^     1>09- 

had  been  destroyed,  a  bill  was  passed  in  March,   1774,  "  in-        ton 
terdicting  all  commercial  intercourse  with  the  port  of  Boston, 
and  prohibiting  the  landing  and  shipping  of  any  goods  at  that 
place,"  until  these  ends  should  be  accomplished. 

Parliament  also  passed  an    act,   giving  to   the    crown  the     Qj^g  the 
power  previously  residing  in  the  General  Court,  of  appointing    crown  the 
counselors  ;  and  they  prohibited    meetings    in    the    several  ^ppoi^tii^^^' 
towns  except,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  officers.     In  order        ors. 
to  secure  the  execution  of  these  obnoxious  laws,  they  provided  Forbid  town 
that  any  person  indicted  for  murder,  or  any  capital  oflense,    meetings, 
committed  in  aiding  the  magistracy,  might  be  sent  to  another  Abolish  trial 
colony,  or  to  Great  Britain  for  trial.  by  jury, 

An  act  was  also  passed,  extending  the  province  of  Quebec 
to  the  river  Ohio  ;  and,  in  order  more  effectually  to  provide  p,"jj  [0^1^^^^ 
for  its  government,  a  legislative   council  was   formed,  who    in  opi)rei 
were  to  be  appointed  by  the  crown,  and  trials  whhout  a  jury  sioniromib* 
were  also  to  be  permitted.     The  object  of  this  act,  which  thus 


158 


MASSACHUSETTS    PROPOSES    A    GENERAL    CONGRESS. 


PART  111. 


Exposure  of 

Hutchin- 
•on's  letters. 


Gage  suc- 
ceeds him. 


May  10. 
Boston  port 
bill  causes 
equal  excite- 
ment. 


The  assem- 
bly proposes 

a  general 
congress  and 

chooses 
members. 


it  disobeys 
the  royal  au- 
thority. 


Noble  con- 
duct of  the 
people  of 
Salem. 


The  Bosto- 

nians  aided 

Ijy  the  whole 

country. 


in  that  province  a.bolished  the  free  system  of  English  laws 
and  extended  its  boundaries,  was  ^"  at  once  to  render  it  an  ex- 
ample, and  a  fit  instrument  for  introducing  the  same  absolute 
rule  into  the  other  colonies." 

General  Gage  was  made  governor  of  Massachusetts  in  the 
place  of  Hutchinson,  who  had  been  removed  from  his  office 
in  consequence  of  unpopularity  occasioned  by  the  exposure  of 
letters  which  had  been  written  by  him,  during  the  years  J  767 
and  1768,  to  the  leading  men  of  Great  Britain,  which  had 
tended  greatly  to  increase  the  prejudice  of  parliament  against 
the  colonies,  and  widen  the  breach  already  existing  between 
them. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  port  bill  in  Boston,  a  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  was  held,  v*^ho  declared  that  the  "  impolicy,  injus- 
tice, and  inhumanity  of  the  act  exceeded  their  powers  of  ex- 
pression !"  The  assembly  convened  at  this  place,  but  was 
removed  by  the  governor  to  Salem.  It  was  here  resolved, 
that  the  present  state  of  the  colonies  made  it  necessary  that  a 
congress,  composed  of  delegates  from  all  the  colonies,  should 
assemble,  to  take  their  afiairs  into  the  most  serious  considera- 
tion. They  nominated  James  Bowdoin,  Thomas  Gushing, 
Samuel  Adams,  John  Adams,  Robert  Treat  Paine,  men  cele- 
brated for  their  talents  and  patriotism,  as  their  representatives 
to  such  a  congress  ;  and  directed  the  speaker  of  the  house  to 
inform  the  other  colonies  of  their  resolution. 

The  governor,  having  learned  these  proceedings,  sent  an 
officer  to  dissolve  the  assembly,  in  the  king's  name.  Being 
unable  to  obtain  admittance,  he  read  the  order  aloud  on  the 
staircase ;  but  it  was  not  obeyed,  until  the  members  had 
finished  their  most  important  business. 

Governor  Gage  had  believed  that  the  advantages  arising  to 
the  trade  of  Salem,  from  shutting  up  the  port  of  Boston,  would 
render  its  inhabitants  more  favorable  to  the  royal  government ; 
but  the  people  of  that  town  declared,  "  that  nature,  in  forming 
their  harbor,  had  prevented  their  becoming  rivals  in  trade  , 
and  that  even  if  it  were  otherwise,  they  should  regard  them- 
selves lost  to  every  idea  of  justice,  and  all  feelings  of  human- 
ity, could  they  indulge  one  thought  of  seizing  upon  the  wealth 
of  their  neighbors,  or  raising  their  fortunes  upon  the  ruins  of 
their  countrymen." 

The  cause  of  the  people  of  Boston  was  espoused  by  all  the 
colonies,  and  their  wants  were  supplied  by  their  contributions 
The  people  of  Marblehead,  in  accordance  with  the  general 
feeling,  instead  of  taking  advantage  of  their  distress,  offered 
them  the  use  of  their  harbor,  their  wharves,  and  warehouses, 
free  of  all  expense. 

In  Virginia,  Lord  Dunmore,  who  had  been  made  governor, 
on  the  death  of  Lord  Botetourt,  had  prorogued  the  refractory 
burgesses  from  time  to  time  until  March,  1773.  When,  in 
May,  1774,  they  received  the  news  of  the  Boston  port  bill. 


FIRST    CONTINENTAL    CONGRESS    AT    PHILADELPHIA.  159 

they  proclaimed  a  fast.  Lord  Dunmore  at  once  prorogued  PART  III. 
them.  They  however  formed  an  association,  and  voted  to  period  i, 
recommend  to  tlie  colonies  a  general  congress.  chap.  vi. 

The  first  of  Jmie,  the  day  on  which  tlie  port  bill  was  to  take 
effect,  was  devoutly  observed,  in  Virginia,  as  a  day  of  fasting, 
humiliation  and  prayer,  to  implore  that  God  would  avert  the 
evils  which  threatened  them,  and  "  give  them  one  heart,  and 
one  mind,  tirmly  to  oppose,  by  all  just  and  proper  means,  every 
mjurv  to  the  American  rights." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Congress  at  Philadelphia. 


The  resolutions  adopted  by  the  assembly  of  Massachusetts,     1774. 
with  respect  to  a  general  congress,  were  approved  by  the  other     Sept.  4. 
colonies;  and  on  the  4th  of"  September,    1774,  the  congress  A^'^'^^''^';": 
convened  at  Philadelphia.     In  this  body,  the  most  august  and  assembles  at 
important  which    had   ever    assembled  upon    the    American     Philadel- 
shores,  all  the  colonies,  except  Georgia,  were  represented  ;       ^  '^" 
and  all  parties,  struck  with  the  array  of  splendid  talents  and  i^^gf  ^repre 
stern  patriotism,  which  a  view  of  the  catalogue  of  its  mem-      sented. 
bers  presented,  looked  forward  to  the  result  of  their  delibera- 
tions with  deep  interest  and  great  expectation  ;   the  people 
with  hope — but  the  officers  and  dependents  of  the  crown,  with 
alarm  and  apprehension. 

Their  first  measure  was  to  choose,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  Peyton  Ran- 
Peyton  Randolph,  Esq.  of  Virginia,  as  president.     They  next  ^pre^.jj',"^'^" 
decided,  that,  as  they  could  not  ascertain  the  relative  impor-  -^^^^^  colony 
tance  of  each  colony,  each  should  have  one  vote  ;  they  deter-  has  one  vote. 
mined  that  their  deliberations   should   proceed   with  closed 
doors  ;  they  chose  a  committee  of  two  from  each  province,  to 
state  the  rights  of  the  colonies  in  general,  the  several  instances 
in  which  these  rights  had  been  infringed,  and  the   means  of 
obtaining  redress.     They  expressed  their  approbation  of  the 
conduct  of  the  people  of  Massachusetts,  exhorted  them  to  per-    p^riXct  of^ 
severe  in  the  cause  of  freedom,  with  decision,   yet  with  tern-  Massachu- 
perance  :  and  voted  the  continuance  of  contributions  for  their    ^f  ^^'  ^"^ 
relief.     Being  informed  that  General  Gage  was  erecting  forti-  ^i-es  forrc' 
fications  around  Boston,  and  prohibiting  the  citizens  from  a        Hef. 
free   communication,  they  addressed  a  letter  to   that  officer, 
eiiireating  him  to  desist  from  military  operations ;  lest  a  dif- 
ference,  altogether  irreconcilable,  should  arise  between  the 
colonies  and  the  parent  state. 

The  connuittee  chosen,  next  reported  an  able  instrument,  They  draw 
setting  forth  the  rights  of  the  colonies,  in  the  form  of  resolu-  "*  ^^^f 'tiietr°° 
lions,  which  being  accepted,  was  addressed  to  the  people,  and      rights 


160 


CONGRESS  SEEK  PEACE,  BUT  PREPARP  FOR  WAR. 


PART  in. 


1774. 

Sanction 
non-importa- 
tion com- 
pacts. 

Encourage 
arts  -which 
tend  to  inde- 
pendence. 


Resolve 
against  the 
slave-trade. 


Resolve  to 

continue  the 

colonial 

union. 


High  char- 
acter of  the 
first  Ameri- 
can con- 
gress. 


They  make 
»n  able  ap- 
peal to  the 
king 


is  now  commonly  quoted  by  the  title  of  the  "  Bill  of  Rights  " 
The  last  of  these  resolutions  stated  the  result  of  the  best  wis- 
dom of  congress,  as  to  the  means  most  likely  to  obtain  the 
peaceable  redress  of  grievances.  First,  to  enter  into  a  non- 
importation association,  second,  to  prepare  an  address  to  the 
people  of  Great  Britain,  and  a  memorial  to  the  inhabitants  of 
British  America,  and  third,  to  prepare  a  loyal  address  to  the 
king. 

By  the  non-importation  compact,  they  agreed  and  associa- 
ted, for  themselves  and  their  constituents,  ''  under  the  sacred 
ties  of  virtue,  honor,  and  love  of  liberty,"  not  to  import,  or  use 
any  British  goods,  after  the  first  of  December,  1774,  particu- 
larly the  articles  of  tea  and  molasses.  At  the  same  time,  they 
agreed  to  encourage  agricuhure,  arts,  and  manufactures  in 
America.  Committees  were  to  be  tippointed  in  every  place, 
to  see  that  this  agreement  was  observed  ;  and  those  who 
violated  it  were  to  be  denounced  as  enemies  to  the  rights  of 
their  country. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  these  great  men,  in  the  pressure 
of  their  own  pecidiar  diihcidties,  did  not  forget  the  cause  of 
suflering  humanity,  but  made,  with  the  other  resolutions,  one 
by  which  they  bound  themselves  not  to  be,  in  any  way,  con- 
cerned in  the  slave-trade. 

Finally,  they  determined  to  continue  the  congressional 
union,  until  the  repeal  by  parliament,  of  oppressive  duties ; 
of  the  laws  restricting  their  rights  of  trial  by  jury ;  of  the 
acts,  against  the  people  of  Massachusetts  ;  and  of  that  for  ex- 
tending the  limits  of  the  province  of  Quebec. 

In  the  several  addresses  v\diich,  conformably  to  their  reso- 
lutions, Avere  drawn  up  and  prom.ulgated,  congress  fully  met 
the  high  expectations  vvdiich  were  entertained  of  that  assem- 
blage, of  whom  Lord  Chatham  declared,  "  that,  thouoh  he  had 
studied  and  admired  the  free  states  of  antiquity,  the  master 
spirits  of  the  world,  yet,  for  solidity  of  reasoning,  force  of 
sagacity,  and  wisdom  of  conclusion,  no  body  of  men  could 
stand  in  preference  to  this  congress."  The  addresses  were 
couched  in  terms,  which,  though  strongly  calculated  to  awa- 
ken the  sympathy,  were,  at  the  same  time,  powerful  to  con- 
vince the  reason.  They  were  not  the  whining  complaints  of 
beaten  children,  who  murmur  and  submit,  but  the  firm  remon- 
strances of  injured  and  indignant  men,  willing  to  ask  for  their 
rights,  but  determined  to  have  them. 

The  petition  to  the  king  entreated  him,  in  language  the 
most  respectful  and  affectionate,  to  restore  their  violated 
rights.  Their  grievances,  they  said,  were  the  more  intolera- 
ble, as  they  were  bom  heirs  of  freedom,  and  had  enjoyed  it 
under  the  auspices  of  his  royal  ancestors.  "  The  apprehen- 
sion" say  they,  "of  bv^ing  degraded  into  a  state  of  servitude, 
from  the  pre-eminent  rank  of  English  freemen,  Avhile  our 
minds  retain  the  strongest  love  of  liberty,  and  clearly  foresee 


DICTATES    OF    CONGRESS    APPROVED    AND    FOLLOWED. 


161 


the  miseries  preparing  for  us  and  our  posterity,  excites  emo- 
tions in  om-  breasts  which  we  cannot  describe."  They 
express  a  hope,  that  the  royal  indignation  will  fall  on  those 
designing  and  dangerous  men,  who,  by  their  misrepresenta- 
tions of  his  American  subjects,  had,  at  length,  compelled 
them,  by  the  force  of  accumulated  injuries,  too  severe  to  be 
longer  borne,  thus  to  disturb  his  majesty's  repose  ;  a  conduct 
extorted  from  those  who  would  much  more  willingly  bleed  in 
his  service.  "  We  ask,"  say  they,  "  for  peace,  liberty,  and 
safety.  We  wish  not  a  diminution  of  the  royal  prerogative, 
nor  do  we  solicit  the  grant  of  any  new  right  in  our  favor." 
The  petition  concludes  with  an  earnest  prayer,  that  his 
majesty,  as  the  father  of  his  whole  people,  would  not  permit 
tlie  ties  of  blood,  of  law,  and  loyalty,  to  be  broken,  "  in  uncer- 
tain expectation  of  effects,  that,  if  obtained,  never  can  compen- 
sate for  the  calamities  through  which  they  must  be  gained." 

In  their  address  to  the  people  of  England,  they  claim  the 
rights  of  fellow  subjects.  "  Be  not  surprised,"  they  say, 
"that  we,  whose  forefathers  participated  in  the  rights,  the 
liberties,  and  the  constitution,  of  which  you  so  justly  boast, 
and  have  carefully  conveyed  the  same  fair  inheritance  to  us, 
should  refuse  to  surrender  them  to  men,  w^ho  found  their 
claims  on  no  principles  of  reason,  and  who  prosecute  them 
with  a  design,  that,  by  having  our  lives  and  property  in  their 
power,  they  may,  with  the  greater  facility,  enslave  you.  Are 
not,"  they  ask,  "  the  proprietors  of  the  soil  of  Great  Britain, 
lords  of  their  own  property?  Can  it  be  taken  from  them 
without  their  consent?  Will  they  yield  it  to  the  arbitrary 
disposal  of  any  man,  or  number  of  men,  whatever  ?  You 
know  they  will  not.  Why,  then,  are  the  proprietors  of  Ame- 
rica, less  lords  of  their  property  than  you  are  of  yours  ?  Can 
the  intervention  of  the  sea  that  divides  us,  cause  disparity  of 
rights  ?  Or  can  any  reason  be  given,  why  English  subjects, 
who  live  three  thousand  miles  from  the  royal  palace,  should 
enjoy  less  liberty,  than  those  w^o  are  three  hundred  miles 
from  it  ?" 

In  the  memorial  to  their  constituents,  they  presented  an 
account  of  the  oppressive  measures  of  parliament  since  1763. 
They  applaud  the  spirit  which  they  had  shown  in  defense  of 
their  rights,  and  encourage  them  to  persevere,  and  be  prepared 
for  all  contingencies  ;  hinting  that  those  might  occur  which 
would  put  their  constancy  severely  to  the  test.  The  congress 
rose  on  the  6th  of  October. 

Although  their  powers  were  merely  advisory,  yet  their  de- 
cisions received  the  approbation  of  the  colonial  assemblies, 
and  carried  with  them  all  the  force  of  laws. 


PART  III. 


17-74, 


Messrs.  Lee, 
Livingston, 
and  Jay  pre 
pare  an  ad- 
dress to  the 
people  of 
England. 

Draughted 
bj-  Mr.  Jay 


And  a  me- 
morial to 

their  con- 
stituents. 


Congress 

rise, 
October  6. 

The  pro- 
ceedings of 
congress  ap 


roved. 


162 


HOSTILE    MEASURES    BECOME    MORE    DECISIVE. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

War  approaches. — Massachusetts. — British  Parliament. 


PART  III. 


Militaiy 
stores  seiz- 
ed. 

October. 
The  assem- 
bly of  Mas- 
sachusetts 

resolve 
themselves 
into  a  pro- 
vincial con- 
gress, and 
prepare  for 


The  south- 
em  colonies 
adopt  similar 

measures. 

1TT4. 

Nov.  20. 
The  king 
and  parlia- 
ment deter- 
mined to  car- 
ry their  point 
at  all  haz- 
ards. 


Mr.  Qumcy 
to  Dr  Reed. 


Complete  unanimit}^,  however,  did  not  exist.  Some  of  the 
late  emigrants,  on  whom  England  had  bestowed  offices,  and 
many  Avho  feared  her  power,  chmg  to  her  authority,  and  de- 
clared themselves  her  adherents.  Whigs  and  tories  were  the 
distinguishing  names  of  the  parties ;  the  former  favoring  the 
cause  of  the  colonists  ;  the  latter,  that  of  Great  Britain. 

In  the  meantime,  the  magazines  of  gunpowder  and  other 
military  stores,  at  Charlestown  and  Cambridge,  were  seized, 
by  order  of  Gen.  Gage. 

An  assembly  was  called  in  Massachusetts  ;  but  its  sittings 
v/ere  countermanded  by  the  governor.  The  representatives 
then  met  at  Salem,  resolved  themselves  into  a  "  provincial 
congress,"  adjourned  to  Concord,  and  chose  John  Hancock 
their  president.  The  governor  warned  them  to  desist  from 
such  illegal  proceedings ;  but,  paying  no  regard  to  his  injimc- 
tion,  they  resolved,  that,  for  the  defense  of  the  province,  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants  should  be  enlisted,  to  stand  ready 
to  march  at  a  minute's  warning.  They  elected  three  general 
officers,  to  command  these  minute-men  and  the  militia,  pro- 
vided they  should  be  called  to  action — appointed  a  committee 
of  supplies,  and  a  committee  of  safety,  to  sit  during  their  re- 
cess. Meeting  again  in  November,  they  resolved  that  one 
fourth  of  the  militia  should  act  as  minute-men ;  made  the  addi- 
tion of  two  general  officers  ;  and  sent  persons  to  inform  New 
Hampshire,  Rhode  Island,  and  Connecticut,  of  their  measures, 
and  request  their  co-operation,  in  order  to  raise  an  army  of 
20,000  men,  to  act  in  any  emergency. 

The  same  temper  was  manifest  in  the  southern  colonies, 
particularly  in  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  and  Maryland,  where 
conventions  were  held,  and  spirited  resolutions  passed. 

On  the  20th  of  November,  the  British  parliament  convened. 
The  king,  in  his  speech,  informed  the  members,  that  a  most 
daring  resistance  to  the  laws  still  prevailed  in  Massachusetts, 
which  was  encouraged  by  unlawful  combinations  in  the  other 
colonies  ;  and,  finally,  he  expressed  his  firm  determination  to 
withstand  any  attempt  to  weaken  or  impair  the  royal  authority ; 
and  in  these  sentiments  the  two  houses  expressed,  in  their 
answer,  a  decided  concurrence.  Perceiving,  from  these  ex- 
pressions, the  temper  of  the  British  government,  Mr.  Quincy, 
who  had  been  sent  over  as  general  agent  for  the  colonies, 
wrote  to  Dr.  Reed,  in  Philadelphia,  warning  him  not  to  enter- 
tain the  idea  that  commercial  plans  would  be  the  engines  of 
their  freedom;  and  telling  him,that  he  wrote  "  with  the  feelings 


AMERICA  DEFENDED  BY  LORD  CHATHAM.  163 

of  one  who  believes  that  his  coiintnnneii  must  yet  seal  their   PART  III 
faith  and  constancy  to  their  liberties  with  blood."  period  l 

When   the   British   ministry,   after   considerable   delay,  at   chap.  vn. 
length  brought  the  American  papers  before  parliament,  Lord  ^--"-"v-**^ 
Chatham,  with  all  the  energies  of  his  gigantic  mind,  took  the   Lord  Chat- 
field  of  debate,  in  favor  of  America.    ^"  Tlie  way,"  he  said,  \^n"'^'orTf' 
"  nnist  be  immediately  opened  for  reconciliation.     It  will  soon     America, 
be  too  late.     His  majesty  may  indeed  wear  his  crown  ;  but, 
the  American  jewel  out  of  it,  it  will  not  be  worth  the  wearing.  ^^^  declares 
They  say,  you  have  no  right  to  tax  them,  without  their  con-  canljc^taken 
sent.     They  say  truly.     Representation  and  taxation  must  go  without  the 
together — they  are  inseparable.     '  Our  American  subjects,'  is  ^s^n^ceaT'^ 
a  common  phrase  in  the  mouths  of  the  lowest  orders  of  our  to  oe  proper 
citizens  :  but  property,  my  lords,  is  the  sole  and  entire  domi-         ^v- 
nion  of  the  owner :  it  excludes  all  the  world  besides.     It  is 
an  atom ,   untangible  by  any  but  the  proprietor.     Touch  it, 
and  the  touch  contaminates  the  whole  mass ;  the  whole  pro- 
perty vanishes.     This  wise  people  speak  out.     They  do  not 
hold  the  language  of  slaves  ;  they  tell  you  Avhat  they  mean. 
They  do  not  ask  you  to  repeal  your  laws,  as  a  favor ;  they 
claim  it  as  a  right — they  demand  it.     They  tell  you,  they 
will  not  submit  to  them ;  and  I  tell  you,  the  acts  must  be 
repealisd.     Repeal,   therefore,   my    lords,    I    say.     But    bare 
repeal  will  not  satisfy  this  enlightened  and  spirited  people. 
You  must  go  through  the  work ;  you  must  declare  you  have 
no  right  to  tax — then  they  may  trust  you — then  they  will 
have  some  confidence  in  you." 

But  such  were  the  prejudices  then  existing,  that,  notwith-     1T75. 
standing  the  force  of  Lord   Chatham's   argiunents,  and  the  Conciliatory 
weight  of  his  name,  a  plan,  which  he  brought^  before  parlia-  proposed  by 
ment,  for  conciliatory  measures,  was  negatived  by  a  large   Lord  Chat 
majority;  wdiile  the  petitions  from  the  merchants  of  London,    '^"jected  ^^" 
and  other  commercial  places,  in  favor  of  America,  were  refer- 
red, not  to  the  regular  committee,  but  to  one,  called  by  the  Colonies  re- 
friends  of  the  colonies,  "the  committee  of  oblivion,"  whose  f"^^'^  ^^^,'^^' 
meeting  was  deferred  to  a  distant  day.     Dr.  Franklin,  and     "ment. 
the  other  colonial  agents,  were  refused  a  hearing  before  the 
house,  on  the  plea,  that  they  were  appointed  by  an  illegal 
assembly ;  and  thus  was  put  to  silence  the  voice  of  three  mil- 
lions of  people,  yet  in  the  attitude  of  humble  suppliants. 

Both  houses  of  parliament  concurred,  by  a  large  majority, 
in  an  address  to  the  king,  in  which  they  declare,  "  that  the 
Americans  had  long  wished  to  become  independent,  and  only 
waited  for  ability  and  opportunity,  to  accomplish  their  design. 
To  prevent  this,"  they  said,  "  and  to  cnish  the  monster  in  its 
birth,  was  the  duty  of  every  Englishman  ;  and  that  this  must 
be  done,  at  any  price,  and  at  every  hazard." 

On  the  10th  of  February,  a  bill  was  passed,  by  which  the    f^^-  ^^■ 
colonies  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New  Hampshire,  and   attempt  to 
Rhode  Island,  were  restricted  in  their  trade  to  Great  Britain   divide  the 


i64 


FUTILE    ATTEMPTS    AT    RECONCILIATION. 


Part  in. 


colonies  by 
showing  fa- 
vors to  some, 
and  severity 
to  others. 


Parliament 

makes  a 
second  fail- 
ure in  an- 
other at- 
tempt to 
blind  and  di- 
wide  the  co- 
lonies. 


.acciet  nego- 
tiations be- 
tween Lord 
Howe  and 
Ur.  Frank- 
'iii. 


and  its  West  India  possessions,  and  were  also  prohibited  from 
fishing  on  the  banks  of  Newfonndland,  The  same  restrictions 
were  soon  after  extended  to  all  the  colonies,  excepting  New 
York  and  North  Carolina.  It  was  expected  that  these  prohi- 
bitions would  prove  particularly  distressing  to  the  inhabitants 
of  New  England,  as  an  idea  prevailed,  that  they  depended  on 
the  fisheries  for  their  subsistence,  and  must,  if  deprived  of 
them,  be  starved  into  obedience. 

While  parliament  were  engaged  in  augmenting  the  naval 
and  military  force,  from  the  avowed  cause,  that  there  was 
a  state  of  rebellion.  Lord  North  brought  in  an  artful  bill, 
which  he  called  a  conciliatory  plan,  and  which,  after  consi- 
derable debate,  was  adopted.  Its  purport  was,  that  Great 
Britain  should  forbear  to  tax  the  colonies,  on  their  agreeing 
to  tax  themselves  ;  the  money  thus  raised,  to  be  at  the  dispo- 
sal of  the  British  parliament.  This  project,  when  brought 
before  the  colonial  assemblies,  and  finally  referred  by  them  to 
congress,  was  pronounced,  not  only  insidious,  but  unreason- 
able and  unsatisfactory;  for  it  was,  in  effect,  to  oblige  them- 
selves to  give  the  thing  over  which  they  claimed  a  right,  to 
purchase  the  mere  name  of  possessing  that  right ;  in  fine,  to 
give  the  substance  for  the  shadow. 

While  these  measures  were  in  progress,  Lord  Howe  sought 
an  introduction  to  Dr.  Franklin,  through  his  sister,  Mrs.  Howe, 
the  friend  of  the  latter,  and  an  honest  endeavor  was  made,  on 
both  sides,  to  fall  upon  some  plan,  to  which  the  parties  would 
consent.  But  the  result  of  these  secret  and  unofficial  nego- 
tiations shows  clearly,  that  so  v/ide  Avas  the  difference  of 
opinion  in  England  and  America,  that  a  war  was  inevitable  ; 
as  no  scheme  of  adjustment  could  be  devised,  to  which  even 
good  men  of  both  parties  would  agree. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


The  War  begins  by  the  Battle  of  Lexington. 


iTT5. 

Feb.  26. 
Gage  at- 


In  the  mean  time,  afllairs  in  America  were  tending  to  a 
crisis,  which  would  preclude  all  hope  of  reconciliation.  A 
second  provincial  congTess  having  assembled  in  Massachu- 
setts, had  ordered  military  stores  to  be  collected,  and  encou- 
raged the  militia  and  minute-men  to  perfect  themselves  in  the 
use  of  arms. 

General  Gage  having  learned  that  a  number  of  field  pieces 
Avere   collected  at  Salom,  dispatched  a  party  of  soldiers,  to 


'  ™P^^  *"  ^^'  ^^^^®  possession  of  them,  in  the  name  of  the  king.     The  peo- 
at  Salem,    pl^  of  Salem  assembled  in  great  numbers,  and,  by  pulling  up 


THE    FIRST    BLOOD    IS    SUED    AT    LEXINGTON. 


165 


a  drawbritlgc,  prevented  their  entering  the  town,  and  thus  de- 
feated iheir  object. 

A  large  quantity  of  ammunition  and  stores  was  also  depo- 
sited at  Concord,  about  twenty  miles  from  Boston ;  these 
General  Gage  resolved  to  seize,  or  destroy;  and,  with  that 
view,  he  sent  a  detachment  of  800  men,  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Smith  and  Major  Pitcairn,  ordering  them  to  pro- 
ceed with  expedition  and  secrecy. 

The  provincials  had  notice  of  the  design ;  and  when  the 
British  troops  arrived  at  Lexington,  within  five  miles  of  Con- 
cord, the  militia  of  the  place  were  drawn  up,  and  ready  to 
receive  them.  The  advanced  body  of  the  reg-ulars  approached 
within  musket  shot,  when  Major  Pitcairn,  riding  forward,  ex- 
claimed, "  Disperse,  you  rebels  ! — throw  down  your  arms  and 
disperse."  Not  being  instantly  obeyed,  he  discharged  his 
pistol,  and  ordered  his  men  to  fire.  They  fired,  and  killed 
eight  men.  The  militia  dispersed,  but  the  firing  continued. 
The  detachment  then  proceeded  to  Concord,  and  destroyed 
or  took  possession  of  the  stores. 

They  then  began  their  retreat ;  but  the  colonists  pressing 
upon  them  on  all  sides,  they  went  to  Lexington,  where  they 
met  Lord  Percy,  with  a  reinl^orcement  of  900  men,  without 
which,  it  is  doubtful  whether  they  could  have  reached  Boston  ; 
for  the  Americans,  better  acquainted  with  the  gi'ounds,  con- 
tinually harassed  their  march.  From  every  place  of  conceal- 
ment— a  stone  fence,  a  cluster  of  bushes,  or  a  barn,  the  con- 
cealed provincials  poured  upon  them  a  destructive  fire.  At 
sunset,  the  regulars,  almost  overcome  with  fatigue,  passed 
Charlestown  Neck,  and  found,  on  Bunker's  Hill,  a  resting 
place  for  the  night ;  and  the  next  morning,  under  the  protec- 
tion of  a  man  of  war,  they  entered  Boston. 

Blood  had  now  flowed,  and  no  language  can  portray  the 
feelings  which  the  event  excited.  Couriers  were  dispatched 
in  every  direction,  who  gave,  as  they  rode  at  full  speed,  their 
news,  to  be  taken  up  and  carried  in  like  manner  to  other 
places ;  and  thus,  in  an  increasing  circle,  it  spread  like  elec- 
tric fluid  throughout  the  land.  The  messenger,  if  he  arrived 
on  Sunday,  at  once  entered  the  church,  and  proclaimed  to  the 
breathless  assembly — war  has  begun  !  Every  where  the  cry 
was  repeated,  "  war  has  begun !"  and  the  universal  response 
was,  "to  arms,  then!  liberty  or  death!" 

The  legislatures  of  the  several  colonies  convened,  appointed 
ofBcers,  and  gave  orders  to  raise  troops.  Every  where,  fathers 
were  leaving  their  children,  and  mothers  sending  their  sons  lo 
the  field  ;  and  an  army  of  20,000  was  soon  collected  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Boston. 

Thus  war  was  beginning  in  earnest.     But  our  fathers  had 

a  righteous  cause  ;  and  the  contest  was  important,  not  only  to 

themselves  and  their  posterity,  but  to  human  rights.     They 

had  done  all  that  was  possible,  and  what  none  but  great  men 

13 


April  18. 
Gage  sends 
800  men  to 
seize  the 
stores  at 
»./oncord. 

1775. 

April  18. 

Battle  of 

LexingtoiL 

I'he  com- 
mencement 
of  the  war 


Retreat  ol 
the  British. 

Harassed  by 
the  Ameri- 
cans. 

British  loss 
273. 

American 
loss,  88. 


Great  excite- 
ment. 

Special  cou- 
riers spread 
the  news. 

The  people 

take   up 

anus. 


Oqi  .*.\ther» 
conl  ended 
righteously 

for  their 
own,  and  hur 
man  righU 


166 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  AND  THE  GREEN  MOUNTAIN  BOYS. 


PART  III. 


Obligations 
of  the  pre- 
sent, to  the 
timing  gene 
lations. 


could  have  done,  tc  secure  an  honorable  peace.  What  oiu 
country  now  is,  and  what  it  must  have  been,  had  they  shrunk 
from  the  conflict,  and  tamely  submitted  to  the  yoke  of  servi- 
tude, speaks  for  their  virtue  and  wisdom,  in  resolving  to  con- 
tend. The  God  of  justice,  in  whom  they  trusted,  proved  their 
Deliverer.  They  were,  to  the  death,  true  to  us,  their  pos- 
terity. Let  not  us  be  false  to  them ;  but  let  us  transmit  the 
liberty  and  the  noble  institutions  of  our  country,  the  inheritance 
earned  by  their  blood,  uncontaminated,  to  our  descendants. 


CHAPTER   IX 


Ticonderoga  taken. — Royal  Governors  retire. 


Hie  colonists 
besiege  the 

British  in 

Boston. 

Their  pro- 
visions 
scarce. 


Plans  for 
taking  Ti- 
conderoga 
and  Crown 
Point  origi- 
aate  in  Con- 
Qccticut  and 
Massachu- 
setts. 

Green 
Mountain 

Boys 
defend  the 
New  Ilamp 
shire  grants 
fiom  N.  Y. 

Etnari  A.Ven 

and  Seth 

Warner  are 

j'>ined  by 


Bene(]ict 
AxDoiiL 


General  Gage  was  now  closely  besieged  in  Boston  by  an 
army  of  twenty  thousand.  He  had  made  his  fortifications  so 
strong,  that  the  provincials  did  not  attempt  the  place  by  as- 
sault ;  nor  would  they  have  taken  any  such  measures  to  annoy 
the  enemy,  as  would  have  exposed  the  inhabitants.  But  so 
closely  were  the  British  invested,  that,  although  they  had  the 
command  of  the  sea,  their  provisions  became  scarce.  Great 
vigilance,  to  prevent  their  obtaining  supplies,  was  used  along 
the  coast,  the  inhabitants,  for  ttiis  purpose,  often  driving  their 
cattle  into  the  interior. 

The  possession  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  on  which 
depended  the  command  of  lakes  George  and  Champlain,  was 
an  object  of  essential  importance.  Without  waiting  for  the 
action  of  congress,  individuals  in  Connecticut,  at  the  head  of 
whom  were  Dean,  Wooster,  and  Parsons,  determined  to  un- 
dertake it  on  their  own  responsibility  ;  and  accordingly  they 
borrowed  of  the  legislature  of  that  colony,  eighteen  hundred 
dollars.  They  then  proceeded  to  Bennington,  confident  of  the 
co-operation  of  the  hardy  freemen  who  had  settled  in  that  vi- 
cinity by  the  authority  of  Nov/  Hampshire,  and  who  had,  un- 
der the  name  of  the  "  Green  Mountain  corps,"  manifested 
their  resolution  in  defense  of  their  lands  from  the  sheriffs  01 
New  York  ;  that  state  claiming  over  them  a  jurisdiction,  which 
they  would  not  allow.  At  the  head  of  these  veterans  were 
Colonels  Ethan  Allen,  and  Seth  Warner.  Thoy  gladly  en- 
gaged in  the  enterprise.  Troops  were  soon  raised,  and  the 
command  was  intrusted  to  Allen. 

In  the  meantime,  Benedict  Arnold,  with  the  intrepid  bold- 
ness of  his  character,  had,  in  Boston,  formed  and  matured  the 
same  design,  and  was  on  the  march  to  execute  it,  when  he 
found,  with  astonishment,  that  he  had  been  anticipated.  Be- 
coming second  in  command  to  Allon,  they  marched  together 


AMERICAN    SUCCESSES    ON    LAKE    CHAMPLAIN.  167 

at  the  head  of  three  hundred  men,  from  Castleton,  and  reacli-  PART  HI. 
ed  lake  Champlain,  opposite  Ticondcroga,  on  the  0th  of  May.  pkriod  i 
On  the  morning  of  the  10th  they  embarked  with  eighty-three    ^"-^p-  ^^^ 
men,  landed  at  dawn  of  day,  and  completely  surprised  the  for-  ^-^^N-^^^ 
iress.      The  approach  of  a  hostile  force  was  so  unexpected  to      1775. 
De  La  Place,  the  commander,  that  he  knew  not   from  what    pj  ^^  ^^' 
quarter  they  were  ;  and  when  summoned  to  surrender,  he  de-     prise  and 
manded  by  what  authority  : — "  In  the  name  of  the  great  Je-  capture  Ti 
hovah  and  the  Continental  Congress,"  said  Allen.      De  La    ^^'^  ®^*^^^ 
Place,  incapable  of  making  any  resistance,  delivered  up  the 
garrison,  which  consisted  of  only  three  officers  and  forty-four 
privates. 

The  remainder  of  the  troops  having  landed,  Colonel  War-     Colonel 
ner  was  dispatched  with  a  small  party  against  Crown  Point,  ,  ^^^^'^ 

.      1  •    1    1     ^       ,  ,  ,  ^.      -^      ^.  ,11.  takes  Crowi 

ot  which  he  took  peaceable  possession.     Arnold,  having  man-       Point, 
ned  and  armed  a  small  schooner  found  in  South  Bay,  captured       .      , , 
a  sloop-of-war  lying  at  St.  Johns.     The  pass  of   Skeensbo-     seizes  a 
rough  was  seized  at  the  same  time,  by  a  detachment  of  vol-  sloop-of-war 
unteers  from  Connecticut. 

Thus  were  obtained,  without  bloodshed,   these    important 
posts  ;  and  the  command  of  the  lakes  on  which  they  stood,    ^^^^   ™^" 
together  vrith  one  hundred  pieces  of  cannon,  and  other  muni-  mand  Lakei 
tions  of  war.     The  success  with  which  this  expedition   was  George  and 
crowned,  greatly  tended  to  raise  the  confidence  which   the 
Americans  felt  in  themselves. 

The  continental  congress  again  assembled  at  Philadelphia     ^lay  lo. 
on  the  10th  of  May,  and  Mr.  Hancock  was  chosen  President.  mSt'SThiJ 
Bills  of  credit  to  the  amount  of  three  millions  of  dollars  were     adelphia. 
issued  for  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  war :  and  the  faith   ^^^'/.^  ^^^^^^ 

/•I  ,,  ro        i"         TT    •       1     /I    1       •      M        1     1        1     r  1-    •  millions  of 

ol    the    ."  Twelve    United    Colonies     pledged   tor    their   re-  continental 

demption.  paper  monej 

Lord  Dunmore,  the  governor  of  Virginia,  on  plea  of  insur-  ^ 

rection  in  a  neighboring  county,   caused  some  powder  to  be    Lord  Dun 
seized,  by  night,  from  the  magazine  belonging  to  the  colony    m"re  forced 
at  Williamsburgh,  and  conveyed  on  board  an  armed  schooner,    Henry,"*to 
then  lying  in  James  river.     Patrick  Henry  assembled  an  in-  make  resti 
dependent  company,  and  was  marching  towards  the  capital,  to     ^"^^°"  ^o*" 
obtain  it  by  force,  when  he  was  met  by  a  messenger  from  the 
governor,  who  paid  him  the  full  value  in  money.     Henry  and 
his  party  returned.    Lord  Dunmore,  having  fortified  his  palace.    Proclaims 
issued  a  proclamation,  and  declared  them  rebels.     This  highly  him  and  his 
•ncensed  the  people,  with  whom  Henry  was  the  favorite  leader.  ^'^''^^  ""^ 
About  the  same  time,  letters  of  Dunmore  to  England  were  in-   pj-^  i^.^tg^s 
•ercepted,   which  were  considered  as  gross  slanders  against  intercepted. 
•he   colony.     Thus  situated,  he  became  apprehensive  of  per-  He  quits  his 

11  11  11-  1  .  11  government. 

p'onal  danger,   abandoned  his  governmenr,  and  went  on  board  '  ^s6o  ihe 
i/ie  Fowey,  a  man-of-war,  then  lying  at  Yorktown.     In  North  governors  of 
V/arolina,  Governor  Martin  took  refuge  on   board  a  national  ^'^^  ^i"^^ 
8Aip  in  Cape  Fear  river  ;  and  in   South  Carolina,  Lord  Wil- 
liam Campbell  abandoned  his  government  and  retired 


168 


BATTLE    OF    BUNKER-HILL. 


PART  III. 


Tryon,  the  artful  and  intriguing  governor  of  New  York,  was 
still  in,  or  near  the  province,  and  no  delegates  to  congress 
were  chosen  at  the  proper  time  ;  but  after  the  battle  of  Lex- 
ington, a  convention  was  held  for  the  sole  purpose,  and  niem 
bers  were  elected.  In  North  Carolina,  the  people  of  Mecklen- 
burg county  having,  on  the  20th  of  May,  assembled  at  Charlotte 
passed  resolutions,  embodying  the  bold  declaration  of  Independ 
ence, — the  first  made  in  America. 


CHAPTEE    X. 

Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.— Washington. 


1-775. 

Rlay  25. 
Ho-sve,  Clin- 
ton, and  Bur- 
goyne. 

June  12. 
General 
Gage's  proc- 
lamation. 

General 
Gage  vio- 
lates his 
promise. 


Night  of 
June  16, 

Americans 
fortify 

Breed's  Hill. 


June  17. 
British  army 
crosses  from 

Boston. 

Lands  at 

Morton's 

Pcint. 


They  burn 

Charles- 

town. 


In  May,  the  British  army  in  Boston  received  a  powerful  re- 
inforcement from  England,  under  Generals  Howe,  Clinton, 
and  Burgoyne. 

General  Gage,  thus  reinforced,  proceeded  to  bold  measures. 
He  proclaimed  martial  law  throughout  Massachusetts.  He 
however  offered  pardon  to  all  rebels  who  would  return  to 
their  allegiance,  except  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock. 

General  Gage  had,  in  the  meantime,  agreed  to  permit  the 
people  ef  Boston  to  depart ;  but  after  a  portion  had  gone  he 
changed  his  policy  and  kept  the  remainder. 

Learning  that  the  British  threatened  to  penetrate  into  the 
country,  congress  recommended  to  the  council  of  war  to 
take  such  measures  as  would  put  them  on  the  defensive,  and 
for  this  purpose,  a  detachment  of  one  thousand  men,  under 
Colonel  Prescott,  was  ordered,  on  the  night  of  the  IGlh  of 
June,  to  throw  up  a  breastwork  on  Bunker's  Hill,  near 
Charlestown.  By  some  mistake,  the  troops  entrenched  them 
selves  on  Breed's  Hill,  nearer  to  Boston.  They  labored  with 
such  silence  and  activity,  that  by  return  of  light  they  had 
nearly  completed  a  strong  redoubt,  without  being  observed. 
At  dawn,  however,  the  British,  discovering  the  advance  of 
the  Americans,  commenced  a  severe  cannonade  from  the  ships 
in  the  river ;  but  this  not  interrupting  them.  General  Gage 
sent  a  body  of  about  three  thousand  men,  under  Generals 
Howe  and  Pigot.  They  left  Boston  in  boats,  and  landed 
under  the  protection  of  the  shipping  in  Charlestown,  at  the 
extreme  point  of  the  peninsula,  and  advanced  against  the 
Americans.  Generals  Clinton  and  Burgoyne  took  their  sta- 
tion on  an  eminence  in  Boston,  commanding  a  distinct  view 
of  the  hill.  The  spires  of  the  churches,  the  roofs  of  the 
houses,  and  every  height  which  commanded  a  view  of  the 
battle  ground,  were  covered  with  spectators,  taking  deep  and 
opposite  interests  in  the  conflict. 

The  British  set  fire  to  Charlestown;  and  amidst  the  glare  of 
its  flames  glittering  upon  their  burnished  arms,  they  advance  to 
the  attack.  The  Americans  wait  their  approach  in  silence, 
until  they  are  within  ten  rods  of  the  redoubt  —  then  taking  a 


WASHINGTON    ELECTED    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.  169 

Steady  aim,  and  having  advantage  of  the  ground,  they  pour 
upon  the  British  a  deadly  firr-.  They  arc  thrown  into  confu- 
sion, and  many  of  their  oflicers  fall.  They  are  thus  twice 
repulsed.  Clinton  now  arrives  ;  his  men  again  rally  ;  ad- 
vance towards  the  fortifications,  and  attack  the  redoubt  on 
three  sides  at  once.  The  ammunition  of  the  colonists  failed. 
Courage  was  no  longer  of  any  avail,  and  Colonel  Prescott, 
who  conmianded  the  redoubt,  ordered  a  retreat.  The  Amer- 
.cans  were  obliged  to  pass  Charlestown  neck,  where  they 
were  exposed  to  a  galling  fire  fVom  the  ships  in  the  harloor.  obli'^ed  ^ 
Here  fell  General  .foscph  Warren,  whose  death  was  a  severe  quit  the  field. 
blow  to  his  mourning  country. 

In  this  engagement  three  thousand  men,    composing  the  British  loss, 
flower  of  the  British  army,  were  engaged.     Their  killed  and    ,  ^^^'^' 

11  11  11-111  /-I         American, 

wounded  w^ere  more  than  a  thousand,  w4iile  the  loss  of  the  453 
Americans  was  less  than  half  that  number.  Although  the 
ground  was  lost,  the  Americans  regarded  this  as  a  victory, 
and  the  British  as  a  defeat.  Or  if  they  pretended  otherwise, 
it  was  tauntingly  asked,  how  many  more  such  triumphs  their 
army  could  aflbrd  ?  The  boldness  with  which  the  undisci- 
plined troops  of  the  colonies  so  long  withstood  the  charges  of 
the  regulars,  increased  their  confidence,  and  convinced  the 
English  that  they  had  to  contend  with  a  resolute  foe. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  June,  congress,  still  in  session,  elected,  ,./"?®'^" 

,  .         r^  ^  TT-     1  •      .  1  1       'Washington 

by  a  unanimous  vote,    Ueorge  Washington,  who  was   then  elected  com- 
present,  and  had  from  their  first  meeting  at  Philadelphia,  been  mander-in- 
a  delegate  from  Virginia,  to  the  high  ofhce  of  general  and 
commander-in-chief  of   the    army  of  the  United    Colonies. 
The  members  from  the  north  had  generously  resolved,  in  or- 
der to  attach  the  south  more  firmly  to  the  confederacy,  to  fix 
upon  a  soutJiern  commander  ;  but  in  their  selection,  they  ap- 
pear to  have  been  guided  by  a  wisdom  which  seemed,  as  far 
as  human  foresight  can  go,  to  penetrate  into  futurity.     When  -rn-   u-  ^ 
his  appointment  was  signified  to  him  by  the  president  of  con-  fears  that  his 
gress,  he  was  deeply  penetrated  with  a  mingled  sense  of  the  capacity  is 
high  honor  which  he  had  received,  and  the  responsibility  of  "'^^  stattoi? 
the  station  to  which  he  was  raised.     In  attempting  to  fill  it, 
he  acted  not  from  the  dictates  of  his  own  judgment,  which  led 
him  to  fear  that  his  talents  and  military  experience  might  not 
be  adequate  to  the  discharge  of  his  duty  ;  yet,   such  as  they  Wasbing- 
were,  he  felt  bound,  he  said,  to  devote  them  to  his  country  in  ton  received 
whatever  manner  the  public  will  directed.     He  declined  all  "°  pecuni- 
conipensation  for  his  services,   for  as  money  could  not  buy     foj.  eight 
him  from  his  endeared  home,  and  as  he  served  his  country     years  ar- 

for  justice,  and  the  love  he  bore  to  her  cause,  he  would  not  duous  ser- 

.  .  .  vices, 

allow  his  motives  to  be  misconstrued.     He   should  keep  an 

exact  account  of  his  expenses  and  those,  congress,  he  doubt- 
ed not,  wDuld  discharge. 

Artemas  Ward,  of  Massachusetts,  Colonel  Lee   formerly  a 
British  officer,  Philip  Schuyler   of  New  York,   and  IsraeJ 
13 


170  WASHINGTON    JOINS    THE    ARMY    AT    CAMBRIDGE. 

PART  III.  Putnam,  of  Connecticut  then  before  Boston,  v/ere  at  the  same 
PERIOD  I.  time  appointed  to  the  rank  of  major  generrJs  ;  and  Horatic 
CHAP.  X.     Gates  to  that  of  adjutant  general. 

*^-*''^'''"*-^       Soon  after  his  election.  Washington  set  out  for  the  camp  at 
He  joins  the  Cambridge.     He  found  the  British  army  strongly  posted  on 
CaSidge    Bunker's  and  Breed's  hill,  and  Boston  neck.     The  American, 
consisting  of  14,000  men,  were  entrenched  on  the  heights 
around  Boston,  forming  a  line  which  extended  from  Roxbury 
on  the  right,  to  the  river  Mystic  on  the  left,  a  distance   of 
twelve  miles.     This  disposition  of  the  troops  greatly  distress- 
ed the  British,  who  were  confined  to  Boston,  and  often  obliged 
to  risk  their  lives  to  obtain  the  means  of  sustenance. 
American         Washington  perceived,  that  although  the  people  were  ar- 
ciMined"^  in-  ^®^^  ^^  ^^®  cause  of  liberty,  and  ready  to  engage  in  the  most 
subordinate,  desperate  enterprises,  yet  there  was  a  want  of  discipline  and 
without  en-  niiUtary  subordination   among  the  troops.     The   officers,  in 
almost  'with-  Hiany  instances,  were  chosen   by  the   soldiers   from  among 
out  ammu-   their  own  number,  and  hence  were  not  considered  their  supe- 
mtion.      riors.     The  army  was  scantily  supplied  with  arms  and  am- 
munition, and  their  operations  retarded,  by  a  want  of  skillful 
w   h'    -    engineers.     He  set  himself  with  alacrity  to  the  labor  of  bring- 
ton's  judi-   ing  order  out  of  confusion,  making  judicious  arrangements  and 
cious  ar-     divisions  in  the  army,  disciplining  the  troops,   and  employing 
fangemen  s.   g^^^  ^^  ^|^g  most  active  in  the  duties  of  artillerists  ;  and  such 

Heorganizes  were  his  exertions,  that  in  a  short  time  the  army  was  organ- 
the  army.     -^^^^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^  ^^j.^  ^-^^  ^^jj 

Congress  now  published  a  solemn  and  dignified  declaration, 

July  6.      jj^  ii^Q  form  of  a  manifesto,  setting  forth  the  imperative  reasons 

show  just    which    led  the   nation  to  take   up  arms.     This  instrument, 

reasons  for  which  was  to  be  published  from  the  pulpit,  and  in  "orders"  to 

arml"^    the  army,   declared,    "  we  are  reduced  to  the  alternatiA^e  oi 

choosing  an  unconditional  submission  to  the  tyranny  of  irrita- 

rheir  hope  ted  ministers,  or  resistance  by  force.    The  latter  is  our  choice. 

Mid  courage.  \Yq  have  counted  the  cost  of  this  contest,  and  find  nothing  so 

dreadful  as  voluntary  slavery.     Honor,  justice,  and  humanity 

forbid  us  tamely  to  surrender  that  freedom  which  we  received 

from  our  gallant  ancestors,  and  which  our  innocent  posterity 

have  a  right  to  receive  from  us.     Our  cause  is  just,  our  union 

is  perfect,  our  internal  resources  are  great ;  and,  if  necessary, 

foreign  assistance  is  undoubtedly  attainable." 

"  With  hearts  fortified  with  these  animating  reflections,  we 
most  solemnly,  before  God  and  the  world,  declare,  that,  ex- 
'^t'^'^^d''  ^^^^'^S  ^^^®  utmost  energy  of  those  powers,   which  our  benefi- 
solemn  de-   ^^^^^  Creator  hath  graciously  bestowed  on  us,   the  arms  wq 
termination,  have  been  compelled  by  our  enemies  to  assume,  we  will,  in 
defiance  of  every  hazard,   with  unabating  firmness  and  perse- 
verance, employ  for  the  preservation  of  our  liberties  ;  being 
with  one  mind  resolved,   to  die  freemen,   rather  than  to  live 
slaves." 

Georgia  now  entered  into  the  opposition  made  to  the  claims 


INVASION    OF    CANADA. 


171 


of  the  British  parliament  to  tax  America,  and  chose  delegates  PART  ill, 
to  congress ;  after  which,  the  style  of  "  the  Thirteen  United  period  l 
Colonies"  was  assumed,  and  by  that  title  the  English  provin-  '^"'^''-  ^^• 
ces  were  thenceforth  designated. 

During  this  session  of  congress,  also,  the  first  line  of  posts 
for  the  communication  of  intelligence  through  the  United 
States,  was  established.  Benjamin  Franklin  was  appointed, 
l:y  a  unanimous  vote,  postmaster-general,  with  power  to  ap- 
point as  many  deputies  as  he  might  deem  proper  and  necessa-  p^jjjuj^,^^,,  ^ 
ry,  for  the  conveyance  of  the  mail  from  Falmouth,  in  Maine,  Sava;i.ialx. 
to  Savannah,  in  Georgia. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Invasion  of  Canada. — Death  of  Montgomery. 


While  the  British  army  was  closely  blockaded  in  Boston, 
congress  conceived  the  design  of  sending  a  force  into  Can- 
ada; as  the  movements  of  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  the  governor  of 
that  province,  seemed  to  threaten  an  invasion  of  the  north- 
western frontier.  Two  expeditions  were  accordingly  organ- 
ized and  dispatched,  one  by  the  way  of  Champlain,  under 
Generals  Schuyler  and  Montgomery,  the  other  by  the  way  of 
the  river  Kennebec,  under  the  command  of  Arnold. 

General  Lee,  with  1,200  volunteers  from  Connecticut,  was 
directed  to  repair  to  New  York,  and  with  the  aid  of  the  inhab- 
itants, fortify  the  city,  and  the  highlands  on  the  Hudson  river. 

In  pursuance  of  the  plan  of  guarding  the  northern  frontier 
by  taking  Canada,  Generals  Schuyler  and  Montgomery,  with 
two  regiments  of  New  York  militia,  and  a  body  of  New  Eng- 
land men,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  about  2,000,  were  or- 
dered to  move  in  that  direction,  while  General  Montgomery 
was  directed  to  proceed  vv^ith  the  troops  then  in  readiness,  and 
lay  siege  to  St.  John's.  General  Schuyler,  on  arriving  at  the 
Isie  aux  Noix,  twelve  miles  south,  sent  circular  letters  to  the 
Canadians,  exhorting  them  to  arouse  and  assert  their  liberties, 
declaring  that  the  Americans  entered  their  country  as  friends 
and  protectors,  not  as  enemies.  He  then  returned  to  Albany, 
to  hasten  the  remaining  troops  and  artillery.  Being  prevented 
by  illness  from  rejoining  the  army,  the  chief  command  de- 
Tolved  on  Montgomery,  who,  on  receiving  a  reinforcement, 
invested  St.  John's,  but  being  almost  destitute  of  battering  can- 
non and  of  powder,  he  made  little  progress. 

Colonel  Allen,  the  hero  of  Ticonderoga,  had  a  command 
under  Montgomery ;  and  was  sent  by  him  with  about  eighty 
men,  to  secure  a  party  of  hostile  Indians.  Having  effected 
his  object,   he  was  returning  to  head-quarters,  when  he  was 


Americana 
send  two 
parties 
against  Can- 
ada. 


General  Lee 

to  fortify- 
New  York. 


Schuyler's 
proclama- 
tion. 


Mongomerf 

invests  St. 

John. 


Septembei. 
Colonel  Al- 
len makes  an 
attempt  on 
Montreal 


172  MONTGOMERY    TAKES    ST.    JOIIN's    AND    MONTREAL. 

PART  HI.  met  by  Major  Brown,  who,  with  a  party,  had  been  (letn«;hed 
PERIOD  I.  on  a  tour  of  observation.  Without  orders  they  rashly  undertook 
cuAP.  XI.    iQ  niake  a  descent  upon  Montreal.     They  divided  into  two 
'^-*'"^'''^*»-^  parties,  intending  to  assail  the  city  e.t  opposite  points.     Allen 
crossed  the  river  in  the  night,  as  had  been  proposed ;  and  al 
though  Brown  and  his  party  failed,  he,  with  only  eighty  meiij 
Is  taken     by  desperate  valor  attempted  to  maintain  his  ground  though 
^inms^-Sd  attacked  by  Carleton,  at  the  head  of  several  hundreds.     Corn- 
sent  to  Eng-  pelled  to  yield,  he  and  his  brave  associates  were  loaded  with 

land.       irons,  and  sent  to  England. 
A  encans        ^"  ^^®  ^^^^  ^^  October,  a  small  fort  at  Chamble,  which  was 
take  Cham-  but  slightly  guarded,  was  taken  by  the  Americans      Several 
bleandob-  pieces  of  artillery,  and  about  120  barrels  of  gunpowder,  were 
'^*der?^'    t^®  fruits  of  the  victory.      This  enabled  Montgomery  to  pro- 
ceed with  vigor  against  St.  John's. 

Carleton,  on  learning  the  situation  of  that  fort,  raised  a  force 

Carleton  re-  of  800  men  for  its  relief,  and  embarked  them  in  boats  to  cross 

I^^Sl'^b    ^^®  ^^"  Lawrence  to  Longueil.      Colonel  Warner,   who  was 

'°^amer.     Stationed  there  with  300   mountaineers,  and  a  small  piece  of 

artillery,  received  him  with  a  brisk  fire;  prevented  his  landing, 

and  compelled  him  to  return  to  Montreal. 

When  the  news  of  this  repulse  reached  Montgomery,  he 

Nov.  3.      sent  a  flag  to  Major   Preston,  who  commanded  the  besieged 

Murenders    foi'^i'css,  summoning  him  to  surrender.      The  summons   was 

obeyed  on  the  3d  of  November,   and  the   fort  entered  by  the 

Americans. 

Carleton  now  abandoned  Montreal  to  its  fate,  and  made  his 

Carleton     escape  down  the  river  in  the  night,   in  a  small   canue  with 

flees,  and    muffled  oars.     The  next  day,  Montgomery,  after  engaging  to 

enters  mS  allow  the  inhabitants  their  own  laws,  the  free  exercise  of  their 

real.        religion,  and  the  privilege  of  governing  themselves,  entered 

the  town.      His  benevolent  conduct  induced  many  Canadians 

Canadians   to   join  his  Standard :  yet  some  of  his  own  troops  deserted, 

from  seventy  oi  climate,  and  many,  whose  time  ot  enhstnient 

had  nearly  expired,  insisted  on  returning  home.       With  the 

remnant  of  his  army,  consisting  of  only  300  men,  he  marched 

towards  Quebec,  expecting  to  meet  there  troops  under  Arnold, 

who  were  to  penetrate  by  the  way  of  the  rivers  Kenebec  and 

Chaudiere. 

Arnold  commenced  his  march  with  1,000   men,  about  rhe 
Not.  13.     middle   of    September.       After  sustaining  almost  incredible 
Arnold  ap-   hardships  in  the  trackless  forests  of  Maine,  he  arrived  at  Point 
S^uSec^'tS  ^^^'^'  opposite   Quebec,  on  the  9th  of  November.       On  the 
k  compelled  uight  of  the  13th,  he  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  climbing 
to  retire,     the  same  precipice  which  Wolfe  had  ascended,  he  formed  his 
army,  now  reduced  to  700  men,  on  the  heights  near  the  mem- 
orable plains  of  iVbraham,  and  advanced  in  the  hope   of  sur- 
prising the   city.       Being  convinced,  by  a   cannon  shot  from 
the  wall,  that  the  garrison  had  obtained  knowledge  of  his  ap- 
proach^ and  were  ready  to  receive  him.  and  feeling  his  force 


FAILURE    OF    THE    ATTEMPT    ON    QUEBEC. 


173 


to  be  insufficient,  either  to  carry  on  a  regular  siege,  or  hazard 
a  battle,  he  retired  on  the  18th,  to  Point  aux  Trembles, there 
to  await  the  arrival  of  iNIontgomcry. 

General  Carleton,  on  retiring  from  Montreal,  had  proceed- 
ed to  Quebec,  and  now  had  a  garrison  of  1,500  men.  Mont- 
gomery joined  Arnold  on  the  first  of  December.  The  united 
forces  of  the  Americans  amounted  to  less  th.^a  1.000  cfTective 
men.  On  the  5th,  Montgomery  sent  a  flag  to  the  governor, 
with  a  summons  to  surrender.  Carleton  ordered  iiis  troops 
to  lire  upon  the  bearer,  and  forbade  all  commnnication.  The 
American  general  attempted  to  batter  the  Avails,  and  harass 
the  city,  by  repeated  attacks.  During  one  night,  he  construct- 
ed a  battery  of  ice,  Avhere  he  planted  his  cannon ;  but  they 
were  not  of  sufficient  force  to  make  any  material  impression, 
or  to  alarm  the  garrison. 

Montgomery  now  found  himself  under  circumstances  even 
more  critical  and  embarassing,  than  those  which  had,  sixteen 
years  before,  environed  Wolfe  at  the  same  place.  The  severe 
Canadian  winter  had  set  in,  and  several  feet  of  snow  covered 
the  ground,  and  his  troops  had  suffered  much  already.  Yet 
to  abandon  the  enterprise,  was  to  relinquish  fame,  and  disap- 
point the  expectations,  however  unreasonable  they  might  be, 
of  his  too  sanguine  countrymen.  He,  therefore,  with  the 
unanimous  approbation  of  his  officers,  came  to  the  desperate 
determination  of  storming  the  city. 

Just  at  the  dawn  of  the  last  day  of  the  year,  and  during  a 
violent  snow  storm,  the  troops  marched  from  the  camp,  in  four 
divisions,  commanded  by  Montgomery,  Arnold,  Brown,  and 
Livingston.  The  two  latter  were  to  make  feigned  attacks ; 
but,  impeded  by  the  snow,  they  did  not  arrive  in  season  to  ex- 
ecute their  orders.  Arnold  and  Montgomery  were  to  make 
an  assault  at  opposite  points.  Montgomery,  at  the  head  of 
his  valiant  band,  was  obliged  to  advance  through  a  narrow 
path,  leading  under  the  projecting  rocks  of  a  precipice.  When 
they  reached  a  blockhouse  and  picket,  he  assisted  v/ith  his 
own  hands  to  open  a  passage  for  his  troops,  encouraging,  by 
his  voice  and  his  example,  his  brave  companions.  They  ad- 
vanced boldly  and  rapidly  to  force  the  barrier,  when,  a  single 
and  accidental  discharge  from  a  cannon,  proved  fatal  to  this 
brave  and  excellent  officer,  and  thus  destroyed  the  hopes  of 
the  enterprise.  Several  of  Montgomery's  best  officers  shared 
his  fate  ;  and  Colonel  Campbell,  on  whom  the  command  de- 
volved, found  it  impossible  to  pursue  the  advantages  already 
gained. 

In  the  meantime,  Arnold,  at  the  head  of  his  detachment, 
was  intrepidly  advancing,  when  he  received  a  musket  ball  in 
the  leg,  and  was  carried  from  the  field.  Colonel  Morgan,  who 
Bucceeded  him,  led  on  the  troops  with  vigor,  and  soon  made 
himself  master  of  the  second  barrier.  But  the  British,  freed 
from  their  apprehension  of  attack  at  any  other  point,  turned 


PART  III. 


Carleton  tU 
Quebec. 

Dec.  1. 

Montgomery 

joins  Arnold 

at  Point  aux 

Trembles. 

He  erects  a 

battery  of 

ice. 


Boldly  ae 

t ermines  to 

storm  the 

citv 


Dec  31. 

Four  divi- 
sions of 

American 
troops 


IVfontgorae 
ry's  valor 
and  death 


Arnold's   in- 
trepidity 

He  is 

wounded. 

His  party  al 

first  succfs*' 

ful 


174 


FIRST    AMERICAN    NAVY. 


PART  HI. 


American 
lass,  400. 


Arnold 
blockades 
Quebec. 


their  u^ndivided  force  upon  his  party.  Three  hours  did  this 
resolute  band  resist,  although  attacked  both  in  front  and  in 
rear ;  but  at  length  were  compelled  to  surrender  themselves 
prisoners  of  v/ar.  The  Americans  lost  400  men  in  this  dis- 
astrous attempt. 

The  treatment  of  Carleton  to  his  prisoners,  did  honor  to  his 
humanity.  iVrnold,  wounded  as  he  was,  retired  with  the  re- 
mainder of  his  army,  to  the  distance  of  three  miles  below 
Quebec ;  where,  though  inferior  in  numbers  to  the  garrison, 
they  kept  the  place  in  a  state  of  blockade,  and  in  the  course 
of  the  winter,  reduced  it  to  distress  for  want  of  provisions. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


American  Villages  burned. — Privateers. — Lovd  Dunmore. — Thp  Olive  Branch. 


17^5. 
Oct.  IS. 
Falmouth 
burned, 

Efforts  of  an 

exasperated 
people. 


Dec.  13. 

Congress 
fit  out  thir- 
teen ships. 


Tryon  em- 
ployed to 
bribe  New 
York. 


Law  raide 
which  reach- 
ed hii>  case. 


While  these  events  were  transacting  in  the  north,  the  roy- 
al force,  both  by  sea  and  land,  was  turned  against  New  Eng- 
land. Orders  were  given  to  lay  waste  and  destroy  all  such 
sea-ports,  as  had  taken  part  against  Great  Britain.  In  conse- 
quence, Falmouth,  now  Portland,  was  burned  by  the  or 
ders  of  Captain  Movvatt  of  the  British  navy.  Its  flames 
ceased  to  the  eye  with  the  destruction  of  its  buildings,  but 
they  burned  long  in  the  hearts  of  an  exasperated  people,  who 
now  put  forth  all  their  efforts.  They  collected  military  stores ; 
they  purchased  powder  in  all  foreign  ports  where  it  v/as  prac- 
ticable, and,  in  many  colonies,  commenced  its  manufacture. 
They  also  began  more  seriously  to  turn  their  attention  to  their 
armed  vessels.  Massachusetts  granted  letters  of  marque  and 
reprisal.  Congress  resolved  to  fit  out  thirteen  ships,  and  raise 
two  battalions  of  m.arincs.  They  framed  articles  of  war  for 
the  government  of  the  little  navy,  and  established  regular 
courts  of  admiralty,  for  the  adjudication  of  prizes.  The 
American  privateers  swarmed  forth.  Alert  and  bold,  they 
visited  every  sea,  and  annoyed  the  British  commerce,  even  in 
the  ver)-  waters  of  their  own  island. 

Efforts  were  still  m^de  by  the  ministry,  to  retain  the  colony 
of  New  York.  They  restored  Tryon  to  the  government,  who 
was  greatly  beloved  by  the  people,  and  empowered  him  to 
bribe  and  corrupt,  if  possible,  the  influential  citizens.  Con- 
gress, alarmed  for  the  safety  of  a  colony,  whose  loss  must 
cut  asunder  the  north  from  the  south,  recommended  that  "  all 
persons,  whose  going  at  large  would  endanger  the  libeiiy  of 
Amorica,  should  be  arrested  and  secured ;"  and  'Tryon  con- 
sulted his  safety,  by  taking  refuge  on  board  a  ship  in  the 
harbor. 


LORD    DUWIORE    QUITS    THE   "  OLD  DOMINION.  176 

The  government  of  Virginia  was  now  in  the  hands  of  the  PART  in. 
colonial  assembly  ;  but  Lord  Dunmore,  still  on  board  the  king's  period  l 
ship,  did  not  abandon  all  hopes  of  regaining  it.  In  Novem-  chap.  xix. 
ber,  he  issued  a  proclamation  declaring  martial  law,  and  pro-  ^-<*'^^"*>^ 
mising  freedom  to  such  slaves  as  would  leave  their  masters,  ^'ovrmher. 
and  join  his  party.  Several  hundred  negroes  and  royalists  °/o,.g  ^[" 
obeyed  the  call,  when,  leaving  his  ships,  he  occupied  a  strong  tempts  to  r» 
position  near  Norfolk.     The  assembly  sent  800  militia  to  op-  s^V"  his  au- 

1  •  ^       1       -V  1       r  'rx  1  1  thonty  m 

pose  nis  movements.     On  the  <tli  oi  December  they  were  at-  Virginia. 
tacked  by  the  royalists  and  negroes,  but  they  repelled  the      pec.  7. 

assailants,  and  gained  a  decisive   victory  ;  after  which,  they  Tl»c  militia 

occupied  the  town  of  Norfolk.     Lord  Dunmore,  with  his  re-  "/r^rTi!* 

.    \  ^  .  •       ^  1         1  •  1  •  defeat   the 

mammg  lorces,  again  repaired  to  the  ships,  where,  m  conse-     royalists. 
quence  of  the  many  royalists   who  joined  him,  he  became 
reduced  to  great  distress,  for  want  of  provisions.     In  this  sit-     1'776. 
uation,  he  sent  a  flag  to   Norfolk,  demanding  a  supply.     The      J^"- 1- 
commander  of  the  provincials  refusing  to  comply,  he  set  lire  ^J^^  hnms 
to  the  town,  and  destroyed  it.     This  availed  him  little.     As-  Norfolk,  and 
sailed  at  once  by  tempest,  famine,  and  disease,  he  with  his  ^,  aj^amlons 
followers,  sought  refuge  in  the  West  Indies.  ion." 

The  last  hope  of  the  colonies  for  reconciliation,  rested  in 
the  petition  of  congress  to  the  king,  which  had  been  emphat-     lYTS. 
ically  styled  "  The  Olive  Branch,"  and  was  sent  over  by  Mr.    ^^r-  ^^"^ 
Penn,  a  descendant  of  the  proprietor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  the  petition 
former  governor  of  that   colony ;  but  the  earliest  information    called  the 
received  from  him,  after  the  meeting  of  parliament,  dissolved     Branch^** 
every  vestige  of  hope.     The  king,  in  his  speech  at  the  open- 
ing of  the   session,  accused  the  Americans  of  hostility  and 
rebellion  ;  and  declared  that  the  object  of  their  taking  up  arms, 
was  to  establish  an  independent  empire. 

To   prevent  this,  he  recommended  that  vigorous  measures 
should  be  taken  to  subdue  them  ;  not  forgetting  such  as  were  r^^^  kin-'-'s 
likely  to  weaken  them,  by  division.     This  speech  developed  speech  and 
the  ministerial  views,  and  laroe  majorities  in  both  houses,  not-   the  parha- 
withstanding  the  eloquence  of  Mr,  Burke  and  others,  answer-   are  hostile 
ed  the  king's  speech,  by  responding  the  same  sentiments  of 
accusation   against  the  colonies,  and  the  same  determination 
to  reduce  them  to   obedience,   by  measures  of  coercion  and 
distress. 

The  friends   of  America  obtained  a  reluctant  vote  of  the    ]vir.  Pern 
peers  to  examine  Mr.  Penn.     This  gentlemen  affirmed,  that  declares,  b& 
the   colonies   would   still  allow  the  royal   authority  of  Great     ^^''^J  ""^^^ 
Britain,  but  not  its  right  of  taxation  ;  that  the  rejection  of  the    America 
present  offer  v/ould  certainly  prove  an  insuperable  bar  to  re-  though' loy<A 
concilement ;  but  that  the  prevailing  wish  in  America  still  was,      ^tUed. 
restoration  of  friendship  with  Great  Britain. 

About  the  last  of  December,  an  act  was  passed  prohibiting    December, 
all  trade  and  commerce  with  the  colonies  ;  and  authorizing  Severe  laws 
the   capture  and   condemnation  of  all  American  vessels,  with    ^radTanJ 
iheii  cargoes,  and  aU  others  found  trading  in  any  port  or  place     shippijji. 


i76  HOWE    LEAVES    AND    WASHINGTON    ENTERS    BOSTON 

PART  III,  in  the  colonies,  as  if  the  same  were  the  A'essels  and  effeci^ 
PERIOD  I.  of  open  enemies ;  and  the  vessels  and  property  thus  taken 
CHAP.  XIII,  >vvere  vested  in  their  captors,  and  the  crews  were  to  be  treat- 
*""''''"^^^"*'^  ed,  not  as  prisoners,  but  as  slaves. 

About  the  same  time,  England  made  treaties  with  the  land- 
grave of  Hesse  Cassel,  and  other  German  princes,  hiring  of 

England     ^hem  17,000  men,  to  be  employed  aoainst  the  Americans  : 

ires  merce  •        .    .        '         ,  '  .       ,  ^    .  -^  » .  ,  , .  .  ,         ' 

naries.      and  it  was  deternuncd  to  send  over,   in  adciition  to    these, 

25,000  English  troops. 

Parliament       'Yhe  petition  carried  by  Mr.  Penn,  had  been  laid  before  par- 

/earlhe  pe-  hament ;  but  both  houses  refused  to  hear  it,  alledging,  that 

txion  of  the  they  could  not  treat  upon  any  proposition  coming  from  an  im- 

colonies.     j^wful  assembly.     By  the  passage  of  these  acts,  the  hiring  ol 

foreign  mercenaries,  and  the  rejection  of  this  last  petition, 

Great  Britain  filled  up  the  measure  of  her  wrongs  to  America 

and  sealed  the  final  alienation  of  her  colonics. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Washington  enters  Boston. — Disasters  in  Canada. 

Although   Britain  was  preparing  so  formidable  a  force, 

yet  the  American  army  was  not  only  reduced  in  numbers,  but 

at  the  close  of  the  year  1775,  Avas  almost  destitute  of  neces- 

The  army   sary  supplies.     The  terms  of  enlistment  of  all  the  troops  had 

reduced  in    expired  in  December  ;  and  althoudi  measures  had  been  taken 

Bunibers  and       i  ..,  iii  r  t^  i 

ill-appoint-   for  recruiting  the  army,  yet  on  the   last  day  oi  December, 

^^-         there  were  but  9,650  men  enlisted  for  the  ensuing  year.     Gen. 

Washington,  finding  how  slowly  the  army  was  recruited,  pro- 

giren.  ^    posed  to  congress  to  try  the  influence  of  a  bounty;  but  his 

proposal  was  not  acceded  to  until  late  in  January,  and  it  was 

not  until  the  middle   of   February,   that   the    regular  army 

amounted  to  14,000.     In  addition  to  these,  the  commander-in- 

Militia  call-  chief,  being  vested  by  congress  with  the  power  to  call  out  the 

ed  out.      militia,  made  a  requisition  on  the  authorities  of  Massachusetts, 

for  G,000,  which  were  furnished. 
17T6.  Washington  had  continued  the  blockade  of  Boston  during 

March 4.     i]^q  winter  of  1775-6,  and  at  last  resolved  to  bring  the  enemy 
fortify  Dor-  ^o  action,  or  drive  them  from  the  town.     On  the  night  of  the 
Chester      4th  of  March,  a  detachment,  under  the  command  of  General 
Heights.     Thomas,  silently  reached  Dorchester  Heights,  and  there  con- 
The  British  gtructed,  in  a  sing^le  night,  a  redoul*  which  menaced  the  Brit- 
Boston,      ish  shipping  with  destruction.       When  the  light  of -the  morn- 
March  17.   ing  discovered  to  General  Howe  the  advantage  the  Americans 
had  gained,  he  perceived,  that  no  alternative  remained  for  him, 
but  to  dislodge  them, or  evacuate  the  place.     He  immediately 


UNFORTUNATE  RETREAT  FROM  CANADA. 


177 


dispatched  a  few  regiments  to  attempt  the  former,  but  a  vio- 
eiii  tempest  of  wind  and  rain  rendered  their  elTbrts  ineffect- 
ual. 'J'he  Americans  had,  however,  "continued  with  unremit- 
ting industry,  to  strengthen  and  improve  their  works,  until  they 
were  now  loo  dangerous  to  be  neglected,  and  too  secure  to  be 
forced,  and  it  was  determined  in  a  council  of  war,  to  evacuate 
the  town.  Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  17th,  the 
whole  British  force,  with  such  of  the  loyaUsts  as  chose  to 
follow  their  fortunes,  set  sail  for  Hahfax.  As  the  rear  of 
the  British  troops  were  embarking,  Washington  entered  the 
town  in  triumph. 

The  plans  of  the  British  cabinet  embraced,  for  the  cam- 
paign of  177C,  the  recovery  of  Canada,  the  reduction  of  the 
southern  colonies,  and  the  possession  of  New  York.  This 
last  service  was  intrusted  to  Admiral  Howe,  and  his  brother. 
General  Howe ;  the  latter  of  whom  succeeded  General  Gage, 
in  the  command  of  the  British  troops. 

Arnold  had  continued  the  siege  of  Quebec,  and  had  greatly 
annoyed  the  garrison  ;  but  he  found  himself  oppressed  with 
many  difficulties.  His  army  had  suffered  extremely  from  the 
inclemency  of  the  season,  and  from  the  breaking  out  of  the 
small-pox.  Notwithstanding  the  garrison  of  Montreal  had 
been  sent  to  reinforce  him,  he  had,  at  this  time,  scarcely  1,000 
effective  men.  The  reinforcements  ordered  by  congress, 
were  slow  in  arriving,  and  when  they  reached  Quebec,  great- 
ly reduced  in  numbers  by  disease.  Added  to  this,  the  river 
was  now  clear  of  ice,  and  the  British  fleet  was  daily  ex- 
pected. 

General  Thomas,  who  now  arrived  with  troops,  superseded 
Arnold.  lie  made  attempts  to  reduce  Quebec,  but  the  sudden 
appearance  of  the  British  fleet  obliged  him  to  flee,  with  such 
precipitation,  that  he  left  his  baggage  and  military  stores. 
Many  of  the  sick  also  fell  into  the  hands  of  Carleton,  by 
wliom  they  were  treated  with  honorable  humanity. 

One  after  another,  the  posts  which  had  been  conquered  by 
the  Americans,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British,  and  before 
tlie  close  of  June,  they  had  recovered  all  Canada.  The  Amer- 
icans lost,  in  this  unfortunate  retreat,  about  1,000  men,  who 
were  mostly  taken  prisoners. 


PART  in. 

PERIOD  L 
CHAP.   tIT. 


Washing. 

ton's  army 

enter  the 

town. 


British  have 
three  objects 
for  the  cam 

puign. 


Arnold  still 

before   Que 

bee. 


Is  badly  situ 
ated. 


Thoma."* 
succeed.s 
him,  and 
makes  a 
precipitate 
retreat, 
May  5. 

June. 

Americans 
evacuate 
Canada 


CHAPTER   XIV 


British  repulsed  at  Charleston. — Independence  declared. 

The  British  fleet,  destined  to  the  reduction  of  the  southern 
colonies,  sailed,  under  Sir  Peter  Parker,  to  attack  Charleston, 
where  they  arrived  early  in  June.  The  marines  w^ere  com- 
manded by  General  Clinton. 


17^6. 

June. 

Sir  Peter 

Parker  sail* 

to  attack 
Charlestoo. 


178  BRITISH    ATTACK    SULLIVAN  S    ISLAND. 

PART  III.       An  intercepted  official   letter  had  given  the   Carolinians 
PERIOD  I.   such  information  of  the  enemy's  movements,  that  they  were 
CHAP.  XIV.   not  unprepared  for  their  reception.     On  Sullivan's  island,  at 
'^-'-^'v"*''-^  the  entrance  of  Charleston  harbor,  they  had  constructed  a 
The  Caro-   fort  of  the  palmetto  tree,  which  resembles  the   cork.     The 
rv"suflivan's  "li^^^i^  ^^^^  been  called  out,  under  the  command  of  General 
Island,  and  Lee,  now  exceedingly  popular ;  and  they  formed  a  force  five 
all  out  the  qj.  gj^  thousand  strong,  for  the  defense  of  the  menaced  capital. 
The  general  was  ably  seconded  by  Colonels  Gadsden,  Moul- 
trie, and  Thompson. 
June  28.         The  palmetto  fort  was  garrisoned  by  about  400  men,  com- 
'^au\ck7h?  manded  by  Colonel  Moultrie.     On  the  morning  of  the  28th 
fort  on  Sulli- of  June,  the  British  ships  opened  their  several  broadsides 
van's  Island,  upon  it.     The  discharge  of  artillery  upon  the  little  fort  was 
pulsed.      incessant,  but  the  balls  were  received  by  the  palmetto  wood, 
and  buried  as  in  earth ;  while  Moultrie  and  the  brave  Caroli- 
nians under  his  command  returned  the  fire,  and  defended  the 
fortification  with  such  spirit,  that  it  has  ever  since  been  called 
by  the  name  of  Moultrie. 

Once  during  the  day,  after  a  thundering  discharge  from 
the  British  cannon,  the  flag  of  the  fort  was  no  longer  seen  to 
wave  ;  and  the  Americans,  who  watched  the  battle  from  the 
opposite  shore,  were,  every  moment,  expecting  to  see  the 
British  troops  mount  the  parapets  in  triumph.  But  none 
appeared ;  and,  in  a  few  moments,  the  striped  banner  of 
America  was  once  more  unfurled  to  their  view.  The  staff 
had  been  carried  away  by  a  shot,  and  the  flag  had  fallen 
covers  the  upon  the  outside  of  the  fort.  A  brave  Serjeant,  by  the  name 
flag-  of  Jasper,  jumped  over  the  wall,  and,  amidst  a  shower  of  bul- 
lets, recovered  and  fastened  it  in  its  place. 

At  evening,  the  British,  completely  foiled,  drew  oflf  their 

^f  ^^^K  ^^^^  ships,  Avith  the  loss  of  two  hundred  men ;  and,  a  few  days 

York.       after,  they  set  sail,  Avith  the  troops  on  board,  for  the  vicinity 

of  New  York,  Avhere  the  whole  British  force  had  been  ordered 

to  assemble. 

It  had  early  occurred  to  Washington,  that  the  central  situa- 
^6x6^1?^"^  tion  of  New  York,  with  the  numerous  advantages  attending 
head-quar-   the  possession  of  that  city,  would  render  it  an  object  of  great 
^rs  at^ew  importance  to  the  British.      Under  this  impression,  before  the 
enemy  left   Boston,   General   Lee  had  been  detached  from 
Cambridge,  to  put  Long  Island  and  New  York  in  a  posture 
of  defense.     Soon  after  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  the  com- 
mander-in-chief followed,  and,  with  the  greater  part  of  his 
June  7.      ^^"^y?  fixed  his  head-quarters  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
Indepen-         On  the  7th  of  June,  Richard  Henry  Lee,  of  Virginia,  made 
dence  pro-    ^  motion  in  congress,  for  declarino-  the  colonies  tree  and 

INDEPENDENT    STATES. 

The  most  vigorous  exertions  had  been  made  by  the  friends 
of  independence,  to  prepare  the  minds  of  the  people  for  this 
bold  measure.     Among  the  numerous  writers  on  the  momef- 


posed  in  con 
gres-s 


DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.  179 

tons  question,  the  most  luminous  and  forcible  was  Thomas  PART  IIL 
Paine.  His  pamphlet  entitled  "Common  Sense,"  was  read  " PER[()rrr.'' 
and  understood  by  all.     While  it  demonstrated  the  necessity,  chap.  xiv. 

the    advantage,    and    the    practicability    of    independence,    it   v« — ^ > 

treated    kingly  government    and    hereditary   succession    Avith      Thomas 
ridicule  and  opprobrium.     Two  years  before,  the  inhabitants  ^[[''JJ.^'^'^.^ 
of  the  colonies  were  the  loyal  subjects  of  the  king  of  England,  crs,  prepare 
and  wished   not  for  independence,  but  for  the  constitutional  the  way,  b^? 
liberty  of  the  British  subject.     But  the  crown  of  England  had,  ^^ruppealt 
for  their  assertion  of  this  right,  declared  them  out  of  its  pro- 
tection, rejected  their  petitions,  shackled  their  commerce,  and     17"5'6. 
finally  employed  foreign  mercenaries  to  destroy  them.     Such  Tlie    ofFen- 
were  the  exciting  causes,  which,  being  stirred  up  and  directed  ^i^i^h^rit- 
by  the  master  spirits  of  the  times,  had,  in  the  space  of  two  ain  filled  up 
years,   changed  the  tide   of  public  feeling  in  America,   and     the  mea 
throughout  her  extensive  regions  produced  the  general  voice 

WE  WILL  BE  FREE. 

Satisfied,  by  indubitable  signs,  that  such  was  the  resolution     July  4. 
of  the  people,  congress  deliberately  and  solemnly  decided  to     gnce^sd-' 
declare  it  to  the  world  ;  and  the  Declaration  of  Independ-    emnly  de- 
ENCE  was  agreed  to  in  congress,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1776.*  clafed. 

A    long   enumeration   of   the   oppression!?   of    the    British 
government  is   therein  made,  and  closed  with  the  assertion,    o/separa^' 
that  "  a  prince,  whose  character  is  thus  marked  by  every  act       tion. 
which  may  define  a  tyrant,  is  unfit  to  be  the  ruler  of  a  free 
people." 

The  fruitless  a^^peals  w^hich  had  been  made  to  the  people 
of  Great  Britain  are  then  recounted  ;  but  "  they,  too,"  con-  "^^^^^Pf^^j^ 
eludes  this  declaration,  "have  been  deaf  to  the  voice  of  justice  BritLhi^-ov- 
and  of  consanguinity.     We  must,  therefore,  acquiesce  in  the    ernmcnt 
necessity  which    denounces    our    separation,  and    hold  them, 
as  we  iiold  the  rest  of  mankind,  enemies  in  war,  in  peace 
friends." 

"We,  therefore,  the  representatives  of  the  United  States  The  natioD 
of  America,  in  general  congress  assembled,  appealing  to  the  casts  off  the 
Supreme  Judge  of  the  world,  for  the  rectitude  of  our  inten-  the  British, 
tions,  do,  in  the  name,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  good  people  a^^'  '^^~ 
of  these  colonies,  solemnly  publish  and  declare,  that  these  x)-vi\Je^aiT 
United  Colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde-  take  their' 
pendent  states;  that  they  are  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  affairs whol- 
the  British  crown ;  and  that  all  political  connection  between  J.^^^  nands. 
them  and  the  state  of  Great  Britain  is,  and  ought  to  be,  totally 

*  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams,  Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman, 
and  K.  K.  Livingston,  had  been  appointed,  on  tlie  11th  of  June,  to  prepare 
a  declaration  of  mdependence.  It  was  agreed  by  this  committee  that  each 
one  should  make  such  a  draft  as  his  judg-inent  and  feelings  should  dictate  ; 
iand  that,  upon  comparing  them  together,  the  one  should  be  chosen  as  the 
report  of  the  committee  which  should  prove  most  conformable  to  the  wishes 
of  the  whole.  Mr.  Jefferson's  paper  was  the  first  read,  and  every  member 
vof  the  conunittee  determined,  spontaneously,  to  suppress  his  own  produc- 
tion ;  observing,  that  it  was  unworthy  to  bear  a  competition  with  that  which 
they  had  just  heard. 


iSO  PROMINENT  FEATURES  OF  THE  DECLARATION. 

PART  I]  f.  dissolved ;  and  that,  as  free  and  independent  states,  they  have 
full  power  to  le\y  war,  conclude  peace,  contract  alliances, 
establish  commerce,  and  do  all  other  acts  and  things,  which 
independent  states  may  of  right  do.  And,  for  the  support  of 
this  declaration,  with  a  firm  reliance  on  the  protection  of 
Divine  Providence,  we  mutually  pledge  to  each  other  cur 
lives,  our  fortunes,  and  our  sacred  honor." 


PERIOD    II. 

r  RO  M 
rKE    DEPLAKATION     j   1  776  |     Of    INDEPBNDIWCt, 
TO 
THl    COMMENCEMENT   OP     [  17§9.  ^     THE    PEDEEAL   OOVERIfXKVT 

CHAPTER    I. 

Lord  Howe  attempts  Pacification —American  Disasters  at  Long  hiand. 

Considered  as  a  step  in  the  jrreat  march  of  human  society,  PART  Hi 
perhaps  no  one  can  he  fixed  upon  of  more  importance,  than  period  IL 
the  solemn  promulgation  of  the  writing,  which  contained  chap.  i. 
a  cataloLjuc'  of  tli»-  gri»,'vaiice.s  of  Anif-rica,  and  declared  her  inde-  --^-•-^^ 
pendt-nc^  It  embodi.-d  ;md  held  up  to  the  vi^w-  of  the  world,  1776. 
the  universal  wrongs  of  the  oppressed  ;  sent  forth  a  warninj^  Importance 
voice  to  the  oppressor;  and  declared  the  common  rights  of<*f  '^^.^®- 
all  mankind. 

As   it   more  particularly   concerned   the  condition  of  the 
Americans,  the  signing  of  this  declaration  by  the  American 
congress,  was  a  momentous  procedure.     That  firm  band  of 
patriots   well   knew,  that,  in  affixing  their  signatures,  they 
were,  in  the  eyes  of  England,  committing  the  verj'  fact  of    Arnmcan 
treason  and  rebellion;  and  that  in  case  of  her  ultimate  sue-  p<:op!eitwa» 
cess,   it   was    their  own   death-warrant   which  they  signed.  ^^Jfjf;^'^!^ 
Their  countrymen  felt  that  there  was  now  no  receding  from   thr-y  must 
the  contest,  without  devoting  to  death  these  their  political    now  look 
fathers,  who  had  thus  fearlessly  made  themselves  the  organs  '^not^t^ack. 
of  declaring,   what    was    equally  the    determination    of  all. 
Thus  it  was  now  the  general  feeling,  that  the  die  was  cast, 
and  nothing  remained  but — "  liberty  or  death"  ! 

The  troops  from  Halifax,  under  the  command  of  General 
Howe,  after  touching  at  Sandy  Hook,  took  possession  of  Sta-  prom  July 2, 
ten  Island  on  the  2d  of  July;  and  those  from  England,  com-  ^  r^'^'j'  ^- 
manded  by  Admiral  Howe,  landed  at  the  same  place  on  the   iect%nSr 
12th.     About  the  same  time,  Clinton  arrived,  with  the  troops     Howe, a 
which  he  had  reconducted  from  the  expedition  against  Charles-    ^^^^^^^ 
ton  ;  and  Commodore   Hotham,  with  the  expected  reinforce-      ijtaten 
ments  irom  England.     These,  with  several  Hessian  regiments,      klamL 
which  were  daily  expected,  would  make  up  an  army  of  35,000 
of  the  best  troops  of  Europe.  Lord  How* 

With  the  hope  that  this  powerful  force  might  have  awakened    proclnima 
the  fears  of  the  Americans,  and  thus  disposed  them  to  submis-  pardon  to  aO 
aion,  Lord  Howe,  before  commencing  active  operations,  made  \,'rni^'^ 
an  attempt  at  pacification      He  had,  in  the  month  of  June,     BntLsb. 
14 


182 


PLANS    OF    RECONCILIATION. 


PART  III. 

PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.  I. 


1776. 

Congress 

publish  a 

leply  to  his 

{■ro^lama- 

lion. 


He  attempts 
to  communi- 
cate with 
Washington 
by  letter,  but 
f.^ils. 


Message  by 
Patterson 
also  fruit- 
less. 


The  British 
plan  of  the 
campaign. 

Their  grand 
point  to   cut 
New  Eng- 
land from  the 
South, 
through 
Chamjilain 
and  the  Hud- 


Thls  they 
Are  obliged 
to  defer  till 

next  year. 


Marine  de- 
fenses of 
New  York. 


\Vasning- 
ton's  army , 


announced,  by  proclamation,  that  he  was  empowered  to  grant 
pardon  to  any  person,  or  to  the  inhabitants  of  any  city  or  pro- 
vince, who  should  return  to  their  allegiance  :  and  he  promised 
large  recompense  to  any  who  should  contribute  to  re-establish 
the  royal  authority.  Congress,  instead  of  endeavoring  to  sup- 
press this  proclamation,  took  the  wiser  course  of  causing  it  to 
be  printed  in  the  journals  of  the  day,  with  accompanying  re* 
marks,  explaining  to  the  people  its  insidious  nature  ;  while  the 
declaration  of  independence,  made  soon  after  by  congress, 
showed  to  General  Howe,  in  what  light  these  promises  were 
viewed  by  that  body. 

He  next  addressed  himself  to  the  commander-in-chief,  in  a 
letter  directed  to  "  George  Washington,  Esq."  With  a  spirit 
which  the  whole  nation  applauded,  Washington  returned  the 
letter  unopened  ;  alleging,  that  it  had  not  expressed  his  public 
station;  and  that,  as  a  private  individual,  he  neither  could,  nor 
would,  hold  any  communication  with  the  agents  of  the  king. 
Howe,  not  yet  discouraged,  sent  another  communication  by 
Adjutant- General  Patterson.  The  reply  which  Washington 
made  to  the  smooth  and  conciliatory  address  of  this  gentle 
man,  was  an  expression  of  that  common  feeling  of  his  coun- 
trymen, which  was  the  true  source  of  a  union,  that  both  the 
threats  and  promises  of  Great  Britain,  failed  to  divide.  The 
sentiment  was,  that  Great  Britain  did  not  ofler  the  Americans 
the  enjoyment  of  their  rights  ;  she  offered  nothing  but  forgive- 
ness of  offenses  : — America  had  committed  no  offenses,  and 
asked  no  forgiveness. 

The  officers  in  command,  General  and  Admiral  Howe,  no 
longer  hesitated  to  direct  their  efforts  against  New  York. 
The  possession  of  this  important  post  would  give  to  the  Eng- 
lish a  firm  footing  in  America,  from  which  their  army  could 
turn  to  the  right,  and  carry  the  war  into  New  England ;  or  to 
the  left,  to  scour  New  Jersey,  and  menace  Philadelphia  ;  and 
Long  Island,  adjacent  to  New  York,  being  abundant  in  grain 
and  cattle,  offered  subsistence  to  their  army.  But  the  grand 
scheme  of  the  British  was,  to  divide  New  England  from  the 
south  Carleton,  with  13,000  men,  was  to  make  a  descent 
from  Canada,  by  the  way  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  form  a 
junction  with  Howe,  who  was  to  ascend  the  Hudson. 

Admiral  Howe,  retarded  by  contrary  winds,  did  not  arrive 
until  the  expedition  against  Charleston  had  failed.  The  army 
of  Canada  encountered  so  many  obstacles,  that  it  was  not  able, 
this  year,  to  make  its  way  to  the  Hudson.  Hence,  Washing- 
ton was  not  compelled  to  weaken  his  army  upon  the  coast  to 
send  succors  into  South  Carolina,  or  towards  Canada. 

The  American  congress  had  ordered  the  construction  ol 
gunboats,  galleys,  and  floating  batteries,  to  defend  New  York 
and  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson.  Thirteen  thousand  of  the 
militia  were  ordered  to  join  the  army  of  Washington,  which, 
thus  increased,  amounted  to  twenty-seven  thousand ;   but  a 


DISASTROUS    BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  183 

foiirtli  of  these  were  invalids,  and  another  fourth  were  poorly  PART  III. 
provided  with  arms.     From  these  and  other  causes,  the  force  period  ii. 
fit  for  duty  did  not  exceed  ten  thousand  ;  and  of  this  number,    chap.  i. 
the  greater  part  was  Avithout  order  or  discipline.     These  in-  v^-i— v-^.- 
conveniences  proceeded,  in  part,  from  want  of  money,  which     1776. 
prcA'ented  congress  from  paying  regular  troops,  and  providing  ^ts  infcriori 
for  their  equipments  ;  and  partly  from  parsimonious  habits,    £i^\'^h^^ 
contracted  during  peace,  which  withheld  them  from  incurring    numbers, 
with  promptitude  the  expenses  necessary  to  a  state  of  war ;   discipline, 
while  their  jealousy  of  standing  armies  inspired  the  hope,  ^"  nferltsl^* 
that  they  could  each  year  organize  for  the  occasion,  an  army 
sufficient  to  resist  the  enemy. 

The  American   army  occupied  the   island  of  New  York.  The  Ameri- 
Two  detachments    guarded    Governor's    Island  and    Pauliis     c-i/ifirmy 
Hook.     The  militia,  under  the  American  Clinton,  were  sta-  ^Manhattan* 
tioned  at  East  and  West  Chester,  and  New  Rochelle,  to  pre-  Island,  Go 
vent  the  British  landing  in  force  on  the  north  shore,  penetra-   ,  p'^T^^ 
ting  to  Kingsbridge,  and  thus  inclosing  the  Americans  in  the 
island.     A  considerable  part  of  the  army,  under  General  Put- 
nam, encamped  at  Brooklyn,  on  a  part  of  Long  Island  which 
forms  a  sort  of  peninsula.     The  entrance  was  fortified  with  Putnam's  di 
moats  and  entrenchments.     Putnam's  left   wing  rested  upon    t^ndsVroni 
Wallabout  bay,  his  right  was  covered  by  a  marsh  adjacent  to    Wallabout 
Gawanus'  Cove.     Behind  was  Governor's  Island,  and  the  arm    q^^'^  ^°  , 
of  the  sea  between  Long  Island  and  New  York,  which  gave       Cove. 
him  direct  communication  with  the   city,  where  Washington 
was  with  the  main  army. 

On  the  22d  of  August,  the  English  landed  without  opposi-   August  22. 
tion  on  Long  Island,  between  the  villages  of  New  Utrecht  and  I^"tish  land 
Gravesend.     They  extended  themsel^^es  to  Flatlands,  distant  at  the  wSt 
four  miles  from  the  Americans,  and  separated  from  them  by  a  em  point  of 
range  of  wood-covered  hills,  called  the  heights  of  Gawanus,        °  Island 
which,  running  to  the  north-east,  divide  the  island.     These    Heightsof 
hills  were  passable  by  two  main  roads,  conducting  from  the      passable' 
centre  of  one  hostile  army  to  the  other  ;  and  by  a  third,  at  *'"piaces?^" 
the  distance  of  four  miles  north-east,  where   the   road  from 
Flatlands  to  Jamaica  is  met  by  that  from  Bedford.     A  fourth 
passage  was  at  the  western  foot  of  the  heights,  along  the 
Narrows.     Washington,  wishing  to  arrest  the  enemy  on  these 
heights,  had  directed  them  to  be  guarded  with  his  best  troops, 
and  made  such  arrangements  as,  with  proper  vigilance,  vfould 
have   rendered  the  passage   one   of  extreme   difficulty  and 
dan<rer. 

About  midnight  of  the  26th,  the   English,   under  General 
Grant,  attacked  the  Americans  from  the  left,  thus  inducing  the  ,y''°'\f-\ 
belief,  that  against  this  post  the  main  strength  of  the  British     ^.^^d  lies- 
would  be  directed.     At  daybreak  on  the  27th,  the  Hessians,  sians^  atraok 
under   General   de   Heister,   attacked  from   the   centre,    and  ^^^^  tJT^d 
General  Sullivan,  who  commanded  the  forces  in  front  of  the      centre 
American  camp,  led  them  to  repel  the  assailants  ;  little  think- 


184  WASHINGTON   WITHDRAWS   HIS   AKlVrY    TO   HARLAEM. 

PART  III.  ing  that  their  attack  vvas  merely  a  stratagem  to  divert  his  at- 
PERIOD IL  tention  from  the  real  point  of  danger.     The  ships  also  made 

CHAP.  I.     much  noise  by  a  show  of  cannonading, 
v^^'-v'-'**^       Colonel  Miles  was  to  guard  the  eastern  pass,  and  recon- 
noitre the  movements  of  the  enemy.     This  service,  as  events 
Their  true   pi'oved,  was  the  most  important,  and  the  worst  performed,  of 
point  of  .-it-   any  on  the  side  of  the  Americans.     It  was  here  that  the  Brit- 
righVWere  ish  generals  made  their  grand  efibrt,  and  here  that  the  Ameri- 
thcy  sur-     (.g^jjg  suffered  a  fatal  surprise.     The  rioht  wing  of  the  Enalish, 

DriSG  the  '  o  o  o  ' 

Xmericaus.  which  was  the  most  numerous,  and  entirely  composed  of  se- 
lect troops,  vvas  commanded  by  General  Clinton  ;  and  before 
Miles  perceived  their  approach,  they  had  obtained  possession 
of  the  Jamaica  road,  upon  the  heights.      Generals  Percy  and 
Cornv/allis  followed  with  the  main  army.      A  scout  sent  out 
by  Sullivan  was  captured  ;  and  he  was  thus  left  in  ignorance 
"defeat?)!?  ^^  ^^^®  enemy's  approach,  until  his  flank  was  attacked  by  their 
Anievicans    infantry.      He  instantly  ordered  a  retreat ;  but  he  was  inter- 
IsaugC!    cepted  by  the  English,  who,  occupying  the  plains  from  Bed- 
ford, now  attacked  him  in  the  rear,  and  compelled  his  troops 
to  throw  themselves   into    the   neighboring  woods.      There 
they  were  met  by  the  Hessians,  who  drove  them  back  upon 
the    English.     Thus   were  the    distressed   Americans  alter- 
nately chased  and  intercepted,  until,  at  length,  several  regi- 
ments cut  their  way,  with  desperate  valor,  through  the  midst 
of  the  enemy,  and  gained  the  camp  of  Putnam  ;   but  a  great 
part  of  the  detachment  were  killed,  or  taken  prisoners.     The 
loss  of  the  Americans  was  variously  estimated  from  one  to 
four  thousand.     The   British  lost,  in   killed   and    wounded, 
nearly  four  hundred. 
1776.         In  the    height  of  the    engagement,  General   Washington 
Washington  crossed  to  Brooklyn  from  New  York.     He  saw  his  best  troops 
wit^nesses     slaughtered    or  taken  prisoners,  and   with    a    glance  which 
the  battle,    searched  the  future,  he  viewed  in  its  consequences  the  terrible 
magnitude  of  the  disaster,  and  he  uttered  an  exclamation  of 
„.  anguish.     But  his  prudence  and  wisdom  remained  unshaken, 

dence^arid    He  might,  at  this  moment,  have  drawn  all  his  troops  from  the 
•elf-posses    encampment ;  and  also  called  over  all  the  forces  in  New  York, 
^^^^        to  take  part   in  the  conflict :    but  victory  having  declared   in 
favor  of  the  EngPsh,  the  courage  with  which  't  inspired  them, 
and  the  superiority  of  their  discipline,  destroyed  all  hope  ot 
recovering  the  battle;  and,  with  true  heroism,  he  "preserved 
himself  and  his  army,  for  a  happier  future." 
August  23.        On  the  night  of  the  28th,  Washington  cautiously  withdrew 
'theTrorr  ^^®  remainder  of  his  troops  from  Brooklyn  to  New  York  ;  to 
from  Long    which  place  the  detachment  from  Governor's  Island,  also  re 
Island,  and  tired.     Finding,  however,  a  disposition  in  the  British  to  at 
ftis  annlTto  ^'^^^  ^^^^  city,  and  knowing  that  it  would  be  impossible  tc 
Harlaem     defend  it,  he  removed  his  forces  to  the  heights  of  Harlaem. 
Heights. 


BRITISH    TAKE    POSSESSION    OF    NEW    YORK. 


185 


CHAPTER  II 


Disasters  folk 


the  Defeat  on  Lonsr  Island. 


About  this  time,  Captain  Hale,  a  highly  interesting  young 
fTicin-  iVom  Connecticut,  learning  that  Washington  wished  to 
ascertain  the  slate  of  the  British  army  on  Long  Island,  volun- 
teered for  the  dangerous  service  oi  a  spy.  He  entered  the 
Britisli  army  in  disguise,  and  obtained  the  desired  information  ; 
but  being  apprehended  in  his  attempt  to  return,  he  was  carried 
before  Sir  William  Howe,  and  by  his  orders  was  executed  the 
next  morning.  At  the  place  of  execution,  he  exclaimed,  "  I 
lament  that  1  have  but  one  life  to  lay  down  for  my  country." 

On  the  15th  of  September,  the  British  army  entered,  and 
took  possession  of  the  city  of  New  York.  A  few  days  after, 
a  fire  broke  out,  which  consumed  nearly  one-fourth  part  of  the 
buildings.  It  is  said  that  the  fire  was  discovered  in  many 
difierent  places  at  once  ;  and  hence  some  have  supposed  that 
it  was  fired  by  the  citizens,  as  Moscow  has  more  recently 
been,  to  deprive  its  enemies  of  its  hospitable  shelter. 

General  Howe  again  made  overtures  for  reconciliation. 
Benjamin  Franklin,  John  Hancock,  and  Edward  Rutledge, 
were  accordingly  appointed  to  meet  the  British  commissioners 
at  Staten  Island.  But  as  they  utterly  refused  to  treat  on  any 
other  basis  than  the  acknowledgment  of  American  indepen- 
dence, nothing  was  efiected. 

The  situation  in  which  the  American  commander  now  saAV 
the  momentous  contest,  could  not  but  have  filled  him  with 
alarming  apprehensions  for  the  fate  of  his  country.  Until  the 
check  at  Brooklyn,  the  Americans  had  flattered  themselves 
that  Heaven  would  constantly  fiivor  their  arms.  From  the  in- 
toxicating confidence  of  prosperity,  they  now  fell  into  a  state 
of  dejection.  At  first,  they  had  believed  that  courage,  without 
discipline,  could  do  all ;  they  now  thought  it  could  do  nothing. 
At  every  moment,  they  were  apprehensive  of  some  new  sur- 
prise, and  at  every  step,  fearful  of  falling  into  an  ambuscade. 

Thus  discouraged,  the  militia  abandoned  their  colors  by 
hundreds,  and  entire  regiments  deserted,  and  returned  to  their 
lioniGs.  In  the  regular  army,  also,  subordination  diminished, 
and  desertions  were  common.  Their  engagements  were  but 
for  a  year,  or  a  few  weeks  ;  and  the  hope  of  soon  returning  to 
their  families  induced  them  to  avoid  dangers.  The  fidelity  of 
the  officers  was  not  suspected  :  but  their  talents  were  dis- 
trusted ;  and  every  thing  appeared  to  threaten  a  total  dissolu- 
tion of  the  army. 

Washington  strove  earnestly,  with  exhortations,  persuasions, 
and  oromises,  to  arrest  this  spirit  of  disorganization.     If  he 


PART  in 


Captain 

Hale  volua- 

teers  as  a 

He  IS  exe 
cuted. 

Sept.  15. 
British  entei 
New  York. 

Fires  occur 

probably  by 

desi-'n. 


The  Aineri 
cans  will  no: 
treat  but  on 
the  basis  of 
independ- 
ence. 


Americans 

dispirited  by 

defeat. 


1776. 

]\Iilitia  de- 
sert. 

The  regular 
army  insub- 
ordinate. 

OfTicers  not 
confided  in 


186  WASHINGTON    AVOIDS    A    GENERAL    ENGAGEMENT. 

PART  III,  did  not  succeed  according  to  his  desires,  he  obtained  more 
PEiiiOD  II.  than  his  hopes.     To  congress  he  addressed  an  energetic  pic- 

cHAP.  II.  ture  of  the  deplorable  state  of  the  forces,  and  assured  them 
»— ^-v^-wy  that  he  must  despair  of  success,  unless  furnished  whh  an 
Congress,  iiy  army  that  should  stand  by  him  till  the  conclusion  of  the  strug- 

Washing-       j        'p     effect  this,  a  bounty  of  twenty  dollars  was  offered 

ton's  entrea-  &.  '  J  .•'„  -iii 

ties,  offer  a  at  the  time  oi   engagement,  and  portions  oi  unoccupied  lands 
ount};tothe  were  promised  to  the  officers  and  soldiers, 
so   lers.  g^^j.   j^]^j^Qyg|-^  Washington    hoped   ultimately  to   reap   the 

benefit  of  these  arrangements,  yet  time  must  intervene  ;  and 
his  present  prospect  was  that  of  a  handful  of  dispirited  and 
ill-found  troops,  to  contend  against  a  large  and  victorious  army. 
Tdo\T?he    ^^^  ^^^^^  situation  he  adopted  the  policy  by  which  Fabius  Maxi- 
Fabian  poli-  mus  had,  two  thousand  years  before,  preserved  Italy,   when 
cy-         invaded    by  Hannibal  ;    and,  like    him,   saved   his  country. 
Hence  he  has  been  called  the  American  Fabius.     This  policy 
was  to  risk  no  seneral  engaoement,  but  to  harass  and  wear 
out  the  enemy,  by  keeping  them  in  motion  ;  while  by  skir- 
mishes, where  success  was  probable,  he  would,  by  degrees, 
diminish  their  number,  and  inspirit  his  own  troops. 

On  the   1 6th  of  September,  the  day  after  the  British  took 
Th^^Am^  i-  Possession  of  New  York,  a  considerable  body  of  their  troops 
cans  gain  an  appeared  in  the  plain  between  the  tv/o  armies.     Washington 
advantage,    ordered  Colonel  Knowlton  and  Major  Leech,  with  a  detach- 
ment, to  get  in  their  rear,  while  he  amus-ed  them  with  prepa- 
rations to  attack  them  in  front.     The   plan  succeeded ;  and 
although  the  brave  Knowlton  was  killed,  the  rencontre  was 
favorable  to  the  Americans,  as   it  served,  in  some  degree,  to 
restore  that  confidence  in  themselves,  which  their  preceding 
misfortunes  had  destroyed. 

The  British  commander  manceuvered  with  great  address  to 
bring  Washington  to  a  general  engagement ;  but  not  succeed- 
ing, he  endeavored  to  destroy  his  communication  with  the 
eastern  states,  and  prevent  his  supply  of  provisions  from  that 
quarter.  To  effect  this,  it  was  necessary  to  occupy  the  two 
roads  leading  east.  The  one  on  the  coast,  the  British  secimid 
with  little  difficulty  ;  but  to  occupy  the  more  inland  road,  they 
must  get  possession  of  that  post  of  the  highlands  called  White 
Plains.     Washington,  aware  of  their  object,  removed  his  own 

Oct.  28.     force  to  that  place,  where,  on  the  28th  of  October,  he  was  at- 
Skjnnish  at  ,      i  ,         ,    ^t^   .  '  i  ,    tt  i        ^  i      tt 

White  tacked  by  the  British  and  Hessians,  under  Generals  Howx, 
Plaina  Clinton,  Knyphausen,  and  de  Heister.  A  partial  engagement 
ensued,  in  which  the  loss  on  both  sides  was  considerable. 
Howe  could  not,  however,  draw  Washington  from  his  posi- 
tion ;  which  he  maintained,  until  a  strong  British  reinforce- 
ment arriving  under  Lord  Percy,  he  dared  not  any  longer  risk 
his  army,  but,  on  the  night  of  the  30th,  he  withdrew  his 
forces  to  North  Castle.  Leaving  here  7,500  men,  under 
General  Lee,  he  crossed  the  Hudson,  and  took  post  neaj 
Fort  Lee. 


WASHINGTON    RETREATS    ACROSS    THE    DELAWARE.  187 

General  Howe  next  turned  his  attention  towards  tlic  forts,    PART  [ll. 
Washington  and  Lee.     They  had  been  garrisoned,   with  the  I'EUiou  il 
hope  of  preserving  the  connnand  of  the  Hudson  river,  but  the    ''"■^^-   "• 
British  had  already,  on  two  occasions,  sent  their  ships  past  ^-'^^•^^"^'^ 
them.     General  Washington,    foreseeing  their    danger,    had     lYTG. 
written  to  General  Greene,  who  commanded  in  that  quarter,  ^jj-J/^^J  f!J!\"*^ 
that  if  he  should  find  fort  Washington  not  in  a  situation  to  sus-   Americans 
tain  an  assault,  to  cause  it  instantly  to  be  evacuated.     General    i"  leaving 
Greene,  believing  it  might  be  maintained,   left  it  under  the  fol-'ts  Wash" 
command  of  the  brave  Colonel  Magaw,  with  a  force  of  2,700    ington  and 
men.     On  the  16th  of  November,  the  British  attacked  the  fort       ^^^• 
in  four  different  quarters.     The  Americans  repelled  them  with     ^^^  jg 
such    spirit,   that,   in    the   course  of  the  day,   about  1,200  of  Fort  Wash 
the  assailants  were  killed  or  wounded.     At  length,  the  Ameri-    ington  sur- 
cans  were  forced  to  capitulate  ;  but  not  without  securing   to 
themselves  honorable    terms.     The   prisoners   taken   by  the 
British,  at  this  time,  amounted  to  about  2,000,  a  greater  num- 
ber than  had,  on  any  previous  occasion,  fallen  into  their  hands, 
and  a  most  disastrous  loss  to  their  country. 

The  Britis^i  army  immediately  crossed  the  Hudson,  to   at-     -^^y^  jg^ 
tack  fort  Lee  ;  but  the  garrison,  apprised  of  their  approach,     Fort  Lee 
evacuated  the  fort,  and,  under  the  guidance  of  General  Greene,   evacuated. 
joined  the  main  army  now  at  Newark. 

The  acquisition  of  these  two  forts,  and  the  diminution  of  the  ^^j^g^'j"^^'"^ 
American   army,   by  the  departure   of  those  soldiers  whose  acros?  Nuw 
term  of  service  had  expired,  encouraged  the  British  to  hope,      .ftxsey. 
that  they  should  be  able  to  annihilate,  with  ease,  the  remain-    ^^  clo^eij 
ing  force  of  the  republicans.     Washington,  still  undismayed,     pur-sued. 
pursued  the  policy  of  avoiding  an  engagement,  as  the  only 
hope  of  preserving  his  little  army,  which,  at  this  time,  amount- 
ed to  only  three  thousand.     Finding  himself,  in  the  post  which 
he  had  taken  at  Newark,  too  near  his  triumphant  foe,  he  re- 
moved to  Brunswick.     The  same  day,   Cornwallis,  with  a 
part  of  the  British  army,  entered  Newark.     Washington  again 
retreated  from  Brunswick  to  Princeton,  and  thence  to  Trenton.   Crosser^  the 
The  British  still  pursuing,  he  finally  crossed  the   Delaware,    Delaware 
into  Pennsylvania. 

General,  now  Sir  William  Howe,(he  having  been  knighted  ^^^^^'^^'J^^^^'^ 
for  his  success  at  the  battle  of  Long  Island.)  was,  on  this  occa-    his  socc-es- 
sion,  deficient  in  energy  and  promptitude.     With  an  army  of  sestoxtc  s.; 
sixfold  numerical  force,   and  tenfold  efficient  strength,  com-    iti"  otj^^t 
prised  of  disciplined  troops,  in  health  and  vigor,  ably  com- 
manded, completely  equipped  and  furnished,  and  elated  with  Sthtions  hn 
success,  he  did  not  commence  the  pursuit  till  four  days  after   ^/'^^^^^^^"'Jf^ 
the  capture  of  forts  Washington  and  Lee.     At  anytime  after   )Jjjk  of  the 
the  28th,  until  Washington  crossed  the  Delaware,   a  single    Delaware 
forced  march  might  have  overtaken,  and  destroyed  his  army. 
But  such  was  not  ordered  by  Howe  ;  and  when  he  arrived  at 
the  Delaware,  where  he  had  hoped  to  overtake  the  Ameri- 
cans, the  last  boat,  with  the  baggage,  was  crossing  the  river. 


'tob' 


188 


THE  DARKEST  PERIOD  OF  THE  REVOLUTIOM 


PART  III.    The  British  general,  not  choosino",  however,  to  take  the  trou- 

PERiODii.    ble  of  construcling  flat-bottomed  boats,  for  carrying  over  his 

CHAP.  III.     troops,  and  the  Americans   having  been  careful  not  to  leave 

v-*'^v--'^*^    theirs  for  his  accommodation,  he  arranged  his  German  troops, 

lY^S.      to  the    number  of  4,000,  along  the  Delaware,  from   Moiira 

Holly  to  Trenton  ;  placed  a  strong  detachment  at  Princeton  ; 

stationed    his    main    army  at    New  Brunswick,  and    retired 

himself  to  New  York,  to   wait  for  the  river  to  freeze,  that 

thus   he   might  be  furnished  with  a  convenient  bridge ;  not 

doubting,  as  it  would  seem,  that  the  Americans  would  quietly 

wait  until  he  was  ready  to  pass  over  and  destroy  them. 


CHAPTER   III 


American  successes  at  Trenton  and  Princeton. 


December. 
Distress  of 

Washing- 
ton's army. 


He  becomes 

truly  tiie 

"  Father  of 

his  country."' 


The  time 

mat  "tried 

men's 

souls." 


Washington 
wrders  in  his 

detacii- 

ments. 


Washington  showed  how  well  he  deserved  the  confidence 
reposed  in  him,  by  making  every  exertion  to  increase  his  ar- 
my, which,  feeble  as  it  Avas  when  he  commenced  his  re  treat, 
had  hourly  diminished.  His  troops  were  unfed  amidst  faiiguo ; 
unshod,  while  their  bleeding  feet  were  forced  rapidly  over 
the  sharp  projections  of  frozen  ground ;  and  they  endured  the 
keen  December  air,  almost  without  clothes  or  tents.  In  such 
a  situation,  the  wonder  is  not,  that  many  died  and  many  de- 
serted, but  that  enough  remained  to  keep  up  the  show  of  op- 
position. In  this  distressing  situation,  Washington  manifest- 
ed to  his  troops  all  the  firnmess  of  the  conmiander,  while  he 
showed  all  the  tenderness  of  the  father.  He  visited  the  sick, 
paid  every  attention  in  his  power  to  the  wants  of  the  army 
praised  their  constancy,  represented  their  sufferings  to  con- 
gress, and  encouraged  their  despairing  minds,  by  holding  out 
the  prospects  of  a  better  future  ;  while  the  serene  and  benig- 
nant countenance  with  which  he  covered  his  aching  heart, 
made  them  believe,  that  their  beloved  and  sagacious  comman- 
der, was  himself  animated  with  the  prospects  which  he  por- 
trayed to  them. 

The  distresses  of  the  Americans  were  increased  by  the 
desertion  of  many  of  the  supposed  friends  of  their  cause. 
Howe,  taking  advantage  of  what  he  considered  their  van- 
quished and  hopeless  condition,  otrered  free  pardon  to  all  who 
shoidd  now  declare  for  the  royal  authority.  Of  the  extremes 
of  society-^the  very  rich  and  the  very  poor,  numbers  nov/  sued 
for  the  royal  clemency ;  but  few  of  the  middle  classes  desert- 
ed their  country  in  its  hour  of  peril. 

General  Lee,  as  has  been  before  stated,  was,  by  tlie  orders 
of  Washington,  separated  from  the  main  body  of  tlie  aimy, 
soon  after  the  battle  of  Wliite  Plains.     He  was  sent  north- 


WASHINGTON    BOLD    AND    SUCCESSFUL.  18fl 

erl\ ,  to  be  at  hand  to  succor  the  troops  which  were  opposed  PART  III 
10  Ccirlelon,  upon  the  hikes.  But  when  Washington  found  period  ii. 
the  main  army  in  danger  of  annihilation,  he  ordered  Lee  to 
join  him  with  all  possible  expedition,  Geneial  Mercer,  who 
commanded  a  corps  of  light  infantry  at  Bergen,  and  General 
Gates,  who  commanded  on  the  northern  frontier,  received 
similar  orders,  and  promptly  obeyed  them.  Washington  had 
also  sent  in  various  directions  to  arouse  the  militia.  General  ^'■'.">-:s  !"  "u 
Milliiri,  from  Pennsylvania,  had  now  joined  him  with  a  body  Pennsylva 
of  1,.500.  nia. 

Ge-'ieral  Lee,  ambitious,  eccentric,  and  opinionated,  thought 
he  rnii-ht  make  a  better  use  of  the  men  under  his  command, 
and  therefore  he  did  not  promptly  execute  the  order  of  Wash- 
ington ;  but  lingered  along  the  northern  mountains  of  New 
Jersey ;  where,  having  taken  up  his  quarters  at  a  house  dis-  Qf^g'^i^/L 
tant  irom  the  main  body  of  his  army,  he  was  surprised,  and  m^de  prison, 
carried  prisoner  to  New  York,  by  a  party  of  British  cavalry;        er 
when  General  Sullivan  conducted  his  forces  to  Washington's 
camp. 

W  ith  these  reinforcements,  the  American  army  amounted 
to  about  7,000  effective  men.  A  (ew  days,  however,  would 
close  the  year;  and  the  period  of  enlistment  for  a  considerable     ?  i 

portion  of  the  soldiers  would  expire  with  it.     The  cause  of     moment 
America  demanded  that  important  use  should  be  made  of  the   seized  and 
short  sjmce  which  intervened.     iVt  this  critical  moment,  Wash-    ^"UJfoved. 
ington,  perceiving  the  inactivity  of  his  enemy,  struck  a  capi- 
tal blow  for  his  country.     He  determined  to  recross  the  Del- 
aware in  three  divisions — at  M'Konkey's  ferry,  at  Trenton 
ferry,  and  at  Bristol,  and  attack  tlie  British  posts  at  Trenton 
and  Ihn-lington.     The  forces  to  cross  at  the  two  last  places, 
commanded  by  Irving  and  Cadwallader,  were  unable,  owing 
to  the  quantity  of  floating  ice,  to  proceed.     The  main  body, 
under  Washington,  with  suffering  and  danger,   effected  the 
passage  at  M'Konkey's  ferry.     This  force  then  separated  into    ^^27,  ^ 
two  divisions,   commanded  by  Sullivan   and   Greene  ;  under    Washing- 
whom  were  Lord    Stirling,  generals   Mercer  and  St.  Clair.    ^°"^  }^^^^, 

c.    11-  ,      1-    •    •  11^  1  1    A>  1  1  attempt, and 

buhivan  s  division  took  the  upper  road,  and  Greene  s,  where  brilliant  sue 
was  Washington  in  person,  the  Pennington  road.     They  arri-  cessatTrea- 
ved  at  Trenton  at  the  same  moment.     The  Hessians,  under         °"" 
Colonel  Uahl,  were  surprised,  and  their   commander   slain. 
Prisoners,  to  the  amount  of  1,000,  were  taken  by  the  Ameri- 
cans, wlio  immediately  re-crossed  the   Delaware.     The  joy, 
caused  by  this  success,  was  great ;  and  it  was  almost  unalloy- 
ed   by  ihcit  sorrow,  v/hich  even  victory  brings.     The  Ameri- 
c:<.nH  Lnd  lost  but  four  men,  tv/o  killed,  and  two,  such  was  the 
scveriiy  of  the  weather,  were  frozen  to  death.     Many  were 
induced,  by  this  success,  to  serve   six   weeks   longer.     Two 
days  after  the  action,  Washington   crossed  his   whole  army 
over  the  Delaware,  and  took  quarters  at  Trenton. 

Howe  was  thunderstruck  by  this  astonishing  reverse.     Lord 


190  CLOSE    OF    THE    CAMPAIGN    OF    '76. 

PART  III  CornAvallis  was  in  New  York,  on  the  point  of  embarking  fot 
PER50D  II  England ;  but  the  commander  ordered  him  instantly  to  New 
CHAP.  Ill  Jersey,  where  he  joined  the  British  forces,  now  assembled  at 
'-**'""''^'*'^  Princeton.  Leaving  a  part  of  his  troops  at  this  place,  he  im- 
I1'5"«'.  mediately  proceeded  towards  Trenton,  with  the  intention  of 
AL>vrmiut  §^^^"S  battle  to  the  Americans,  and  arrived,  with  his  vanguard, 
of  Corn-     on  the  first  of  January. 

wallis.  Washington,  knowing  the  inferiority  of  his  force,  sensible, 

too,  that  flight  would  be  almost  as  fatal  as  defeat,  conceived 
the  project  of  marching  to  Princeton,  and  attacking  the  troops 
left  in  that  place.       About  midnight,  leaving  his  fires  burning 
Wo.shlnnon  hriskly,  that  his  army  should  not  be  missed,  he  silently  do 
strikes'an-    camped,   and   gained,  by  a  circuitous  route,  the   rear  of  the 
other  bold    enemy.       At  sunrise,  the   van  of  the    American   forces  met, 
and,  ai,      Unexpectedly,  two  British  regiments,  which  were  on  the  march 
Princeton    to  join  Cornwallis.      A  conflict  ensued  :  the  Americans  gave 
sucSsful    ^'^y  • — ^^^  ^^^  ^^  stake  :  Washington  himself,  at  this  decisive 
moment,  led  on  the  main  body.     The  enemy  were  routed,  and 
fled.      Wa,shington  pressed  forward  towards  Princeton,  where 
one  regiment  of  the  enemy  yet  remained.      A  part  of  these 
saved  themselves  by  flight ;  the  remainder,  about  300  in  num- 
ber, were  made  prisoners.     The  number  killed  on  the  side  of 
the  British,  was  upwards  of  one  hundred  ;  that  of  the  Amer- 
icans, was  less  ;  but,  among  them,  was  the  excellent  General 
Mercer,  with  several  other  valuable  officers. 

Thrilling  were  the  emotions  with  which  these  successes 
were  hailed  by  a  disheartened  nation.  Even  to  this  day,  Avhen 
an  unexpected  and  thnlung  event  is  to  be  related,  the  speaker, 
who  perchance  knows  not  the  origin  of  the  proverb,  joyfully 
exclaims,  "  Great  news  from  the  Jerseys !" 

On  hearing  the  cannonade  from  Princeton,  Cornwallis,  ap- 
prehensive for  the  safety  of  his  Brunswick  stores,  immediate- 
ly put  his  army  in  motion  for  that  place.      Washington,  on  his 
Jan.  G.      approach,  retired  to  Morristown.     When  somewhat  refreshed, 
Washington  he  again  took  the  field  ;  and  having  gained  possession  of  New- 
Morristo\ls^n    •if'^/^'^'oodbridge,  Elizabethtown,  and   indeed  of  all  the  ene- 
my's posts  in  New  Jersey,  except  New  Brunswick  and  Am- 
boy,  he  retired  to  secure  winter-quarters  at  Moriistown. 

Washington's  military  glory  now  rose  to  its  meridia.n.      In 
deed,  nothing  in  the  history  of  war,  shows  a  leader  in  a  more 
Washing     advantageous  point  of  light,  than  the  last  events  of  this  cam- 
ton's  great   paign,  did  the  commanding  general.     Where   can  we  find  a 
eonmiaiiden  P^-ssage,  in  the  life  of  Hannibal,  of  Julius  Caesar,  or  Napole- 
on, in  which  the  soldier's  fearless  daring  and  contempt  of  per- 
sonal danger,  more  strikingly  blends,  with  the  commanders 
fertility  of  resource,  promptness  to  decide   and  act,  vigor  to 
follow  up  success,  and  moderation  to  stop  at  the  precise  poin 
between  bravery  and  rasliness  ?    But  Hannibal  made  war  for  re- 
venge ;  Ca?sar  and  Na})o]eon,  for  personal  ambition  ;  Washing- 
ton for  justice,  for  the  rights  of  his  country,  and  of  nankind 


ARTICLES  OF  CONFEDERATION  ADOPTED.  191 

A  new  face   was  put  upon  the   contest.     In  America,  the    PART  III, 
palsying  iuUuence  of  despair  gave  place  to  the  invigorating 
counsels  of  hope  ;  wliile  in  England,  exultation  %vas  exchan- 
ged for  alarm,  and  in  France,  pity  for  respect. 

The  northern  American  force,  under  General  Arnold,  and      1776. 
the  British  army  under   Carleton,  met  on  Lake  Cliamplain,    Amoi</'(ie. 
near  the  island  of  Valcour.      The  American  armament  was     feat cd  on 
entirely  destroyed ;  and   General  Carleton,  after  proceeding  Lake  Cham 
to    Crown    Point,    reconnoitered  the   posts    ait   Ticonderoga 
and  Mount  Independence,  and  returned  to  winter-quarters  in 
Canada. 

On  the  same  day  on  which  General  Washington  retreated      Dec  8, 
over  the  Delaware,  the  British  took  possession  of  Rhode  I  si-  pj^gg^^siond 
and,  and  blockaded  the  squadron  of  Commodore  Hopkins,  to-      Rhode 
gather  with  a  number  of  privateers,  at  Providence.  Island. 

On  the  12th  of  July,  a  committee,  who  had  been  appointed    Articles  of 
by  congress  to  prepare  and  digest  a  form  of  confederation,    confedera 
reported  certain  articles,  the  discussion  of  which  occupied  a  l^^^'^^o^^^ggg*^ 
great  shaie  of  the  attention  of  that  body,  until  November  15,  °      ' 

1777,  the  day  of  their  final  adoption.  They  were  subsequent 
ly  agreed  to,  by  the  several  state  governments.  By  these  ar- 
ticles it  was  determined  that,  on  the  first  Monday  of  Novem- 
ber in  each  year,  a  general  congress  should  be  convoked,  of 
deputies  from  each  of  the  states,  and  invested  with  all  the 
povv-ers  which  belong  to  the  sovereigns  of  other  nations. 
These  powers  were  set  forth,  and  the  limits  between  the  au- 
thority of  the  state  and  national  government  as  clearly  defined, 
as  was,  at  the  time,  practicable.  These  "  Articles  of  Confed- 
eration," gave  to  the  nation  the  style  of  the  "  United  States 
of  x\meiica,"  and  formed  the  basis  of  the  American  govern- 
ment, until  the  adoption  of  the  federal  constitution. 

Never,  was  a  more  devoted  or  a  wiser  band  of  patriots, 
than  that  which  composed  the  congress  of  '76.  They  were 
environed  with  difficulties  which  would  have  utterly  discour-   ^'^-^^  ^}^, 

1  ,-111  r  ■  1  mS  ractcr  of  tilt 

aged   men   oi  weaker   heads,  or  laniter  hearts.      1  hey  were  old  congress. 

without  any  power,  except  the  power  to  recommend.  They  Their  diiH- 
had  an  exhausted  army  to  recruit,  amidst  a  discouraged  peo-  ^^^^'^^^ 
pie,  and  a  powerful  and  triumphant  foe  ;  and  all  this,  not  mere- 
ly without  money,  but  almost  without  credit;  for  the  bills, 
which  they  had  formerly  issued,  had  greatly  depreciated,  and 
were  daily  depreciating ;  yet,  amidst  all  these  discourage- 
ments, they  held  on  their  course  of  patriotic  exertions,  ui^dis- 
mayed. 

In  order  to  provide  pecuniary  resources,  they  passed  a  law.  Their  excr- 
authorizing  the  loan  of  five   millions  of  dollars,  at  four  per   rr.,^'°"gg  i 
cent.     They  also  created  a  lottery ;  by  v/nich  they  hoped  to     Franklin, 
raise  the  sum  of  one  million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Deane   and 
Desirous  of  inducing  the   French  to  espouse  the  American     ^au/from 
cause,  they  appointed,  as  commissioners  to  the  court  of  France,     France. 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Silas  Deane,  and  Arthur  Lee  v.'hom  they 


102  WASHINGTON    INVESTED    WITH    PLENARY    POWERS. 

PART  III,  instructed  to  procure  arms  and  ammunition,  and  obtain  per- 
mission to  fit  out  American  vessels  in  the  ports  of  Frnnce,  to 
annoy  the  commerce  of  England.  They  directed  them  to 
solicit  a  loan  of  ten  millions  of  francs,  and  to  endeavor,  by 
every  means  in  their  power,  to  prevail  upon  the  French  gov- 
ernment, to  rcco;^mzc  tJie  independence  of  the  United  Stales, 
To  General  AV'ashington  they  granted,  for  six  months,  pow- 
ers which  were  almost  unlimited.  They  gave  him  authority 
^sfv/ash"-"  ^^  ^^^T  ^^'^  organize  sixteen  battalions  of  infantry,  in  addition 
ingion  w  i'th  to  those  already  voted  by  congress,  and  to  appoint  their  offi- 
cers ;  to  raise  and  equip  three  thousand  light  horse,  three  re- 
giments of  artillery,  and  a  corps  of  engineers,  and  to  establish 
their  pay.  They  empowered  him  to  call  into  service  the  mi- 
litia of  the  several  states  ;  to  displace  and  appoint  all  officers 
under  the  rank  of  brigadier  general,  and  to  fdl  up  all  vacancies 
in  every  department  of  the  American  army.  They  also  au- 
thorized him  to  take  whatever  he  might  want  for  the  use  of 
the  army,  at  his  own  price,  even  if  the  inhabitants  should  re- 
fuse to  sell  it ;  and  to  arrest  and  confine  persons,  who  should 
refuse  to  take  the  continental  money,  returning  their  names, 
and  the  nature  of  their  offenses,  to  the  states  of  which  they 
were  citizens.  This  confidence  in  their  defender,  entitled 
them  to  find— and  they  did  find— one  who  was  devoted  to  their 
cause 


exlraorci 
nary  powers 


CHAPTER   IV. 

Campaign  of  1777. 


1T7T.  The  inhabitants  of  New  Jersey  were  so  exasperated  at  tho 

Excesses  of  excesses,  which  the  English  and  Hessians  had  committed. 

tlie  Endish    ^n     ^    ^i  ^  °  •         t>  •    i  i     .      , 

aj3,y-j^  that  those  troops,  now  occupying  Brunswick  and  Amboy, 
New  Jersey,  could  not  venture  out  even  to  forage,  without  extreme  danger. 
General  de  Heister  had  not  attempted  to  suppress  his  licen- 
tious soldiery;  and  the  English  soon  vied  with  the  Germans 
in  all  scenes  of  violence,  outrage,  cruelty,  and  plunder ;  and 
New  Jersey  presented  only  scenes  of  havoc  and  desolation. 
The  complaints  of  America  were  echoed  throughout  Europe ; 
and  it  was  every  where  reproachfully  said,  that  '"  England  had 
revived  in  America,  the  fury  of  the  Goths,  and  the  barbarity 
of  the  northern  hordes." 

At  this  period,  the  loyalists,  more  commonly  distinjjuished 

"^yilists-.^^  by  the  appellation  of  tories,  evinced  a  spirit  of  revolt^  in  the 

counties,  of  Somerset  and  Worcester  in  Maryland,    of  Sussex 

in  Delaware,    and  of  Albany  in  New  York  ;  to  which  places 

troops  were  sent  to  overawe  them. 

The  small-pox,  which  had  made  such  ravages  in  the  north- 


THE    MISSION    TO    FRANCE. 


193 


em  army,  dviring  the  last  year,  now  tlireatened  that  of  Wash- 
ington. To  prevent  the  loss  of  lives,  from  this  source,  both 
regulars  and  militia  were  inoculated ;  but  so  prudently  did 
Washington  conduct  this  aflair,  that  no  opportunity  was,  in 
consequence,  odered  for  the  British  to  attack  his  camp. 

The  first  attempts  of  the  enemy,  during  the  campaign  of 
1777,  were  against  the  American  stores,  collected  at  Court- 
land  Manor,  in  New  York,  and  at  Danbury  in  Connecticut. 
Peekskill.  the  port  of  the  Manor,  was  then  in  command  of 
Colonel  xM'Dougal.  The  23d  of  March,  the  British,  under 
Colonel  Bird,  attacked  this  post ;  and  M'Dougal,  knowing  his 
small  force  could  not  defend  it,  destroyed  the  magazines,  and 
retired  to  the  back  country. 

The  25th  of  April,  2,000  men,  under  Governor  Tryon,  ma- 
jor of  the  royalists,  or  tories,  having  passed  the  sound,  landed 
between  Fairfield  and  Norwalk.  The  next  day,  proceeding 
to  Danbury,  he  compelled  the  garrison,  under  Colonel  Hunt- 
ington, to  retire  ;  and  not  only  destroyed  the  stores,  but  burned 
the  town. 

Meantime,  800  militia  had  collected  to  annoy  them,  on  their 
return  ;  of  whom  500,  under  Arnold,  took  post  at  Ridgefield, 
to  attack  their  front,  while  300,  under  General  Wooster,  fell 
upon  their  rear.  Both  parties  were  repulsed,  Wooster  slain, 
and  Arnold  retired  to  Saugatuck,  about  three  miles  east  of 
Norwalk.  The  enemy  having  spent  the  night  at  Ridgefield, 
set  fire  to  it,  still  retreating,  although  continually  harassed  by 
Arnold's  party,  now  increased  to  1,000;  until  they  at  length 
arrived  at  Campo,  between  Norwalk  and  Fairfield,  and  took 
refuge  on  board  their  ships.  The  British  loss  v/as  170,  the 
American  100.  Of  the  stores  taken,  the  loss  of  tents  was 
the  most  severely  felt  by  the  Americans.  But  from  the 
promptitude  with  which  the  inhabitants,  rose  on  the  marau- 
ders, who  expected  many  to  join  them,  the  friends  of  liberty 
found  their  hopes  invigorated,  and  their  exertions  encouraged. 
The  same  effect  was  also  produced  by  another  affair  which 
occurred  soon  after.  The  British  had  collected  at  Sag  Har- 
oor,  on  Long  Island,  large  magazines  of  forage  and  grain. 
Colonel  Meigs,  one  of  the  intrepid  companions  of  Arnold,  in 
tie  expedition  to  Canada,  left  Guilford,  on  the  23d  of  May, 
^•ith  170  men,  destroyed  the  stores,  burned  a  dozen  brigs  and 
sloops,  killed  six  of  the  enemy,  took  ninety  prisoners,  and  re- 
Tiirned  without  loss. 

About  this  time  the  effects  of  the  mission  to  France  began 
to  appear.  Congress  had,  with  great  judgment,  selected  Dr. 
Franklin  as  one  of  the  commissioners.  A  profound  know- 
ledge of  human  nature,  united  with  a  warm  and  cheerful 
benevolence,  had  given  to  this  philosopher  a  manner  possess- 
ing a  peculiar  charm,  attractive  to  all,  however  different  their 
taste  or  pursuits.  His  wit  and  gayety,  even  at  seventy,  the 
age  at  which  he  went  to   Paris,  had  power  to  charm  the 


PART  III. 

PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.    IV. 


1777. 

Mnrch  23. 

British  tako 

stores  at 

Coiirtland 

Manor. 


April  26. 
Tryon  de 
stroys  stores 
at    Danbury, 
and  bums 
the  town. 


Retreat  ol 
the  British, 
and  pursuit 
of  the  Ameri- 
cans. 


^Tay  23. 
Exploit  or 
Colonel 
I\IpiL^s  at  Sag- 
Harbor 


1777, 
Effects  of 
the  mission 
to  France 


194  LA    FAYETTE    JOINS    THE    AMERICAN    ARMY. 

PART  III,  young  beauty  from  her  lovers  and  her  toilette ;  while   his 

PERIOD  II.  wisdom  and  his  learning  could  instruct  the  mechanic  in  his 

CHAP.  IV.    own  trade,  or  the  statesman,  in  his  profoundest  calculations. 

^-^^v-^*^  Perhaps  it  is  equally  to  these  qualities  in  Franklin,  as  to  the 

Franklin,    graver  wisdom  and  more  heroic  valor  of  Washington    that 

a^reeabYe     America  owes  her  existence  as  a  nation ;  for  it  must  ever 

witty  and    remain  problematical,  whether,  without  the  aid  of  France,  it 

wise,  shifts   could  have  achieved  its  independence; — and  although  polili- 

ures,  but     cal  reasons  might  have  operated  to  make  that  nation  wish 

gains  his     evil  to   England,  yet  without  the  interest,  which   Franklin 

^^    ■        found  means  to  excite  for  x\merica,  the  government  might 

never  have  eflectually  interfered. 

This  interest  was  so  lively,  that  several  individuals  of  dis- 
T     f?     ff„  tinction  took  the  generous  resolution  of  embarkin<T  in  the  cause 

La   Fayette,  .  »  ,       .         .      ,  .  ,^,  »  ... 

at  the  age  of  01  America,  and  combating  m  her  armies.      1  he  most  distin- 

nineteen.es-  cruished  of  these,  was  the   young   Marquis   de  la   Fayette 

cause  of     With  every  thing  to  attach  him  to  his  country,  rank,  wealth, 

American    a  deserving  and  beloved  bride,  he  Avas  yet  moved  by  compas- 

hberty.      g^^^^  j.^  suffering  virtue,  and  by  indignation  against  oppression, 

to  leave  all  that  was  individually  dear,  to  expose  his  life,  and 

impair  his  fortune  in  the  cause  of  iVmerican  liberty,  and  the 

rights  of  man.     He  had  early  communicated  his  resolution  to 

the  commissioners.     After  hearing  of  the  disasters  which  foi- 

Comes  to  the  lowed  the   battle  of  Long  Island,   they   felt  bound  to   make 

her"adversi-  known  to  him  the  despairing  state  of  their  country ;  and  to  say 

ty.         that  such  was  its  extreme  poverty,  that  they  could  not  even 

provide  him  with  a  vessel  for  his  conveyance.     "  Then,"  said 

^fJT-^!^^     La  Fayette,  "  if  your  country  is  indeed  reduced  to  this  extre- 

with  distmc-       .:(..'''  ,     -^  ,  ... 

tion.        mity,  this  is  the  moment  that  my  departure  to  join  its  armies, 

Avill  render  it  the  most  essential  service."     His  arrival  caused 

a  deep  sensation  of  joy  among  the  people.     Congress  soon 

July  31.     appointed  him  a  major  general  in  the  army;  and  Washington 

General*^'^  received  him  into  his  family,  and  regarded  him  through  life 

with  parental  affection. 

The  American  commander,  in  forming  such  a  probable  cal- 
culation on  the  movements  of  his  enemy  at  New  York,  as 
Avould  enable  him  to  make  a  judicious  disposition  of  his  own 
.  army,  which  now  amounted  to  8,000  effective  men,  was  well 

ihe^BdUsIi.  aware  that  there  were  with  the  British  cabinet  two  objects. 
The  one  was,  to  get  possession  of  Philadelphia ;  and  the 
other,  to  proceed  up  the  Hudson,  form  a  junction  with  their 
northern  army,  and  thus  cut  off  the  communication  between 
the  eastern  and  southern  states.     His  sagacious  mind  com 
prehendcd  that  the  latter  was  the  more  important  enterprise , 
and  he  knew  that  it  best  coincided  with  the  orders  which 
May.       Howe  had  received  from  England  ;  but  ho  also  knew,  that  il 
Washington  was  a  favorite  project  with  him,  to  draw  the  Americans  into 
from'^orris  ^  general  engagement,  not  doubting  that  it  would  issue  in  their 
town  to  Mia  final   discomfiture.     Washington,  therefore,  sought,  to  make 
dlebrook.    guch  a  disposition  of  his  forces,  as  should  best  enable  him  to 


INVASION  FROM  CANADA  BY  BURGOYNE  195 

concentrate  them  in  opposition,  whichever  way  his  enemy    PART  .IT. 
shoukl  turn.     He  removed  the  main  army  from  Morristown,   p^kiod  h 
to  a  strong  position  on  the  heights  of  Middlebrook  ;  and  sta-     '^"-^p-  ^• 
tioned  the  troops,  raised  in  the  northern  provinces,  at  l^eeks-  ^-"^^^^""^-^ 
kill  and  Ticonderoga,  and  those  from  the  middle  and  southern, 
in  New  Jersey. 

Howe  commenced  his  operations  by  an  attempt  to  draw  the     1777. 
American  commander  into  a  general  engagement.     For  this     t/.^^^' 
purpose,   ho  crossed  the   Hudson,  and  marched  to  Middle-     tempts  to 
brook ;  but  finding  the  American  camp  too  strong  to  attack,  ^r^^  Wash- 
he  remained  several   days  before  it,  vainly  offering  battle,    ^f^g^^ 
On  the  19th  of  June  he  ordered  a  precipitate  retreat  from       ment.° 
Jersey.     Having  arrived    at  Amboy,   a  bridge   was   thrown 
hastily  over  to  Staten  Island,  and  all  the  heavy  baggage,  and  H*^""^k^* 
many  of  the  troops  passed  it.     Washington,  now  deceived,  feint  of  re 
ordered  his  army  to  the  pursuit.     Howe  recrossed  with  his     treating. 
troops,  but  Washington  eluded  him,  and  regained  his  camp,  ^rlwn  ouT 
though  not  without  a  skirmish,  in  which  the  British,  under  but  regains 
Lord  Cornwallis,  had  the  advantage  over  a  corps  of  American  ^^^  posmoa 
riflemen.* 


CHAPTEE  Y. 

Campaign  of  1777,  continued. 


On  the  night  of  July  10th  occurred  the  capture  of  the  Bri-     1777 
tish  General  Prescott,  then  in  command  on  Rhode  Island,     j^^^  ^^: 
Colonel  Barton,  with  forty  country  militia,  from  Warwick,     Prescott 
under  his  command,   proceeded  ten  miles   in   w^hale  boats,  captured  by 
landed  between   Newport  and   Bristol,  marched  a  mile,  to        J^^^^ 
Prescott's  quarters,  took  the  general  from  his  bed,  and  con- 
ducted him  w4th  dispatch  to  a  place  of  safety  on  the  main  land. 

Meantime  great  preparations  were  making  for  a  descent  fo^jf/i^gP^^^ 
upon  the  United  States  from  Canada.     The  plan  of  dividing      states, 
the  states,  by  effecting  a  junction  of  the  British  army  through  J.^^rough  thf 
Lake  Champlain  and  the  Hudson,  was,  at  the  beginning  of   ch^pl^ 
this  year,  looked  to,  by  the  w^hole  British  nation,  as  the  cer- 
tain means  of  effecting  the  reduction  of  America.   This  scheme 
had  gained  new  favor  in  England,  by  the  representations  of 
General  Burgo^yme,  an  oHlcer  whr  had  served  under  Carleton, 
and  whose  knowledge  of  American  affairs  was  therefore  un- 
disputed.    Burgoyne,  by  his  importunities  with  the  British 
ministry,  obtained  the  object  for  which  he  had  made  a  voyage 
to  England.     He  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  all  the  Burgoyne ar- 
troops  in  Canada,  to  the  prejudice  of  Governor  Carleton,  and  ri^  3s  with  « 
was  furnished  with  an  army  and  military  stores.     With  these  ^t  QaeS 
lie  arrived  at  Quebec  in  May. 

*  I'bis  incident  was  related  to  the  author  by  Gen.  Lafayette,  who  read  critically  her 
history  of  the  American  Revolution.  He  pointed  out  a  few  errors,  which,  were  cor- 
rected, and  recommended  a  few  additiotis,  which  were  made. 


195  ST.    LEGER  S    ABORTIVE    EXPEDITION. 

PART  III.        General  Carleton  exhibited  an  honorable  example  of  mode* 

ration  and  patriotism,  by  seconding  Burgoyne  in  his  pn^para- 

tions,  with,  great  diligence  and  energy.     To  increase  the  army, 

he  exerted,  not  only  his  authority  as  governor,  but  also  his 

ITTT.     influence  among  his  numerous  t'riends  and  partisans.     Though 

Sir  Guy     Jiimself  averse  to  using   the    savages,    yet    such  being  the 

dignified  be-  orders  of  the  British  government,  he  aided  in  bringing  to  the 

havior.      field  even  a  greater  number  than  could  be  employed. 

Burgoyne's  army  was  provided  with  a  formidable  train  of 
officeis^^   artillery.     The   principal   officers   who   were   to   accompany 
His  whole    him  were,  General  Philips,  who  had  distinguished  himself  in 
v^^ionof)  ^^®  German  wars.  Brigadiers  Frazer  and  Powel,  the  Bruns- 
"'men.       wick  Major  General  Baron  Reidesel,  and  Brigadier  General 
Specht.     The  army  consisted  of  7,173  British  and  German 
troops,  besides  several  thousands  of  Canadians  and  Indians. 
Burgoyne's  plan  of  operation  was,  that  Colonel  St.  Leger 
His  plan  of  should    proceed    with   a   detachment  by  the   St.   Lawrence, 
oneration.     Qswego,  and  Fort  Stanwix,  to  Albany.     Burgoyne,  proceed- 
ing by  Champlain  and  the  Hudson,  was  to  meet  St.  Leger  at 
Albany,  and  both  join  General  Clinton  at  New  York. 
June  20.         His  preparations  completed,  Burgoyne  moved  forward  with 
Burgoyne    his  army,  and  made  his  lirst  encampment  on  the  western  shore 
theTverBo-  ^^  Lake  Champlain,  at  the  river  Boquet.     Here,  in  two  in- 
<;uet,  -ind  is-  Stances,  he  betrayed  that  vanity  which  was  his  characteristic 
•ues  a  proc-  weakness.     He  made  a  speech  to  his  Indian  allies,  in  which, 
m  terms  oi  singular  energy,  and  with  an  imposing  manner,  he 
endeavored  to  persuade  them  to  change  their  savage  mode  ol 
warfare.     He  also  published  a  proclamation,  in  which,  by 
arguments,  promises,  and  threats,  (threats  of  savage  extermi- 
nation !)  he  seemed  to  expect  that  he  should  bring  the  repub- 
licans to  the  royal  standard :  as  if  words  which  he  should 
speak   could   change   the   natural   character   and   established 
manners  of  a  nation ;  or  those  which  he  could  write,  could 
have  power  to  subvert  the  purposes  of  men,  whom  all  the  pre 
vious  measures  of  his  government  had  failed** to  intimidate. 
Aug.  3.  St.  Lejrer  had  united  with  Sir  John  Johnson,  and  having 

CI  •  . 

.^[_'^y     nearly  2,000  troops,  including  savages,  they  invested  Fort 

s'tJtinvix.     Stanwix,  then  commanded  by  Colonel  Gansevoort.     General 

Herkimer,  having  collected  the  militia,  marched  to  the  relief 

Ann.  (].      ot"   Gansevoort.     He  .fell   into  an  Indian  anibuscade  on  the 

Heru'imrr'  is  ^'^^  ^^  August,  and  was  defeated  and  slain,  with  400  of  his 

dc<faied     troops.     St.   Leger,  wishing  to  profit  by  his  victory,  pressed 

*y^"^^f*'®  upon  the  fort.      In  this  perilous  moment.  Colonel   Wdiet  and 

j^y^'   "    Lieutenant  Stockton  left  the  fort,  fighting  their  way  ilirough 

the  English  camp ;  and,  eluding  the  Indians,  they  arrived  at 

German  Flats,  and  proceeded  to  Albany,  to  alarm  the  country 

and  gain  assistance. 

^"?-  -^-  General  Schuyler,  on  hearing  the  danger  of  the  fort,  dis- 

turns  to     patched  Arnold  to  its  relief.     On  hearing  of  his  approach,  the 

Moiiirer.l.     Indians,  having  previously  become  dissatisfied,  mutinied,  and 


DiSASTERS    OF    THE    GARRISON    OF    TICONDEROGA.  197 

compollod  St.   Leger  to  return  to  Montreal.     On  the  way,  Z^^T.!!!! 
ihey  connnitted  such  depredations  on  tlie  British  troops,  as  to   period  a. 
leave  the  impression,  that  they  were  no  less  dangerous  as     ^-^hap.  v. 
allies, than  as  enemies.  v-rf^-^v"^^^ 

To  preserA' e  a  connected  view  of  the  expedition  of  St.  Leger, 
we  have  gone  nearly  two  months  ahead  of  the  operations  of      lYTy. 
Rurgoyne.     On  the  30th  of  June,  that  general  advanced  to     June  30. 
Crown  Point,  from  whence  he  proceeded  to  invest  Ticonde-  ^"[f"^\v*^  ^ 
roga,  which  was  garrisoned  by  3,000  men,  under  the  com-       Point 
mand  of  General  St.  Clair.     This  was  a  place  of  great  natural 
strength,  and  much  expense  and  labor  had  been  bestowed      •'  ^'y  5. 
upon  its  fortifications  ;  but,  up  to  this  period,  a  circumstance   Tic-ondcro- 
respecting  it  seems  to  have  been  strangely   overlooked.     It  ga,  which  u 
is  commanded  by  an  eminence  in  its  neighborhood,  called    ^^[^^".u^^'^ 
Mount  Defiance.*     The  troops  of  Burgoyne  got  possession  of  Americans 
this  height  on  the  5th  of  July,  and  St.  Clair,  fmding  the  post 
no  longer  tenable,  evacuated  it  on  the  same  night.     The  gar- 
rison  separated  into  two  divisions,  were  to  proceed  through 
Hubbardton  to  Skeenesborough.     The  first,  under  St.  Clair, 
left  the  fort  in  the  night,  tw^o  hours  earlier  than  the  second, 
under  Colonel  Francis.     The  stores  and  baggage,  placed  on 
board  200  batteaux,  and  conveyed  by  five  armed  gallies,  were 
to  meet  the  army  at  Skeenesborough. 

General    Frazer,   with   850   of  the    British,   pursued    and 
attacked  the  division  at  Hubbardton,  under  Colonel  Francis, 
whose    rear    was    commanded    by    Colonel    Warner.     The      j^iy  7^ 
Americans  made  a  brave  resistance,  during  which  130  of  the   Disaster*! 
enemy  were  killed ;  but  the  British,  in  the  heat  of  the  action,  HubbarHton 
receiving  a  reinforcement  under   Reidesel,  the  republicans 
Vv-ere   forced   to   give   way.     They  fled  in  every  direction, 
spreading  through  the  country  the  terror  of  the  British  arms. 
In  .this    unfortunate   action,  the    x^mericans    lost   in    killed, 
v/ounded,  and  prisoners,  nearly   1,000  men.     Many  of  the 
wounded    perished    in    the    woods.     Colonel    Francis    was 
among  the  slain. 

A  part  of  the  stores  and  armed  galleys,  wdiich  had  been 
sent  up  the  lake,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British.     St.  Clair,     July  12. 
on  hearing  of  these  disasters,  did  not  pursue  his  intended  ^^~^^  ^''J'J' 
route,  but  struck  into  the  woods  on  his  left.     At  Manchester,   nantofihe 
he  was  joined  by  the  remnant  of  the  vanquished  division,     ?''r^'^°"' 
conducted  by  Colonel  Warner.     After  a  distressing  march,  he   '^^Ed\ylv<L^ 
reached  the  camp  of  General  Schuyler,  then  at  Fort  Edward. 
Warner  remained  in  Manchester,  with  a  detachment,  which    Warner  at 
proved  of  great  importance  in  the  aflair  which  shortly  after  Manchester 
occurred  at  Bennington. 

*  From  the  memoirs  of  Colonel  John  Trumbull,  now  (1841,)  just  out  of  the 
press,  we  learn,  that  Gates  was  informed,  during  the  preceding  summer,  by 
Colonel^  Trumbull,  of  the  fact  discovered  and  demonstrated  by  him,  that  the 
Ion  of  Ticonderoga  was  commanded  by  Mount  Defiance.  But  it  seems  ih© 
discovery  was  not  communicated  to  Washington,  nor  acted  on,  till  too  late. 

15 


198  BURGOYNE's    success,    first    checked    at    BENNINGTON 

PART  III.  Burgoyne,  meanwhile,  took  possession  of  Skeenesborough ; 
PERIOD  II.  and  the  American  army,  under  Schuyler,  retired  from  Fon 
cuAP.  V.  Edward  to  Saratoga,  and,  on  the  13th  of  August,  to  the  islands 
^^"•^^^^""^^  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk. 

ITfy.  This  period  of  the  history  was   gloomy  to  America,  and 

^'-dii™^^"but  triumphant  to  England.      When  the  news  of  Burgoyne's  sue- 
.ergetic  ac-  cesses  reached  that  country,  the  ministers  were  every  where 
tion.        felicitated  on  the  success  of  their  plans  :  and  rejoicings  were 
made,  as  though  their  object  was  already  attained.     On  the 
other  hand,  the  Americans  saw  that  the  juncture  was  critical 
and  alarming ;  but  their  spirit  rose  with   the  occasion,   and 
their  exertions  increased  with  their  danger. 
General  General   Schuyler,  before  leaving  the  northern  positions, 

^b^"^'t^     obstructed  the  roads,  by  breaking  the  bridges,  and,  in  the 
Burgoyne's    t)nly  passable   defiles,  by  cutting  great  trees  on  both  sides 
-'^ay.        of  the  way,  to  fall  cross  and  lengthwise.     These,  with  their 
branches  interwoven,  presented  to  the  enemy  an  almost  impas- 
sable barrier. 

Congress  was  aware  of  the  great  merits  and  exertions  of 

uiar  su-  General  Schuyler ;  yet  they  found  that  the  misfortunes  of  the 

ersodes     army  had,  though  undeservedly,  made  him  unpopular  ;  and, 

huyler.     therefore,  it  was   necessary  to   supersede   him,   in   order  to 

make  way  for  a  leader,  Avho  should  inspire  a  confidence  that 

nol(i,  Mor-    would  draw  volunteers  to  the  service.     Accordingly,  General 

gan,  Kosci-   Gates  was  appointed  to  the  command,  but  did  not  arrive  at  the 

usko,  join    cj^jjjp  yj^j.^  lY^Q  21st  of  Aujrust.     Lincoln  also  was  ordered  to 

:he  northern  i  .         ,  i^        i    -,  »^  i 

the  north,  as  were  Arnold  and  Morgan,  whose  active  spirits 
and  brilliant  achievements,  it  was  hoped,  would  reanimate  the 
dispirited  troops .   The  celebrated  patriot  of  Poland,  KosciuskO; 
was  also  in  the  army,  as  its  chief  engineer. 
July  30.  Burgoyne,  having,  with  great  expense  of  labor  and  time, 

Burgoyne  opened  a  way  for  his  army,  from  Skeenesborough  to  the  Hud- 
son, arrived  at  Fort  Edward,  on  the  30th  July.  But  being 
in  a  hostile  country,  he  could  obtain  no  supplies  except  from 

lie.  sends     Ticonderoga  :  and  these  he  was  compelled  to  transport  by  the 
Colonel      way  of  lake  George.     Learning  that  there  was  a  large  depot 

seize' pro-    ^^  provisions  at  Bennington,  he  sent  500  men,  under   Lieut 

visions  at  Col.  Baum,  a  trusty  German  officer,  to  seize  them.  General 
Bennington,  gi^^rk,  with  a  body  of  New  Hampshire  militia,  was  on  his 
march  to  join  General  Schuyler,  when  hearing  of  Baum's  a})- 
proach,  he  recruited  his  forces  from  the  neighboring  militia, 


Gates  more 
pop 

i: 

Lincoln,  Ar 

d,  M 

,Kos 

vO,    JC 

nortl 
irmy. 


-eaches  Fort 
F'dward. 


8tark,  with 


New      Hump-      I''"'""'"'        "^     XV.V.^»X.-^V^        XXiO      IWXO^-O       .IV^llX      V,,^        i.V.X5...^.^XXWg      i»lX..X«, 

shire  militia,  ^"^^^y  with   1,600  men,  met  him  four  miles  from  Bennington, 
defeats  him,  After  a  sharp  conflict,  Baum  was  killed,  and  his  party  defeat- 
ed.    The  militia  had  dispersed,  to  seek  for  plunder,  when  a 
Aug.  16.     British  reinforcement  of  500  men,  under  Colonel  Breymann, 
*J.^yj"*" '^^'  arrived.     Fortunately  for  the  Americans,  the  Green  Mountain 
Warner.     Bovs,  under  Colonel  Warner,  appeared  at  the  same  time,  and 
the  British  were  again  defeated,   and  compelled  to  retreat. 
Their  loss  in  both  engagements  was  600,  the  greater  part  of 


MURDER    OF    MISS    m'cREA    BY    SAVAGES.  199 

whom  were  taken  prisoners.*    The  republican  loss  was  incon-   PART  III. 
siderable.  *  period  il 

The  victory  at  Bennington  was  important  in  its  conscquen-    ^■"'^^*  ^• 
ces,  as  it  proved  the  turning  of  that  tide  of  fortune  which  had  ^•^^^^'^"^•^ 
set  so  strongly  in  favor  of  the  British  arms.     It  embarrassed,     l^Y?. 
weakened,  and   dispirited   them ;  and   was  the   first  step  in 
defeating  their  grand  scheme  of  dividing  the  north  from  the 
south, — while  it  revived  the  drooping  hearts  of  the  Americans, 
and  gave   the  impulse  of  hope  to  their  exertions.     This  was 
strengthened  by  an  impulse  of  another  kind,  but  operating  in 
the  same  direction.     A  cry  of  vengeance  for  murder  was  raised 
against  the  British,  on  account  of  an  atrocious  act,  committed 
by  their  Indian  allies. 

Miss  M'Crea,  an  interesting  young  lady  of  fort  Edward, 
was  betrothed  to  Captain  Jones,  then  in  the  army  of  Burgoyne, 
which  had  now  approached  near  to  that  place.  Impatient  for 
his  marriage,  the  lover  sent  a  party  of  Indians,  as  the  safest 
convoy  he  could  procure  for  his  bride  across  the  woods  to  the 
British  camp  ;  having  secured,  as  he  thought,  their  fidelity,  -p^e  murder 
by  promise  of  reward.  Confiding  love  prevailed  in  her  mind  of  Miss 
over  her  strong  fears  of  these  terrible  guides  ;  and  the  unfor-  ^^'Crea. 
tunate  girl  left,  by  stealth,  the  kind  shelter  of  her  paternal 
roof.  Meantime,  her  anxious  lover,  to  make  her  safety  more 
sure,  sent  out  another  party,  with  like  promises.  The  two 
met ;  and  the  last  demanded  that  the  lady  should  be  commit- 
ted to  them.  Rather  than  give  her  up,  and  thus,  as  they  sup- 
posed, lose  their  reward,  the  barbarians  tied  to  a  tree,  their 
innocent  and  helpless  victim,  and  shot  her  dead.  Instead  of 
his  bride,  the  bridegroom  received  the  bloody  tresses,  which 
the  murderers  had  cut  from  her  dying  head.  The  sight  with- 
ered and  blasted  him ;  and,  after  lingering  awhile,  he  died. 

The  complicated  miseries  of  a  battle  scene  crowd  the  pic- 
ture, and  confuse  the  mind ;  and  thus  often  produce  less  sym- 
pathy, than  a  single  case  of  distress.     In  the  present  instance, 

every  man  could  feel,  what  it  would  have  been,  or  would  be  I^s  effects  cd 
,  /  ,  1  •      ,    ■  1  •  ,•  1  •  the  public 

to  him,  to  have  his  bride  torn,  as  it  were,  trom  his  arms,       mind, 
slirieking,  and  murdered  in  the  hour  of  his  love  and  expecta- 
tion ;  and  every  pains  was  used  to  awaken  these  sympathies 
to  their  utmost  extent,   and  turn  them   against  the   British 

*  After  the  Battle  of  Bennington,  the  Hessian  prisoners  were  carried  into  the 
village,  and  distributed  into  public  buildings  and  out-houses.  The  meeting- 
house was  filled  to  crowding.  The  next  day,  an  alarm  was  suddenly  riven  to 
tbi  women  of  the  village,  to  take  their  children  and  flee.  The  Hessians,  it  was 
said,  were  rising  on  their  guard.  They  were  rushing  in  all  directions  out  of  the 
mee':ing-house.  The  guaid  fired,  and  killed  five  of  them.  But  the  fears  of  the 
inhabitants  were  suddenly  changed  to  compassion.  The  galleries  were  giving 
w  ay.  In  danger  of  bemg  crushed  to  death,  the  unfortunate  men  rushed  out,  and 
met  the  fire  of  a  guard,  who  could  not  at  first  understand  from  their  foreign 
speech,  their  explanation  of  the  disorder.  This  anecdote  was  related  to  me  by 
a  venerable  matron,  then  a  young  lady,  and  an  inliabitant  of  Bennington. 

The  speech  attributed  to  General  Stark,  as  he  was  about  to  lead  his  men  to 
battle,  is  worthy  of  being  remembered.  "  Now,  my  boys,"  said  he.  "  we  mus* 
beat  them,  or  Molly  Stark  is  a  widow  to-night." 


200 


BATTLES    OF    STILLWATER    AND    SARATOGA. 


PART  in. 

PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.  V. 


Sept.  8. 
Gales  en- 
camps at 
Stillwater. 


Sept.  14. 

Burgoyne 

encamps  at 

Saratoga. 


Sept.  19. 
Battle  of 
Stillwater. 


Oct.  7. 
Battle  of 
Saratoga. 

Position  of 
Gates. 


Tosition  of 
Burgoyne. 

His  officers. 


who  had  let  loose  such  bloodhounds  upon  the  land.  There 
was  a  general  rising  in  the  northern  region,  and  it  seemed 
as  if  every  man,  v/ho  could  bear  arms,  was  rushing  to  the 
camp  of  Gates,  to  avenge  the  death  of  Miss  M'Crea,  no  less 
than  to  deliver  his  country. 

The  army  at  the  islands,  having  been  thus  reinforced,  and 
now  amounting  to  5,000,  Gates  left  that  encampment,  the  8th 
of  September,  and  proceeding  to  Stillwater,  occupied  Bemus 
heights. 

On  the  12th,  Burgoyne  crossed  the  Hudson,  and  on  the  14th, 
encamped  at  Saratoga,  about  three  miles  distant  from  the 
American  army.  An  obstinate  and  bloody  battle  occurred  at 
Stillwater,  on  the  19th.  At  first  it  was  partial,  commencing 
with  a  skirmish  between  advanced  parties.  Each  side  sent 
successive  reinforcements  to  their  own  combatants,  until 
nearly  the  whole  were  in  action.  The  American  troops  took 
advantage  of  a  wood  which  lay  between  the  two  camps,  and 
poured  from  it  a  fire  too  deadly  to  be  withstood.  The  Bri- 
tish lines  broke  ;  and  the  Americans,  rushing  from  their  cov- 
erts, pursued  them  to  an  eminence,  where  their  flanks  being 
supported,  they  rallied.  Charging  in  their  turn,  they  drove 
the  Americans  into  the  woods,  from  which  they  again  poured 
a  deadly  fire,  and  again  the  British  fell  back.  At  every 
charge,  the  British  artillery  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, who  could  neither  carry  it  off,  or  turn  it  on  the  enemy. 
At  length  night  came  on,  and  to  fight  longer,  would  be  to  attack 
indiscriminately  friend  and  foe.  The  i\mericans  retired  to 
their  camp,  having  lost  between  three  and  four  hundred  men. 
The  loss  of  the  British  was  five  hundred.  Both  sides  claimed 
the  victory  ;  but  the  advantage  was  clearly  on  the  side  of 
the  Americans. 

Skirmishes,  frequent  and  animated,  occurred  between  this 
and  the  7th  of  October,  when  a  general  battle  was  fought  at 
Saratoo-a.  At  this  time,  the  rioht  winu[  of  General  Gates  oc- 
cupied  the  brow  of  the  hill,  near  the  river,  his  camp  being  in 
the  form  of  the  segment  of  a  large  circle,  the  convex  side 
towards  the  enemy. 

General  Burgoyne's  left  was  on  the  river,  his  right  extend- 
ing at  right-angles  to  it,  across  the  low  grounds,  about  two 
hundred  yards,  to  a  range  of  steep  heights,  occupied  by  his 
choicest  troops.  The  guard  of  his  camp  upon  the  high 
grounds,  was  given  to  Brigadiers  Hamilton  and  Specht ;  that 
of  the  redoubts  and  plain,  near  the  river,  to  Brigadier  Gole. 
Burgoyne  commanded  in  person  the  centre,  composed  of 
1,500  men,  and  was  seconded  by  Philips,  Reidesel,  and  Fra- 
zer.  His  left  flank,  composed  of  grenadiers,  was  commanded 
by  Major  Ackland  ;  his  right,  consisting  of  infantry,  by  the 
earl  of  Balcarras. 

The  Americans,  under  General  Poor,  attacked  the  left  flank 
and  front  of  the  British ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  Colonel  Mor- 


SURRENDER  OF  BURGOYNE.  201 

gan  assailed  their  right.     The  action  became  general.     The  PART  III. 
efforts  of  the  coiiibatants  were  desperate.     Burgoyne,  aiid  his  period  IL 
officers,  fought  like  men  who  were  defending,  at  the  last  cast,     t-'HAi'.  v. 
their  military  reputation  ;  Gates  and  his  army,  like  those  who  ^-^^v^**-' 
were  deciding  whether  themselves  and  their  children  should      1777. 
be  freemen  or  slaves.     The  invading  army  gave  way,  in   the  '^ '^Ig'^^d '^  ^* 
short  space  of  fifty-two  minutes.     The  defenders  of  the  soil      fought, 
pursued  them  to  their  entrenchments,  forced  the  guard,  and  The  British 
killed  Colonel  Brcyman,  its  commander.      Arnold,  the  tiger  of      ^  ^^^^ 
the  American   army,    whose  track  was    marked  by  carnage, 
headed  a  small  band,  stormed  their  works,  and  followed  them 
inio  their  camp.     But  his  horse  was  killed   under  him  ;  he 
was  himself  wounded  ;  and  darkness  was  coming  on.     He  re- 
tired ;  and  thus  was  reserved  to  another  day,  the  utter  ruin  of 
the  British  army. 

The  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  great  on  both  sides, 
but  especially  on  the  part  of  the  British,  of  whom  a  considera- 
ble number  were  made  prisoners.     General  Frazer,  whose      Sued.^ 
character  was   as  elevated  as    his  rank,    received  a  mortal 
wound. 

The  Americans  had  now  an  opening  into  the  British  camp. 
They  rested  on  their  arms  the  night  after  the  battle,  upon  the  Burgoyne 
field  which  they  had  so  bravely  won  ;  determined  to  pursue  changes  his 
their  victory  with  returning  light.  But  Burgoyne,  aware  of  ^'^''  ^^^ 
the  adv^antage  which  they  had  gained,  effected,  with  admira- 
ble order,  a  change  of  his  ground.  The  artillery,  the  camp, 
and  its  appurtenances,  were  all  removed  before  morning,  to 
the  heights.  The  British  army,  in  this  position,  had  the  river 
in  its  rear,  and  its  two  wings  displayed  along  the  hills  upon 
its  right  bank.  Gates  was  too  wise  to  attack  his  enemy  in 
this  position,  and  expose  to  another  risk,  what  now  wanted 
nothing  but  vigilance  to  make  certain.  He  made  arrangements 
to  inclose  Y'-s  enemy,  which  Burgoyne  perceiving,  put  his 
army  in  motion  at  nine  o'clock  at  night,  and  removed  to  Sara- 
toga, six  miles  up  the  river.  He  was  obliged  to  abandon  his 
hospital,  with  three  hundred  sick  and  w^ounded,  to  the  hu- 
manity of  the  Americans. 

Burgoyne  now  made  efforts  in  various  directions,  to  effect  He  endeav- 
a  retreat ;   but   in  every  way  he  had  been  anticipated.     He  °''^^°''^|''6?*» 
found  himself  in  a  foreign  and  hostile  country,  hemmed  in  by  impossible. 
a  foe,  whose  army  constantly  increasing,  already  amounted  to 
four  times  his  own  wasting  numbers.       His  boats,  laden  with  Receives  nm 
his  supplies,  were  taken,  and  his  provisions  were  failing.     He     succors, 
had  early  communicated  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton  at  New  York, 
and  had  urged  his  co-operation.     More  recently,   when  his 
fortune  began  to  darken,  he  had  entreated  him  for  speedy  aid  ; 
stating,  that,  at  the  farthest,  his  army  could  not  hold  out  beyond 
the  12th  of  October.     The  12th  arrived,  wdthout  the  expected   ,P^^-  ^7- 
Buccor.     His  army  was  in  the  utmost  distress,  and  Burgoyne       lates. 
capitulated  on  the  17th. 


202 


THE    BRITISH    RAVAGE    THC    BANKS    OF    THE    HUDSON. 


Number  of 
the  whole 
army  sur- 
rendered, 
and  amount 
of  artillery. 

Conditions 
of  the  sur- 
render. 

Kind  treat- 
ment of 
prisoners. 

Garrison  of 

Ticonderoga 

retreat  to 

Canada. 


Oct.  6. 
Forts  Clin- 
ton and 
Montgomeiy 
Aken  by  the 
British. 

Oct.  15. 
Kingston 
burn&J. 


The  whole  number  surrendered  amounted  to  5,752  men, 

which,  together  with  the  troops  lost  before,  by  various  disas- 
ters, made  up  the  whole  British  loss  to  nine  thousard  two 
hundred  and  thirteen.  There  also  fell  into  the  hands  uf  -he 
Americans,  thirty-five  brass  field  pieces,  and  5,000  muskets. 
It  was  stipulated  that  the  British  should  pile  their  arms  at  tlie 
word  of  command,  given  by  their  own  officers,  march  out  of 
their  camp  with  the  honors  of  war,  and  have  free  passage 
across  the  Atlantic  ;  they,  on  their  part,  agreeing  not  to  serve 
again  in  North  America,  during  the  war.  'J'hey  v*'ere  treated 
with  delicacy  by  the  Americans.  Their  officers,  especially 
their  commander,  received  many  kind  attentions.  The  wor- 
thy General  Schuyler  hospitably  entertained  Burgoyne,  at  his 
own  house  ;  although  much  of  his  private  property,  especially 
an  elegant  villa,  had  been  destroyed  by  his  command. 

On  hearing  of  the  defeat  of  Burgoyne,  the  British  garrison 
at  Ticonderoga  returned  to  Canada,  and  not  a  foe  remained  in 
the  northern  section  of  the  Union.  Thus  ended  an  expedition 
from  which  the  British  had  hoped,  and  the  Americans  had 
feared  so  much. 

The  eftects  of  their  success  were  highly  propitious  to  the 
cause  of  the  republicans.  It  not  only  v/eakened  and  discour- 
aged the  enemy,  but  gave  them  a  supply  of  artillery  and  stores, 
and,  what  was  still  more  important,  raised  them  in  their  ov/n 
estimation,  and  in  that  of  foreign  nations. 

Connected  with  Burgoyne's  invasion,  was  the  predatory  ex- 
cursion up  the  North  River,  in  which  the  British  took  forts 
Clinton  and  Montgomery,  and  burned  the  village  of  Esopus, 
now  Kingston.  This  excursion,  commanded  by  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  who  was  accompanied  by  Tryon  and  Vaughan,  had 
the  double  object  of  opening  a  free  navigation  for  the  British 
vessels  up  the  river  to  Albany,  and  of  making  a  division  of 
the  Atnerican  forces,  which  were  now  concentrating  in  oppo- 
sition to  Burgoyne,  and  thus  giving  him  an  opportunity  to  es- 
cape. Had  Clinton  taken  this  step  earlier,  he  might  possibly 
have  efl^ected  the  latter  object.-  As  it  was,  Burgoyne  had  no- 
tice of  the  taking  of  the  forts,  and  the  advance  of  Clinton,  just 
after  he  had  made  a  verbal  agreement  to  sign  the  articles  of 
capitulation  ;  when  neither  his  honor,  nor  his  humanity,  would 
permit  him  longer  to  await  the  expected  succor. 

Clinton,  on  hearing  that  Burgoyne  had  surrendered,  and 
that  Gates  was  advancing  to  attack  him,  evacuated  and  dis- 
mantled the  forts  which  he  had  taken,  and  retreated  to  New 
York;  experiencing  no  other  permanent  result  of  his  expedi 
lion,  than  the  execrations  of  a  plundered  people,  and  the 
character  of  having  revived,  in  a  civilized  age,  barbariai. 
atrocities. 


PHILADEPHIA    MENACED    AND    DEFENDED. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Campaign  of  1777 — ContinuccL 

Having  now  given  a  connected  view  of  tlie  momentous  op- 
erations at  the  north,  wc  go  ba^-k  nearly  three  months,  in  the 
order  of  time,  to  take  a  brief  sketch  of  the  less  decisive  trans- 
actions in  the  middle  states. 

Admiral  and  General  Howe,  intent  on  the  capture  of  Phila-     1777. 
delphia,  left  Sandy  Hook  on  the  23d  of  July.     They  were  so  Howo  sails 
long  at  sea,  that  W^ashington  was  ready  to  conclude  that  they  aLj^Jfe^  and 
had  gone  to  Charleston.     At  length  they  were  heard  of,  as  lands  .it  Elk- 
sailing  up  Chesapeake  bay.     They  disembarked  their  troops,        '^°^- 
amounting  to  18,000,  on  the  25th  of  August,  at  the  head  of  the      .   ^ 
Elk  river,   fifty  miles  southwest  of  Philadelphia.     Washing-  Washington 
ton  crossed  the  Delaware  and  marched  to  oppose  them  ;  not-  marches  to 
withstanding  his  army,  never  equal  to  that  of  the  British,  was    ™^^      °* 
now  greatly  diminished  by  the  powerful  detachments  he  had 
sent  to  check  the  alarming  progress  of  Burgoyne. 

Accompanied  by  Generals  Greene,    Sullivan,  Wayne,  and 
Stirling,  he  approached  the  enemy,  until   he  reached  Gray's    The  mam 
Hill,  in  front  of  the  British  commander,    with  whom  were  armies  pre- 
Generals   Knyphausen  and  Cornwallis.     He  then  retreated  ^^"^^^Z 
across  the  Brandywine,  and  encamped  on  the  rising  grounds 
which  extend  from  Chad's  Ford,  in  a  direction  from  northwest 
to  southeast ;  and  here,  (the  shallow  stream  of  the  Brandy- 
wine  being  between  the  armies,)   he  awaited  an  attack  from 
the  British  ;  well  knowing  that  nothing  but  a  victory  could 
now  save  Philadelphia. 

Early  in  the  morning,  on  the  J  1th  of  September,  the  whole     Sept.  11. 
British  army,    drawn  up  in  two  divisions,   commenced    the  g^^j^*"^"^ 
expected  assault.     Agreeably  to  the  plan  of  Howe,   the  right 
wing,  commanded  by  Knyphausen,  made  a  feint  of  crossing 
the  Brandywine,at  Chad's  Ford;  while  the  left,  commanded  by 
Cornwallis,   took  a  circuitous  route  up  the   Brandywine,   and  gi-jtish  army 
crossed,  though  not  without  opposition,  at  the  forks.     Knyp-   in  two  di- 
hansen,  with  some  fiohtincr  and  much  noise,  had  occupied  the  visions, com 

■  ^1  •  ITT      1  •  ^  ■  1         /-I  manded  by 

attention  ol  the  Americans.     Washington,  hearing  that  Corn-  Comwallii) 
vvallis  was  approaching,   determined  to  press  forward  in  the    and  Knyp- 
centre  and  on  the  left ;  and  if  possible,  divide  the  army,  and      ^*"^®'^ 
cut  off  Knyphausen.     A  false  counter  intelligence  prevented 
his  executing  this  bold  design,  which  might  have  changed  the 
fate  of  the   day.     He  had  already  dispatched   some   of  his 
troops,  whom,  by  this  false  intelligence,  he  was  induced   to 
recall.     Thus  time  was  consumed,  and  Cornwallis   fell   upon 
the  Americans  while  they  were  in  som^  measure  unprepared 
to  receive  him.     They,  however,  defended  themselves  with 


204 


THE  BRITISH  FORCE  THEIR  WAY  TO  PHILADELPHIA. 


PART  III. 


Americans 

defeated, 

with  the  loss 

of  1,300. 

British  loss, 
near  500. 

La  Fayette 
wounded. 


Americans 
retreat  to 
Philadel- 
phia. 
British  pro- 
ceed to  Wil- 
mington. 

Washmgton 

again  seeks 

his  foe. 


Sept.  20. 

General 

Wayne   is 

•urprised  by 

the  British. 


Washingfon 

abandons  the 

capital  to 

protect  his 

stores. 


Cojigress  ad- 
journ to  Lan- 
caster. 


great  valor.     The  carnage  was  terrible.     The  Americans,  at 
length,  were  forced  to  give  way. 

Washington  ordered  to  their  aid,  the  reserve  commanded 
by  Greene  ;  but  it  was  too  late,  and  the  most  it  could  perform, 
was  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  fugitives.  Knyphausen  now 
began  in  earnest  to  effect  his  passage  at  Chad's  Ford.  The 
Americans  withstood  bravely  ;  but  finding  the  remainder  oi 
the  army  vanquished,  they  fled  in  confusion,  and  abandoned 
to  the  enemy  their  artillery  and  ammunition.  These  found 
also  a  shelter  within  the  lines  of  Greene,  who  was  the  last 
to  quit  the  field. 

The  Americans  lost  300  killed,  600  wounded,  and  400  taken 
prisoners.  The  British  loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  less 
than  500.  This  battle  was  distinguished  by  the  exertions  of 
foreign  officers.  The  heroic  La  Fayette,  while  endeavoring 
to  rally  the  fugitives,  was  wounded  in  the  leg.  7\nother 
French  officer  of  distinction,  the  Baron  St.  Ovary,  was  made 
prisoner  ;  and  Count  Pulaski,  a  celebrated  Polander,  displayed 
a  couraoje  which  confess  afterwards  rewarded  with  the  rank 
of  brioadier  creneral. 

On  the  night  succeeding  the  battle,  the  Americans  retreated 
to  Chester,  and  the  next  day  to  Philadelphia.  The  following 
day,  a  detachment  of  British  troops  proceeded  to  Wilmington, 
and  took  prisoner  the  governor  of  Delaware.  They  seized 
considerable  property,  public  and  private  ;  among  which,  was 
a  quantity  of  coined  money. 

Washington  had  engaged  his  foe  wdth  inferior  numbers, 
counting  on  the  possibility  of  defeat,  and  believing  that,  even 
at  that  hazard,  it  was  necessary,  on  account  of  public  opinion, 
to  fight.  He  was  not,  therefore,  disheartened  by  his  defeat, 
but  determined  to  risk  another  battle  for  the  defense  of  the 
capital.  He  accordingly  repassed  the  Schuylkill,  to  meet 
the  enemy  at  Goshen ;  but  a  violent  shower  of  rain  wet  the 
powder  in  the  ill-constructed  cartridge  boxes  of  the  Americans, 
and  compelled  the  commander  to  defer  the  engagement.  The 
republicans  were  unfortunate  in  another  attempt  to  annoy  the 
enemy.  Washington  had  ordered  Wayne,  with  a  detachment 
of  1,500  men,  into  the  rear  of  the  British.  This  detachment 
was  surprised;  and  a  night  scene  of  shocking  slaughter  en- 
sued, in  which  300  of  the  Americans  were  cut  off. 

Howe  now  made  a  movement,  which  placed  Washington 
in  a  situation  where  he  could  not  interpose  his  army  betweei'. 
the  enemy  and  the  capital,  without  exposing  to  destruction 
the  extensive  magazine  of  provisions  and  military  stores, 
which  had  been  established  at  Reading.  Notwithstanding 
the  clamors  of  the  populace,  he  prudently  abandoned  the  city; 
rather  than  sacrifice  the  stores,  or  risk  another  battle,  while 
the  odds  were  so  much  against  him. 

Congress,  finding  themselves  insecure  in  Philadelphia,  ad- 
journed to  Lancaster,  to  which  place  the  public  archives  and 


BATTLE    OF    GERMANTOWN.  205 

magazines  were  removed.  They  again  invested  Washington  PART  III. 
with  the  same  dictatorial  powers  which  were  intrusted  to  him  I'eiuod  il 
after  the  reverses  in  New  Jersey.  chap.  vi. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  Sir  WiUiam  Howe  crossed  the       "  ~ 

Schuylkill,  and  proceeded  to  Germantown.        __  .__,  ,  „ 

detachment  of  the  British  army,  under  Cornwallis,  entered  the  Th?l3riiish 
American  capital,   while  the  main  body  rested  at  German-  enter  PMla. 
town.     The  American  army,  consisting  of  eleven  thousand     ^lelpl-iia.. 
men,  were  conducted  by  Washington  along  the  left  bank  of 
the  Schuylkill,  and  lay  encamped  eleven  miles  from  German- 
town,  at  Schippack  creek. 

Lord  Howe  had  now  consummated  an  event  to  which  he 
had  looked  as  decisive  of  the  contest.     But  far  from  being  The  Amsn- 
subdued,  the  Americans,  encouraged  by  the  capture  of  Bur-  ^ans  endeav 
goyne,  were  not  even   disheartened.     They  knew  that  the  British'^sup 
army  of  Washington,  when  it  should  have  received  its  rein-  plies  by  sea. 
forcements,  could  cut  off  the  enemy's  supplies  on  the  side  of 
Pennsylvania.     If,  therefore,  they  could  prevent  their  receiv- 
ing them  by  water,  they  would  soon  be  compelled  to  evacuate 
the  city.     For  tliis  object,  they  had  created  batteries  on  Mud 
Island,  and  also  at  Red  Bank  and    Billingsport,  on  the  Jer- 
sey shore ;    along  which  places   they  had   sunk  ranges   of 
frames,  to  impede  the  na-vigation  of  the  river.     The  British, 
sensible  of  the  importance  of  a  free  communication  with  the 
sea,  by  means  of  the  Delaware,  sent  Colonel  Stirling,  with  a 
detachment,  to  attack  Billingsport,  and  clear  away  the  ob- 
structions which  the  Americans  had  placed  in  the  river ;  in 
which  enterprise,  he  was  ultimately  successful. 

The   xVmerican    commander,    knowing   that   the    army  of 
Howe  was  weakened  by  the  detachments  under  Cornwallis 
and   Stirling,  determined,  if  possible,  to  surprise  him.      He 
accordingly  left  his  camp  at  Schippack  creek,  at  seven  in  the      q^^.  ^ 
evening,  and  at  dawn  succeeded  in  giving  the  British  a  com-  Washington 
plete  surprise.     They  at  first  retreated  in  disorder.     Several     surprises 
companies    having   thrown  themselves  into   a  stone    house,     German- 
annoyed  the  Americans.     A  part  of  the  Pennsylvania  militia       town. 
did  not  perform  the  duty  assigned  them.     A  thick  fog  came 
on,  and  unable  to  distinguish  friend  from  foe,  confusion  arose  in 
the  American  ranks.     The  British,  thus  enabled  to  recover 
fiom  the   first  attack,  aroused  to   fresh  exertions;   and  the  ^^^^^  P^^' 
Americans    were    defeated.     Their   loss    was    two   hundred     cess,  but 
killed  ;  (among  whom  Avas  General  Nash,  of  North  Carolina;)  meets  a  de- 
six   hundred   wounded,   and    four   hundred  taken  prisoners.  idsson"2(X) 
The  British  loss  was  five  hundred. 

The  American  armv,  with  all  its  artillery,  now  retreated 
twenty  miles,  to  PerMomen  creek;  and  froni  thence,  having 
received  a  reinforcement  of  five  hundred  militia,  Washington  Washington 
advanced  to  his  old  camp,  at  Schippack  creek.     Although    gpS'^^jg^^ 
tile  army  had  not  effected  what  its  commander  had  hoped,       CreeL  ' 


206 


BRITISH    OPEN    THE    NAVIGATION    OF    THE    DELAWARE 


PART  111. 
PERIOD  II. 
CHAP,    VI. 


1777. 

Howe  in 
Philadel- 
phia, 
ttraightened 
^(K  supplies 


tct.  22. 

Attack  on 
Red  Bank. 


Nov.  16. 
Attack  on 
Mud  Island. 


The  Britia  r. 
at  length 
open  the 

navigation, 
and  their 
fleet  come 

up  the  Dela 
ware. 


yet  SO  much  skill  and  bravery  had  been  disflayed,  that  its 
reputation  was  enhanced. 

Congress  voted  their  thanks  to  the  commander,  and  to  his 
officers  and  soldiers,  except  General  SteA'ens,  who  was 
cashiered  for  misconduct  on  the  retreat. 

A  few  days  after  the  battle,  the  royal  army  removed  from 
Germantown  to  Philadelphia.  Scarcity  of  provisions  pre* 
vented  Howe  from  following  the  x\mericans,  and  he  wished 
to  co-operate  in  the  design  of  opening  the  navigation  of  the 
Delaware.  Indeed,  this  measure  became  necessary  to  the 
preservation  of  his  army,  which  could  not  draw  subsistence 
from  the  adjacent  country;  so  elTectually  did  the  menacing 
attitude  of  Washington's  army  operate,  and  also  the  edict  of 
congress,  which  pronounced  the  penalty  of  death  upon  any 
citizen  who  should  dare  to  aflbrd  him  supplies.  Thus 
situated,  the  British  general  found,  as  Dr.  Franklin  wittily 
remarked,  that,  "  instead  of  taking  Philadelphia,  Philadelphia 
had  taken  him." 

To  succeed  in  opening  a  communication  with  their  fleet, 
which  had  sailed  from  the  Chesapeake  to  the  Delaware,  it 
was  necessary  that  the  British  should  possess  themselves  of 
Mud  Island,  which  was  defended  by  Fort  Mifflin,  and  Fort 
Mercer,  on  Red  Bank.  Accordingly,  a  body  of  Hessians, 
under  Colonel  Donop,  marched  down  the  Jersey  shore,  and 
attacked  Fort  xMercer  with  great  impetuosity.  It  was  defended 
by  400  men,  under  Colonel  Greene.  The  Americans  with- 
drew Avithin  the  fort,  and  made  there  a  vigorous  defense. 
The  Hessian  commander  was  mortally  w^ounded,  and  his 
troops  were  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  500  men. 

Their  next  attack  was  made  upon  Mud  Island,  by  their 
shipping.  This  proved,  at  first,  no  more  successful ;  and  the 
British  lost  two  warlike  vessels  in  the  attempt.  The  Ameri- 
cans were,  however,  at  length  dislodged  by  an  attack  from  a 
battery  which  the  British  had  found  means  to  erect  on  Pro- 
vince Island,  a  little  above  Mud  Island,  which  commanded 
Fort  Mifflin.  Their  post  thus  becoming  untenable,  they  with- 
drew in  the  night  to  Fort  Mercer. 

To  attack  this  fort,  the  British  commander  dispatched 
Cornwallis  with  a  strong  detachment.  In  obedience  to  his 
orders,  that  general  crossed  the  Schuylkill,  followed  down 
the  Delaware  to  Chester,  below  the  fort,  then  crossing  to 
Billing's  Point,  and  receiving  a  reinforcement  from  New 
York,  he  thence  ascended  the  river  to  attack  it  in  the  rear. 
The  Americans,  apprist-d  of  his  approach,  evacuated  the  fort. 
The  American  shipping,  deprived  of  protection,  was  now  in 
great  danger.  Some  vessels,  under  cover  of  night,  passed  the 
battery  of  Philadelphia,  and  sought  safety  further  up  the  river ; 
but  seventeen  were  abandoned,  and  burned  by  their  crews 
Lord  Howe  had  now  opened  the  navigation  of  the  Delaware 
so  that  he  could  communicate  with  his  brother,  the  admiral 


J'ATIENT    SUFFERING    OF    THE    AMERICAN    ARMY.  207 

In  the  ineamvhile,  tlie  victorious  troops  of  the  north  had   PART  IIL 
leinlorced  the  main  army  of  the  republicans,  and  Washington   period  ii. 
advanced   within   fourteen   miles   of  l^hiladelphia,  to    White    "^"-^p-  ^^^ 
Marsh,   his   army  consisting  of  12,000   regulars  and   3,000  '-^^v-^^ 
militia.     Howe  marched  his  army  within  three  miles  of  his     ITYT. 
lines,  and  manceuvred,  to  draw  him  from  his  entrenchments  ;  "^=11^^''"!.'^^" 
but  Washington,  though  he  did  not  shun  the  battle,  chose  to  British  arnij 
receive  it  within  his  entrenchments.     Howe,  finding  him  too  s^  imo  win 
cautious  to  be  drawn  out  of  his  camp,  and  too  strong  to  be  ^'i'^phiiaSS 
attacked  in  it,  withdrew  his  army,  and  retired  to  winter-quar-       phia 
lers  at  Philadelphia. 

Washington,  on  the  11th  of  December,  left  White  Marsh,      Dec.  11. 
and  retired  to  Valley  Forge,  on  the  Schuylkill,  twenty  miles  Waslungtoo 
above  Philadelphia      Here,  in  a  wood  on  a  high  ground,  he  wimer-quar- 
laid  out  his  camp,  and  employed  his  army  in  building  huts  for  tcrs  ut  Val- 
winter-quarters.     This  work  was  not  completed,  when  the     ^^    °'^^®' 
magazines  were  found  to  contain  scarcely  a  single  day's  pro- 
vision.    As  to  their  clothing,  some  few  of  the  soldiers  had  one 
shirt,  some  the  remnant  of  one,  the  greater  part  none  at  all. 
Barefooted,  on  the  frozen  ground,  their  feet  cut  by  ice,  they 
lelt  their  tracks  in  blood.     A  few  only  had  the  luxury  of  a 
blanket  at  night.     More  than  3,000  were  excused  from  duty,  ^jst^ggs  ol 
on  account  of  cold  and  nakedness.     Straw  could  not  be  ob-  the  Ameri 
tained  ;  and  the  soldiers,  who,  during  the  day,  were  benumbed  ^^^^  ^'■™y 
with  cold,  and  enfeebled  by  hunger,  had  at  night  no  other  bed 
than  the  humid  ground.     Diseases  attacked  them ;  and  the 
hospitals  were  replenished  as  rapidly  as  the  dead  were  car- 
ried out.     The  unsuitableness  of  the  buildings,  and  the  multi- 
tude of  sick  thaf  crowded  them,  caused  an  insupportable  fetor. 
Hospital  fever  ersued.     It  could  not  be  remedied  by  change 
of  linen,  for  none  could  be  had  ;  nor  by  salubrious  diet,  as 
even  the  coarsest  was  not  attainable  ;  nor  by  medicines,  as 
even  the  worst  were  wholly  Avanting.     The  hospitals  resem- 
bled more,  receptacles  for  the  dying,  than  places  of  refuge  for 
the  diseased. 

The  patience  with  which  these  patriotic  votaries  of  freedom 
endured  such  complicated  evils,  is,  we  believe,  without  a  Patient  sut- 
parallel  in  history.     To  go  to  battle,  cheered  by  the  trumpet  ^/^"el  1°^^ 
and  the  drum,  with  victory  or  the  speedy  bed  of  honor  before  heroic  than 
the  soldier,  requires  a  heroic  eflbrt ;  much  more  to  starve,  to  ^^^^'^g^^^*^^ 
freeze,  and  to  lie  down  and  die,  in  silent  obscurity.     Sparta 
inew  the  names  of  the  individuals  who  fell  in  her  cause  at 
the  pass  of  Thermopylae ;  but  America  scarcely  knows  how 
many   hundreds,  perished   for   her    in   the   camp    at    Valley 
Forge, 


208 


THE    CABAL    AGAINST    WASHINGTON. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Campaign  of  1778. 


l^ARTJTI 
PERIOD  11 

CHAP.     VII. 


Causes  of 
the  distress 
of  the  army, 


Many  offi- 
cers dis 
heartened, 
resim. 


Intrigues 

against 

Washington. 


Generals 
Gates,   M  (T- 
lin,  and  Con- 
way, the 
chief  in- 
triguers. 


Expedition 

planned 

■gainst  Can 

ada. 


The  melancholy  state  to  which  the  army  was  reduced,  waa 
owing  to  several  causes.  The  bills  of  credit  had  diminished 
to  one-fourth  their  nominal  value.  A  scarcity  of  linen  cloth 
and  leather  prevailing  throughout  the  country,  the  commissa- 
ries had  contracted  for  supplies  at  ten  per  cent,  above  the 
current  price.  This  proceeding,  congress  refused  to  sanc- 
tion ;  but  required  that  supplies  should  be  furnished,  and  the 
bills  received  as  specie.  The  consequence  was,  that  these 
articles  could  not  be  procured. 

This  depreciation  of  paper  money,  and  advanced  price  of 
all  articles  of  consumption,  produced  yet  another  evil.  The 
officers,  far  from  being  able  to  live  as  became  their  rank,  had 
not  even  the  means  of  providing  for  their  subsistence  ;  and 
m.any  had  already  expended  their  private  fortunes,  to  maintain 
a  respectable  appearance.  Those,  who  now  handed  in  their 
resignations, were  not  the  most  worthless,  but  the  bravest,  most 
distinguished,  and  most  spirited;  who,  disdaining  the  degraded 
situation  in  which  they  were  placed,  left  the  army  to  escape  it. 

This  example  of  defection,  set  by  his  beloved  officers,  more 
than  any  of  the  other  disasters  of  the  army,  wounded  the  pa- 
rental heart  of  Washington.  In  the  midst  of  these  anxieties, 
that  great  man  was  called  to  suffer  from  those  common  foes 
of  distinguished  merit — envy  and  calunmy.  Intrigues  were 
set  in  motion  against  him,  the  object  of  which  was  to  give 
him  so  many  occasions  of  disgust,  that  he  should  of  himself 
retire  from  the  head  of  the  army;  and  thus  make  room  for  the 
promotion  of  Gates,  whose  success  in  the  affair  of  Burgoyne 
had  raised  his  reputation  to  the  highest  pitch. 

Among  the  leaders  of  this  cabal  was  General  Conway,  a 
wily  and  restless  intriguer.  He  besieged  all  the  members  of 
congress  with  insinuations  that  there  was  no  order  in  the 
American  camp  ;  and  that  body,  at  length,  appointed  him  in- 
spector-general. Pennsylvania  addressed  a  remonstrance  to 
congress,  censuring  the  measures  of  the  commander-in-chief. 
The  same  was  done  by  the  members  from  Massachusetts, 
among  whom  M-^as  Samuel  Adams.  They  were  not  pleased 
that  the  whole  command  devolved  on  a  Virginian,  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  their  generals,  who  were,  in  their  opinion,  equal,  if 
not  superior,  to  Washington,  A  board  of  war  was  created, 
under  Gates  and  MifHin,  who  were  prime  movers  of  the  com- 
bination. With  the  advice  of  this  board,  congress  planned  an 
expedition  against  Canada.  Washington  was  not  consulted, 
but  he  was  ordered  to  detach  La  Fayette,  with  certain  regi- 


NEITHER  PARTY  READY  FOR  AN  EARLY  CAMPAIGN.  2(W 

ments,  to  perform  the  service.     That  officer  was  indignant  at  PART  IIL 

the  neglect  and  injustice  on  this  occasion  manifested  towards  period  ii. 

his  revered  commander,  and  would  have  declined  the  service,  chap.  vn. 

which  he  was  aware  was  given  him  as  a  lure  to  draw  him  ^--•'~v^'^-> 
into  the  cabal.     But  Washington  advised  him  to  accept  the 
command,  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  forward  the  expedition. 
What  he  did,  was  all  that  was  done.     La  Fayette  was  recalled 

from  Albany,  and  the  expedition  was  abandoned.  177e 

It  is  impossible  to  express,  with  what  indignation  the  whole  public  indiir. 

army  and  the  best  citizens  were  filled,  on  hearing  the  machi-  nation 

nations,  that   were  aoitated   aorainst  their  honored  chief.     A  ^S'^"'?'^  ^^® 

'  '='      .  ,^      .        .  ^  enemies  of 

universal  cry  arose  against  the  intriguers.     Conway,  super-  Washington. 

seded  by  Baron  Steuben,  a  Pruasian  officer,  dared  not  show 

himself  among  the  exasperated  soldiers;  and  Samuel  Adams 

deemed  it  prudent  to  keep  aloof  from  the  army.     Congress, 

thus  made  to  see  how  deeply  rooted  the  commander  was  in 

the  afll'ections  of  the  army  and  people,  and  knowing  also  that 

he  ranked  high  at  foreign  courts,  became  at  length  sensible 

of  their  error,  and  restored  to  Washington  a  confidence  which 

he  had  so  hardly  earned,  and  to  which  he  wag  so  justly 

entitled. 

Conway  w^as  wounded  in  a  duel,  and  believing  himself  at 
the  point  of  death,  he  became  penitent,  and  wrote  to  Wash- 
ington, confessing  his  wrong  and  declaring  his  contrition. 

Washington  never  once  turned  aside  from  his  high  career  of 
suffering  virtue,  to  notice  his  personal  enemies.     He  had  been 
indefatigable  in  urging  congress  to  stop  the  defection  of  the 
officers,  by  securing  to  them  some  reward  for  their  services. 
In  accordance  with  his  advice,  a  law  was  passed,  allowing    Congress 
them  half  pay  for  seven  years  after  the   close  of  the  war.  aiiowino- ^the 
He  also  urged  congress,  and  the  different  state  governments,  officers  half 
to  make  early  preparations  for  the  ensuing  campaign,  that  it  ^    years"^^** 
might  be  commenced  at  the  opening  of  the  spring,  before  the 
British  reinforcements   could   arrive.     But  decisions  are  of 
necessity  tardily  made  in  popular  .governments  ;  lience,  what 
ought  to  have  been  ready  in  the  beginning  of  the  spring,  was 
but  scantily  provided  during  the  summer. 

These  delays  might  have  been  fatal  to  the  army,  had  the    Predatory 
British  been  in  a  condition  to  take  the  field  early  in  the  sea-  ^j^^^^^j?"^ 
son.     As  it  was,  they  contented  themselves  with  sending  out        ish. 
their  light  troops  to  scour  the  country  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Philadelphia.     In  March,  a  party  of  these  troops   massacred, 
in  cool  blood,  while  crying  for  quarter,  the  soldiers  who  were 
stationed  at  the  bridges  of  Quinton  and  Hancock.     Near  the 
same  time,   another  party  undertook  an   expedition  up  the 
Delaware.     They  destroyed  the  magazines  at  Bordentown, 
and  the  vessels  which  the  Americans  had  drawn  up  the  river, 
between  Philadelphia  and  Trenton. 

In  May,  2,000  men,  under  La  Fayette,  were  posted  at 
Baron  Hill,  about  eight  or  ten  miles  in  front  of  the  army,  at 


May 


210  BURGOYNE's    capture    affects    EUROPEAN    POLITICS. 

PART  III.  Valley  Forge,  to  form  an  advanced  guard,  and  be  in  readiness 
to  annoy  the  British  rear,  in  case  they  attempted  to  retreat  to 
New  York.  The  whole  British  army  came  out  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  a  detachment  of  5,000  men,  under  General  Grant, 
was  sent  to  surprise  and  destroy  the  force  under  La  Fayette. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  engagement,  Grant  obtained  some 
advantage  ;  but  at  length  La  Fayette,  by  skill  and  activity, 
baffled  his  enemy,  and  withdrew  his  detachment  to  the  main 

Success  of       The  Americans  were  no  where  more  successful  than  in  the 

American    depredations  which  their  swift-sailing  privateers  made  upon 

privateers.   ^|^^  British  commerce.     With  these  they  infested  every  sea, 

even  those  about  the  British  islands ;   and  often  performed 

deeds  of  almost  incredible  boldness.     Since  1776,  they  had 

already  captured  500  of  the  British  vessels. 

Early  in  the  season.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  arrived  in  Philadel- 
phia, to  supersede  Sir  William  Howe  in  the  command  of  the 
British  forces ;  that  general  having  resigned  his  commission 
and  returned  to  England. 

The  news  of  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  caused  a  deep  sen- 
sation throughout  Europe,  and  effected  the  politics  of  several 
of  its  cabinets. 

The  English  people  were  astonished  and  afflicted ;  their 
En4and  is  sanguine  calculations  were  defeated  ;  their  boastful  predic- 
perplexed  by  tions  had  failed  ;  and  mortified  and  perplexed,  they  knew  not 
the  capture  ^yhat  course  to  pursue.      The  generals  and  soldiers  who  had 

of  Burgoyne.  ^        i      .       ,  .^  -n-  i         t-^      i       i 

fought  in  America,  were  not  inferior  to  any  that  England  or 
Europe  could  produce.  These  the  Americans  had  vanquish- 
ed. Of  what,  then,  might  they  not  be  capable  in  future,  when 
they  should  have  derived  new  confidence  from  successes,  and 
consolidated  their  state  by  practice  and  experience.  The  gar- 
risons of  Canada  were  v/eak,  and  the  Americans  might  turn 
their  victorious  army  against  them.  The  Canadians,  follow- 
ing the  example  of  the  Americans,  might  also  revolt  from 
Britain.  Enlistments,  both  in  America  and  England,  became 
daily  more  difficult,  and  the  Germans  would  only  furnish  troops 
to  fulfil  the  engagement  already  made  ;  and  for  the  few  re- 
cruits which  they  could  raise,  several  of  the  German  princes 
refused  a  passage  through  their  dominions.  France,  they  be- 
lieved, would  soon  openly  avow  herself  the  friend  of  Ameri- 
ca ;  and  thus  her  ancient  and  inveterate  foe  be  joined  in  the 
contest  with  her  alienated  colonies. 
Policy  of  France,  jealous  of  her  rival,  viewed  the  discontents  in  Amer- 
France  in  ica  with  pleasure.  She  did  not  at  first  espouse  the  quarrel, 
*AmTr!ca.^°  knowing  that  at  the  moment  she  should  declare  herself,  the 
British  ministry,  by  acquiescing  in  the  concessions  demanded 
by  the  Americans,  might  instantly  disarm  them ;  and  France 
would  then  find  herself  alone,  burdened  with  a  war  without 
motive  or  object.  The  declaration  of  independence  removed 
this  objection  ;  yet,  though  France  would  rather  see  America 


AN    ALLIANCE    FORMED    WITH    FRANCE. 


211 


independent,  than  reconciled  with  her  parent  state,  she  relish- 
ed better  than  either,  a  long  war  between  them,  which  should 
waste  both  England  and  her  colonies.  This  being  her  policy, 
she  amused  the  British  ministers  with  protestations  of  friend- 
ship ;  encouraged  the  Americans  with  secret,  but  scanty  and 
uncertain  succors ;  and  excited  their  hopes  by  promises  of 
future  co-operation.  These  promises,  however,  as  they  were 
vague  and  unofficial  might  at  any  time  have  been  disowned 
by  the  government. 

Wearied  out  and  disgusted,  the  agents  of  congress  at  the 
court  of  Versailles,  urged  the  cabinet  to  come  to  a  final  decis- 
ion ;  but  they  avoided  it,  alleging  a  variety  of  excuses.  Un- 
able to  accomplish  their  views  with  France,  and  discovering 
no  other  prospect  of  success,  the  negotiators  proposed  to  Eng- 
land the  recognition  of  their  independence.  This  point  con- 
ceded, they  would  have  yielded  in  all  others,  to  such  condi- 
tions as  should  tend  to  save  the  honor  of  the  mother  country ; 
but  this  proposition  was  rejected. 

The  capture  of  Burs;oyne  changed  the  face  of  affairs,  and 
gave  new  ardor  to  tliese  patriots,  who  aroused  the  jeal- 
ousy of  the  French  cabinet,  by  their  disposition  to  form  an 
alliance  with  England.  The  French  ministers  now  declared 
themselves  openly,  and  they  w^ere  warmly  seconded  by  every 
class  of  French  citizens.  On  the  6th  of  February,  a  treaty 
was  formed,  and  France  acknowledged  the  independence  of 
America.  In  this  treaty  it  was  declared,  that  "if  war  should 
break  out  between  France  and  England  during  the  existence 
of  that  with  the  United  States,  it  should  be  made  a  common 
cause  ;  and  that  neither  of  the  contracting  parties  should  con- 
clude either  truce  or  peace  with  Great  Britain,  without  the 
formal  consent  of  the  other  ;  and  they  mutually  engaged  not 
to  lay  down  their  arms  until  the  independence  of  the  United 
States  should  have  been  formally  or  tacitly  assured,  by  the 
treaty  or  treaties,  which  should  terminate  the  war."  The 
treaty  was  signed,  on  behalf  of  France,  by  M.  Gerard  ;  and 
on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  by  Benjamin  Franklin,  Silas 
Deane,  and  Arthur  Lee. 

On  the  20th  of  March,  the  American  commissioners  were 
received  at  the  court  of  France,  as  the  representatives  of  a 
sister  nation ;  an  event,  which  was  considered  in  Europe  as 
the  most  important  which  had  occurred  in  the  annals  of  Amer- 
ica, since  its  discovery  by  Columbus. 

The  British  parliament  foresav/  the  probable  alliance  d 
France  with  America,  and  a  proposal  was  brought  forward  by 
the  ministers,  to  send  over  commissioners,  empowered  to  grant 
all  that  its  colonies  had  asked  before  the  war,  on  condition  of 
fheir  returning  to  their  former  allegiance.  This  measure  was 
warmly  opposed,  and  its  ill  success  foretold.  It  is,  said  its  op- 
posers,  either  too  Uttle  or  too  much ;  too  little,  if  we  wish  to 
make  peace  in  earnest;  too  much,  if  we  expect  to   continue 


1778. 

Course   of 

Dr.  Franklin 

and  the 

American 
negotiators 


Feb.  6. 

Treaty  with 

France. 

Its  stipula- 
tions. 


March  20 
American 
agents  re- 
ceived at 
court. 


January. 
Project  ot 
reconcilia- 
tion in  Eng 
land 


212 


THREE    COMMISSIONERS    SENT    FROM    ENGLAND. 


PART  III. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.    VII. 


1778. 

Parliament 
sends  three 
commission- 
ers to  Ameri- 
ca. 


England  and 
France  pre- 
pare for  na- 
val warfare. 


May  2. 
French  trea- 
ty arrives. 


June  9. 
Arrival   of 
the  British 
commission- 
ers. 


Their  in- 
trigues. 


Johnstone 
•ttempts  bri- 
bery. 


Dignified 

reply  of 

Reed. 


the  war.  If  the  Americans  refused  any  other  conditions,  than 
independence,  when  they  were  single-handed  and  depressed 
by  misfortunes,  surely  all  others  will  now  be  rejected.  Why 
not  at  once  concede  that  independence  which  America  has 
already  acquired,  and  is  able  to  maintain.  She  will  then 
doubtless  prefer  our  alliance  to  that  of  France  ;  and  in  our 
coming  contest  with  that  wily  nation,  we  shall  have  her  as- 
sistance instead  of  her  hostility.  Such  in  substance  was  the 
language  of  the  opposition  ;  but  the  counsels  of  the  ministry 
prevailed.  The  earl  of  Carlisle,  Governor  Johnstone,  and 
William  Eden  were  appointed  commissioners.  The  ministry, 
as  the  result  sufficiently  proves,  had  other  than  the  ostensible 
objects  in  view,  in  sending  these  men  to  America.  They 
were  to  make  an  attempt  to  bribe,  corrupt,  and  divide  the 
people. 

When  the  news  of  the  French  treaty  reached  the  island, 
the  British,  highly  exasperated  against  the  French,  immedi- 
ately prepared  to  attack  them  at  sea.  To  their  astonishment 
it  was  found  that  France,  by  great  exertions  to  increase  her 
navy,  and  improve  her  seamen,  was  now  fully  able  to  cope 
with  her  rival  on  that  element. 

On  the  second  of  May,  arrived  the  long  expected  treaty 
with  France.  It  was  brought  over  by  the  French  frigate  Le 
Sensible,  which  also  brought  over  Silas  Deane,  who  had  been 
recalled,  and  M.  Gerard,  who  had  been  appointed  minister  to 
the  United  States. 

Carlisle,  Eden,  and  Johnstone  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on 
the  9th  of  June,  a  few  days  before  the  British  troops  evacua- 
ted the  city.  The  concessions  offered,  were,  as  was  predic- 
ted, too  late  ;  and  congress  refused  to  negotiate  on  any  other 
terms,  than  the  recognition  of  their  independence,  and  the  re- 
moval of  all  the  British  forces.  The  commissioners  next 
resorted  to  the  expedient  of  disseminating  in  the  country  a 
multitude  of  writings,  in  which  they  censured  congress  as  re- 
quiring what  was  unjust,  and  injurious  to  America.  They 
represented  the  alliance  with  France,  as  associated  with  mean- 
ness ;  while  they  extolled  the  generosity  and  magnanimity  of 
England. 

Johnstone  had  formerly  resided  in  the  colonies  ;  and  after- 
wards, as  a  member  of  parliament,  he  had  espoused  the  Amer- 
ican cause.  Availing  himself  of  the  influence  which  these 
circumstances  had  given  him,  he  approached  many  influential 
republicans ;  and  while  he  flattered  them  for  their  abilities 
and  conduct,  he  adroitly  insinuated  that,  if  the  royal  authority 
could  again  be  establislied,  their  merits  would  be  rewarded 
by  wealth,  titles,  and  honors.  In  some  cases  attempts  at  di- 
rect bribery  were  discovered  : — a  lady  was  employed  by 
Johnstone,  to  oflTer  to  General  Reed,  if  he  would  aid  the  roy- 
al cause,  ten  thousand  pounds  sterling,  and  any  office  in  the 
col'^nies   within  the   king's    gift.      "  I   am  not,"  said  Reed 


UKITISII    EVACUATE    PHILADELPHIA  213 

'*  worth  purchasing ;  but,  such  as  I  am,  the  king  of  England   PART  III 
is  not  rich  enough  to  buy  me." 

In  some  instances,  Johnstone  had  the  indiscretion  to  write. 
The  indignant  patriots  brought  forward  his  letters,  which  con- 
tained the  evidence  of  his  base  intrigues,  and  laid  them  before      ITTft 
congress.     That  body  indignantly  forbade  all  farther  commu     ^""ofcss 
nication  with  the  commissioners.     The  popular  writers  of  the  ^her  comriu 
times,  among  whom  were  Drayton,  of  South   Carolina,  and    nicationa. 
Thomas  Paine,  met,  and  confuted  their  insinuations.     Public 
opinion  overwhchued  them  with  opprobrium  ;  and  this  abortive 
attempt,  Hke  former  simihir  ones,  served  only  to  show  to  the 
British  ministry,  the  stability  of  that  union  which  they  thus 
vainlv  endeavored  to  shake. 


CHAPTER  VIll. 

Campaign  of  1778, — continued. 


About  the  5th  of  June,  the  British  took  measures  to  evacu-     June  18. 
ate  Philadelphia.      This  they  accomplished  on  the  morning  ^evacuatT^ 
of    the    18th,    their    army  proceeding  through  New  Jersey     Philade.- 
towards  New  York.  P^'^ 

Washington  immediately  put  his  camp,  at  Valley  Forge,  in 
motion,  and  sent  out  a  detachment  to  collect  the  New  Jersey 
militia,  in  order  to  harass  their  rear.  He  thought  it  would  be 
wise  to  bring  the  British  to  a  general  engagement ;  but  this 
opinion  was  contrary  to  that  of  the  majority  of  his  officers. 
He,  however,  persisted,  and,  following  with  his  whole  army,  u^"fi^^ 
an  engagement  was  brought  about  at  Monmouth,  or  Freehold,  Monmoutk 
on  the  28th,  in  which  the  Americans  had  the  advantage.  The 
loss  of  the  English  was  700,  that  of  the  Americans,  much 
less.  Though  both  sides  claimed  the  victory,  yet  historians 
agree  in  awarding  it  to  the  republicans,  as  they  remained 
masters  of  the  field  of  battle. 

General  Lee,  by  own  request,  had  in  the  commencement 
of  the  action,  been  associated   with  General  La  Fayette,  in 
the  command  of  the  van.     After  he  had  attacked  the  British, 
he  thought  the  ground  in  his  rear  more  favorable  to  the  forma-     GeneraJ 
tion  of  his  lines  ;  and  he  made,  in  some  haste,  a  retrograde    Lee's  cob- 
motion.      Washington  met  the  retreating  troops  ;  and  finding       '^^^^ 
that  Les  was  abandoning  a  ground  which  he  had  commanded 
him  to  take,  and  endangering  the  army  by  an  appearance  of 
flight,  he   inquired  with  sternness,  what  he  meant ;  and   gave 
orders  himself  for  forming  the  battalion.     Lee,  during  the  re- 
mainder of  this  hard  fought  battle,  displayed  such  courage  His  tnal  izmj 
and  military  conduct,  that,  had  he  not  thought  proper  after-  suspeusion. 
16 


214 


ARRIVAL    OF    A    FRENCH    FLEET. 


PART  III. 
PERIOD  II. 
CHAP.  VIII. 


C/linton 
shuns  fur- 
ther conflict 

Crosses  to 
New  York, 

Washington 
proceeds  to 
the  Hudson. 

French  fleet 
arrives  un- 
der d'Es- 
tainsj. 


l-  rankLn  ap- 
pointed min- 
ister to 
France. 

Expedition 
against 
Rliode 
Island. 


Sullivan': 

arrange- 


4cig.F. 


4ag  9  and 
10. 


wards  to  write  to  the  commander  disrespectful  letters,  on  the 
events  of  the  battle,  no  further  notice  would  have  been  taken 
of  his  irregular  behavior.  But  on  this  occasion,  Washington 
brought  him  to  trial  by  a  court  martial,  which  censured  and 
suspended  him  one  year  from  his  command.  He  never  re- 
joined the  army. 

Night  separated  the  combatants  ;  and  Washington  and  bis 
soldiers  rested  upon  their  arms,  intending  to  renew  the  con- 
flict the  succeeding  day ;  but  Clinton  silently  decamped  in 
the  night.  In  the  morning,  he  was  several  miles  distant ;  and 
moving  through  Middletown  to  Sandy  Hook,  he  finally  cross- 
ed over  to  New  York. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  the  American  commander,  leaving  Mor- 
gan's dragoons  in  lower  Jersey,  proceeded  with  his  army 
towards  the  Hudson. 

A  French  fleet,  consisting  of  twelve  ships  of  the  line,  and 
six  frigates,  was  now  sent  to  the  aid  of  America,  commanded 
by  the  Count  d'Estaing.  The  admiral  left  Toulon  on  the  18th 
of  x\pril,  with  the  intention  of  blockading  the  British  in  the 
Delav/are.  He  entered  the  mouth  of  the  river,  on  the  8th  of 
June  ;  but  finding  that  Admiral  Howe  had  left  Philadelphia 
for  New  York,  he  proceeded  to  that  place,  designing  to  en- 
gage him  there  ;  but  the  large  size  of  his  ships  prevented. 

On  the  14th  of  Sej^tember,  Benjamin  Franklin,  still  in 
France,  was  invested  with  the  dignity  and  powers  of  minister 
plenipotentiary  to  that  court. 

Washington,  in  order  to  derive  the  utmost  advantage  from 
the  presence  of  the  French  fleet,  directed  an  expedition  against 
Rhode  Island,  for  which  he  detached  a  force  of  10,000  troops, 
under  the  command  of  General  Sullivan,  with  whom  he  after- 
wards associated  generals  Greene  "and  La  Fayette.  The 
force  to  which  this  army  was  opposed,  consisted  of  6,000 
troops,  which  were  stationed  at  Newport,  and  commanded  by 
General  Pigot. 

Sullivan  had,  with  the  advice  of  Washington,  concerted  a 
plan  of  operations  with  the  French  admiral  d'Estaing,  who 
arrived  off'  Newport,  on  the  25th  of  July.  His  army  had  ta- 
ken post  near  Providence,  and  he  had  a  reasonable  expecta- 
tion, that,  with  the  aid  of  the  French,  he  should  be  able  to 
make  himself  master  of  the  whole  force  under  Pigot.  The 
{\r/rii  was  to  enter  the  harbor  of  Newport,  and  land  the  French 
^'foops  on  the  north  part  of  the  island,  while  the  Americans 
were  to  land  at  the  same  time,  on  the  opposite  coast. 

On  the  8th  of  August,  General  Sullivan  joined  General 
Greene  at  Tiverton,  and  the  descent  was  to  be  made  the  next 
day.  The  fleet  presented  itself.  Some  militia,  who  were  to 
join  the  army,  failed  to  come  at  the  expected  hour,  and  Sulli 
van  represented  to  the  French  admiral,  the  necessity  of  a  short 
delay.  On  the  morning  of  the  ninth,  he  crossed  the  east 
passage,  and  landed  on  the  north  end  of  Rhode  Island.     Oi 


THE    AMERICANS    DISAPPOINTED    BY    THE    FRENCH. 


215 


the  tenth,  the  fleet  of  Ix)rd  Howe  appeared  in  si^ht,  and 
d'Estaing  left  Sullivan  to  give  chase  to  the  British  admiral, 
promising  to  return  to  his  assistance.  The  crafty  Howe  led 
him  on,  and  both  lleets  were  soon  out  of  sight. 

On  the  15(h,  Sullivan  commenced  the  siege  of  Newport, 
still  believing  that  he  should  have  the  promised  aid  of  the 
French  lleet.  Great  was  his  chagrin  and  disappointment, 
when  d'Estaing,  having  returned  in  a  shattered  condition,  no 
entreaties  could  prevail  on  him  to  remain,  but  on  the  22d  he 
sailed  to  Boston  to  refit.  Thus  deserted  by  his  allies,  one  half 
of  liis  army,  which  consisted  of  militia,  refused  to  remain, 
and  encounter  the  danger,  to  which  he  was  now  exposed,  of 
an  attack  from  the  British  at  New  York. 

Thus  weakened,  he  raised  the  siege  of  Newport,  on  the  28th, 
and  retired  to  a  connnanding  situation  on  the  north  part  of  the 
island.  The  enemy  followed,  and,  on  the  29th  attacked  his 
army.  After  a  sharp  conflict  of  half  an  hour,  in  which  Sulli- 
van lost  211  of  his  troops,  and  Pigot  260,  the  British  gave 
way,  and  retired  to  Quaker  Hill.  The  next  day,  a  letter  from 
Washington  informed  him,  that  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  with  a 
large  body  of  troops,  had  put  out  to  sea  from  New  York.  His 
prospects  were  now  completely  reversed,  and  instead  of  ho- 
ping to  conquer  the  British  forces,  liis  own  were  in  imminent 
danger.  By  a  skill  that  has  been  much  commended,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  drawing  off  his  army  to  the  main  land.  The  very 
next  day,  Clinton,  who  had  been  detained  by  adverse  winds, 
arrived  at  the  island,  with  4,000  men. 

This  aflair  was  unhappy  in  its  effects.  D'Estaing  had  left 
Sullivan  to  his  fate,  not  only  against  his  entreaties,  but  against 
the  warm  remonstrances  of  generals  Greer  e  and  La  Fayette. 
The  resentment  excited  in  the  breast  of  Sullivan,  and  the  dis- 
approbation of  many  others,  gave  to  Washington  the  greatest 
uneasiness;  and  called  forth  all  his  address  to  soothe  their  nif- 
fled  spirits,  and  prevent  an  open  rupture  with  the  French 
admiral. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  disappointed  of  his  expected  prize,  bent 
his  course  towards  New  York.  He  left  the  command  of  the 
troops  on  board  the  transports,  to  General  Gray,  with  orders 
to  destroy,  if  possible,  the  American  privateers,  which  resort- 
ed to  Buzzard's  bay,  and  the  adjacent  rivers.  This  order  was 
executed  upon  sixty  larger  vessels,  and  some  small  craft. 
Proceeding  to  New  Bedford  and  Fair  Haven,  he  destroyed 
many  mills,  w^arehouses,  and  much  private  property. 

In  the  campaign  of  this  year,  the  depredations  committed 
by  the  savages,  were  frequent  and  inhuman.  The  ruthless 
chiefs  who  guided  them  in  their  sanguinary  expeditions,  were 
Colonel  John  Butler,  a  tory  refugee,  and  Brandt,  a  half-blooded 
Indian.  The  settlement  of  Wyoming,  which  consisted  of 
tight  towT)s  on  the  banks  of  the  Susquehannah,  was  one  of 
the  most  flourishing  and  delightful  in  America.     The  majorit>' 


PART  IIL 

PERIOD  !L 

CHAP.   VIII 

1T78. 

^  Aug.  15. 
Sullivan  b<e- 
sieges  New- 
port. 

Aug.  22. 

d'Estaing 

sails  for  Bo^ 

ton. 


Aug.  28. 

Sullivan 

raises   the 

siege,  and, 

has 

Aug.  29, 

an  action 

with  the 

British. 


Sept.  '\ 

Genera 

Gray's  ej 

cursion. 


The  valley 
ofWycodiu 


£16 


THE    MASSACRE    OF    WYOMING. 


June. 
Butler  and 
B/andt,  with 
Indians  and 
tories,  mas- 
sacre the  de- 
fenders and 
defenseless. 


Sept. 
Quarrels 
with  the 
French. 


French  and 

Engvish 

feels  sail  foi 

the  West 

Indies. 


of  its  inhabitants  were  eminently  devoted  to  the  cause  of  theii 
country,  and  akhough  from  their  frontier  position,  they  were 
tnemseives  exposed,  yet  they  had  sent  their  young  and  able- 
bodied  men,  to  fill  the  ranks  of  the  army.  But  tories  were 
numerous  among  them.  Several  had  been  arrested,  and  sent 
to  the  proper  authorities  for  trial.  This  excited  the  indigna- 
tion of  tne  party,  who  now  united  with  the  Indians.  Resort- 
ing to  ariihce,  they  pretended  a  desire  to  cultivate  peace,  while 
they  were  preparhig  for  a  bloody  revenge. 

The  patriots  had  constructed  several  forts  for  the  security 
of  the  inhabitants.  In  June,  a  formidable  force  of  Indians 
and  tories,  under  ihe  command  of  Butler  and  Brandt  appeared 
on  the  baniis  of  ihe  Susquehannah.  They  soon  took  all  the 
forts,  except  that  of  WilKesbarre — butchering  men,  women,  and 
children,  laying  waste  the  country,  and  burning  the  houses. 
The  tories  were  more  sanguinary  than  the  savages  themselves. 
Fathers  and  sons  were  arrayed  against  each  other,  and  in  one 
case  a  brother  slew  a  brotner,  while  he  was  beseeching  him 
for  mercy. 

At  Wiikesbarre  was  collected  all  the  remaining  military  force 
of  the  valley,  under  the  pairiot  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler.  It 
consisted  of  about  fifty  regular  troops,  and  volunteers  to  the 
number  of  three  hundred.  Their  foe,  one  thousand  strong, 
and  flushed  with  success,  was  but  a  few  miles  distant.  They 
had  no  alternative  but  to  attack  or  be  attacked ;  and  early  on 
the  3d  of  July,  this  little  devoted  band  left  their  women  and 
children  in  the  fort,  and  at  a  (ew  miles  distance,  met  and  gave 
battle  to  a  force  nearly  treble  their  own.  They  fought  with 
desperation  ;  but  their  foe  out-fianked  and  surrounded,  and 
then  barbarously  massacred  them.  Only  sixteen  escaped. 
The  enemy  next  marched  to  the  fort,  which  there  was  none  to 
defend.  It  was  surrendered,  under  promise  of  the  protection 
of  life.  But  the  engagement  was  violated,  and  many  of  the 
helpless  and  unresisting,  fell  by  the  hands  of  those,  who  had 
but  just  murdered  their  husbands  and  fathers. 

Disputes  occurred  about  this  time,  between  the  French  and 
Americans  at  Boston,  and  also  at  Charleston,  South  Caro- 
lina. In  both  these  places  some  of  the  French  were  killed. 
At  Boston,  the  Chevalier  de  St.  Sauveur  lost  his  life.  Con- 
gress attributed  these  unfortunate  affairs  to  British  machina- 
tions ;  and  the  French  admiral  forebore  to  inquire  further 
The  Marquis  La  Fayette,  hoping  to  serve  the  United  States 
by  his  representations  in  France,  requested  and  obtained  per- 
mission to  repass  the  Atlantic. 

Admiral  d'Estaing  left  Boston  for  the  West  Indies,  on  the 
3d  of  November.  The  same  day  the  British  Commodore  Ho 
tham  left  Sandy  Hook,  having  on  board  5,000  land  troops,  un- 
der Major  General  Grant,  to  sustain  the  English  garrisons  in 
those  islands.  He  was  followed,  on  the  14th  of  December, 
by  Admiral  Byron  (who  had  superseded  Admiral  Howe)  with 


GEORGIA    RECOVERED    BY    THE    BRITISH. 


217 


the  Avliole    English  fleet.     7'he  French  took  Dominica  from 
the  English  ;  and  the  Enirhsh,  St.  Lucia  from  the  French. 

Ill  planning  the  campaign  for  tliis  year,  the  enemy  had  pla 
ced  their  principal  hope  of  success  in  conquering  the  southern 
states.  It  was  not,  however,  until  a  late  period  of  the  cam- 
paign, that  Sir  Henry  Clinton  Avas  prepared  to  attempt  the 
execution  of  this  design.  He  then  sent  to  Georgia,  under  con- 
voy of  Admiral  H3'de  Parker,  2,500  men,  English,  Hessians, 
and  refugees.  This  army  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Camp- 
bell, who,  on  the  27th  of  December,  arrived  before  Savannah. 
The  place  being  unprepared  for  defense,  he  defeated  the 
Americans  under  Major  General  Robert  Howe,  and  killed  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  of  his  troops,  and  then  took  possession 
of  the  city.  Four  hundred  and  fifty  American  troops,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  artillery  and  amnumitiori  fell  into  his  hands. 
That  part  of  the  ^American  army  which  escaped,  retreated 
into  South  Carolina. 

Late  in  the  autumn  of  1778,  Washington  took  winter- quar- 
ters at  Middlebrook. 


PART  IIL 


1TT8. 

Nov.  27. 

British 

forces  sail 

for  Georgia. 

Dec.  29. 

Savannah  ia 
taken. 


Washington 
in  winter 
quarters 


CHAPTER    IX 


Campaign  of  1779 


The  plan  of  Sir  Henr)-'  Clinton  was  to  subjugate,  at  the  1779. 
outset  of  this  campaign,  the  whole  state  of  Georgia  to  the  Georgia 
royal  authority.  The  capital  being  already  in  possession  of 
the  British,  they  soon  overran  the  adjacent  country.  Sunbury 
still  held  out  for  congress.  General  Prevost,  commander  of 
the  troops  at  St.  Augustine,  pursuant  to  the  orders  of  Clinton, 
left  Florida,  and,  after  a  march  of  excessive  fatigue  and  hard- 
ship, attacked  the  garrison  at  Sunbury.  They  made  a  show 
of  resistance ;  but  the  country  being  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
snemy,  they  were  compelled  to  surrender  at  discretion. 

Prevost  then  proceeded  to  Savannah,  where  he  took  com- 
mand of  all  the   British  forces.      The  whole  of  Georgia  was 
now  under  the  authority  of  the  royalists ;  and  Clinton  had 
accomplished  all  that  he   had  expected  to  effect,  before  he 
should  be  joined  by  recruits  from  England.     He  did  not  con- 
sider himself  in    sufficient   force  to  attack  Charleston  ;  but, 
aware  that  if  he  did  not  proceed  witli  offensive  operations,  his 
anny  would  lang-uish,  and  his  enemy  soon  put  him  on  the  de-  Unsucces^ 
fensive,  he  planned  an  expedition  against  Port  Royal,  giving  ful  attempt 
the  command  to  General  Gardner.     The  English  were,  how-    "^^  ^"^ 
ever,  so  valiantly  received  by  the  Carolinians,  that  they  were 
obliged  to  return,  after  having  experienced  a  severe  less. 


818  SOUTH    CAROLINA    THE    SEAT    OF    THE    WAR. 

PART  III.        One  of  the  motives  of  the  British  ministry,  in  transferring 

PERIOD  II.  (lie  ^-ai-  into  the  southern  states,  was  the  opinion,  that  a  great 

CHAP.  IX.    proportion  of  the  inhabitants  were,  at  heart,  in  favor  of  the 

'"^^"'•'''^^^   mother  country;  and  that,  if  an  opportunity  presented,  they 

1779.     would  flock  to  her  standard.     They  were  not  mistaken  in  the 

lieve  the^'   ^^^i^f,  that  there  were  royalists  ;  but  they  were  deceived  aa 

people  favor-  to  their  number  and  efficient  strength. 

able  to  them.  Qf  these  royalists,  there  were  several  kinds.  Some  of  the 
least  violent,  concealing  their  sentiments,  resided  in  the  midst 
Barbarity  of  of  ^he  republicans  ;  some  lived  solitary,  and  watched  a  favora- 
the  tones,  ble  opportunity  to  declare  themselves  ;  while  others  were  so 
rancorous  as  even  to  unite  with  the  Indians  ;  and,  assisting  in 
their  nocturnal  massacres,  their  conduct  was  more  barbarous 
than  that  of  the  savages  themselves. 

To  support  and  encourage  these  friends  to  the  royal  cause, 

the  British   generals  moved  up  the  river  to  Augusta.      They 

Representa-  sent  out  numerous  emissaries,  who  represented  to  them  that 

'^Sh^aint?'  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^®  ^^'^^^  ^^  -i*^^^^  ^^^^  royal  standard.  They  were  told 
that  they  wanted  nothing  but  union,  to  become  incomparably 
the  stronger  party ;  to  be  enabled  to  take  vengeance  on  those 
who  had  so  long  loaded  them  with  indignities,  and  to  entitle 
them  to  the  high  rewards,  which  await  those  who  are  foimd 
faithful  among  the  faithless. 

The  royalists  rose  in  arms,  put  themselves  under  the  com- 
mand  of  Colonel   Boyd,   one   of   their  chiefs ;  and,   moving 
towards  the  British  army,  pillaged,  burnt,   and  murdered  on 
Colonel      their  way.      Meantime,   the    Carolinians    collected  a   force, 
Pickens  de-  which,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Pickens,  met  them, 
leats  a  party  j^^g^  ^^  j|^gy  j^^j  nearly  reached  their  destination.      A  furious 

01  rovulists  .  *^ 

aear  Angus-  conflict  ensued,  and  the  republicans  totally  defeated  the  party, 
ta.  Seventy-six  of  the   prisoners   were   condemned  to  death  as 

criminals  ;  but  mercy  was   extended  to  the   whole   number, 
except  five. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  preceding  year,  General  Lincoln 
takes^com-    ^^^  appointed,  at  the  request  of  the  Carolinians,  to  take  the 
mandofthe  command  of  the  southern  forces.     He  arrived,  on  the  4th  of 
fcces'^aTthe  ^^^^^^^ber,  at  Charleston;  and,  on  the  17th  of  January,  took 
south.       post  at  Purysburg.     As  the  enemy  extended  their  posts  up  the 
Savannah,  on  the  southern  side,  Lincoln  extended  his  on  the 
northern  bank.     He  fixed  one  encampment  at  Black  Sv/amp, 
and  another  nearly  opposite  Augusta  ;  intending,  as  soon  as 
he  should  be  able  to  collect  a  sufficient  force,  to  cross  the  Sa- 
vannah, and  oblige  the  enemy  to  evacuate  the  upper  parts  of 
Georgia.     Meantime,  Prevost  fell  dovi^n  the  river  to  Hudson's 
ferry. 

Lincoln,  whose  army   amounted  to  4,000,  intended  to  re- 

take  the  upper  part  of  Georgia,  and  restrict  him  to  the  coast. 

Hchwtiions   He  detached  General  Ashe,  with  2,000  men,  of  the   North 

Ashe  at     Carolina  militia,  to  take  post  at  a  strong  position,  on  Briar  creek. 

8nar  Creek.   _,  .,      i  V      •     t    •  ^  •  \  t 

Provost  took  measures,  by  judicious  feints,  to  keep  the  atteu- 


COLONIAL  GOVERNMENT  ORGANIZED  IN  GEORGIA.  219 

lion  of  Lincoln  diverted,  while  he  marched  to  surprise  the  un-  PART  IIL 
guarded  Ashe.  He  was  so  completely  successful,  that  he  had  period  ii. 
entered  the  camp  of  the  Americans  before  they  were  aware  chap.  ix. 
of  his  approach.  Panic-struck,  the  militia  fled,  without  firing  v^^'^v^^^'i-' 
a  shot ;  but  many  of  them  being  drow^ned  in  the  river,  and  March  3. 
swallowed  up  in  the  marshes,  met  with  a  death,  which  they  JJi'^^^lj  ^".^'^j 
might  possibly  have  escaped  by  a  gallant  resistance.  hi.s  armv  de. 

The  regular  troops  of  Carolina  and  Georgia,   animated  by   '!'^'"^>''^'A^y 
the  example  of  their  commander,  the  brave  General  Elbert, 
made  a  vigorous  resistance  ;  but,  deserted  by  their  friends,  and      t^^a 
outnumb(^red  by  their  enemies,  they  were  compelled  to  yield.    American 
By  this  disastrous  affair.  General  Lincoln  must  have  been  de-    l^^s,  l.GOO 
prived  of  1,600  of  his  troops  ;  as  only  four  hundred  returned 
to  his  camp. 

Again  the  British  were  masters  of  all  Georgia.     They  had   Prevost  or- 
free  communication  with  the  encouraged  loyalists,  not  only  in  ganizes  a  co 
the  back  parts  of  this  state,  but  also  in  those  of  the  Carolinas  ;    vernment 
and  General  Prevost  now  proceeded  to  organize  a  colonial 
government. 

Alarmed,  but  not  dismayed,  the  Carolinians  made  the  most 
vigorous  exertions  to  draw  out  their  militia.     John  Rutledge, 
in  whom  all  classes  confided,  was  chosen  governor.     By  the 
middle  of  April,  Lincoln  found  himself  at  the  head  of  5,000 
fighting  men.     On  the  2.3d,  he  resumed  Yds  intention  of  occu- 
pying Georgia;  and,  leaving  1,000  of  his  troops  under  Gene- 
ral  Moultrie,  to  garrison  Purysburg  and  Black  Sw^amp,  he 
marched  with  the  remainder  up  the  Savannah.     Meantime, 
the  army  of  Prevost,  w^hich  Avas  increased  by  the  royalists,  ^Jouitne  ae 
crossed  the  river,  near  its  mouth,  and  defeated  General  Moul-  treats  befcre 
trie,  who,  finding  Purysburg  and  Black  Swamp  untenable,  had     Prevost. 
retired  towards  Charleston. 


May  n. 


On  the  11th  of  May,  the  enemy  appeared  before  that  city. 
The  garrison  was  small,  although  it  had  been  the  day  before   cliadeston 
reinforced  by  500  militia,  under  Governor  Rutledge,  and  by     invested. 
the   "American   Legion,"  under  the  Count  Pulaski.     Their    R°[ied>J. 
only  hope  of  relief  w^as  from  the  hourly  expected  presence  of    Count  Pu- 
Lincoln.     When,  therefore,  they  \vere,  on  the  morning  of  the       ^^^^'• 
12th,  summoned  to  surrender,  they  sent  out  commissioners  to 
negotiate,  who  contrived,  by  requiring  certain  conditions,  to 
bring  on  a  long  dispute.     In  the  meantime,  they  were  making 
vigorous  preparations  for  real  defense,  and  a  great  show,  as  General  Lin- 
if  well  prepared  for  resistance.     The  fears  of  Prevost  began  coin  arrives, 
to  operate,  and  he  drew  off  his  troops  some  miles  from  the  ^"fi^'^feu^"* 
town.     While  he  hesitated,  and  delayed  to  attack  the  city,  the 
army  of  Lincoln  appeared. 

Provost  nowietired  to  St.  James  and  St.  John's,  southward     June  20. 
of  Charleston ;  his  design  being  to  pass  along  these  fertile  engagement 
islands,  and  the  others  which  line  the  coast.     Lincoln  fol-     at  Stono 
lowed  him  upon  the  main  land,  and  an  indecisive  engagement      ^^"^• 
of  some  regiments  occurred  at  Stono  Ferry.     General  Prevost 


220 


BRITISH  TAKE  THE  FORTS  ON  THE  HUDSON. 


1779. 

May. 
British  make 
a  descent 
upoji    Vir- 
ginia, and 
burn  several 
towns. 


fetony  Point. 

Verplank's 

Point, 


June  1. 

Taken   by 

the  British 

ander  Sir  K. 

Clinton. 


July. 
Governor 
Tryon 
makes  a  de- 
scent upon 
Counei  iicut. 


left  a  garrison  in  Beaufort,  on  Port  Royal  island,  under  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Maitland,  and  then  retired  with  the  British 
main    army  to  Savannah ;  while  General  Lincoln,  with    the 
American  forces,  took  post  at  Sheldon. 

In  May,  General  Clinton  sent  out  from  New  York  a  fleet, 
under  the  command  of  Commodore  Collier,  with  a  corps  of 
2,000  men,  under  General  Matthews,  to  make  a  descent  upon 
Virginia,  and,  by  devastating  the  country,  to  keep  the  inhabit- 
ants in  a  continual  state  of  alarm.  He  had  hopes,  that,  b;y 
the  aid  of  the  loyalists,  this  force  would  be  able  to  overawe 
and  eflect  a  revolt  of  the  state.  The  fleet  proceeded  to  the 
Chesapeake,  and  blocked  up  the  entrances  of  James  river  and 
Hampton  Roads.  A  part  of  the  troops  landed  on  the  banks  of 
Elizabeth  river  :  then  proceeded  to  Portsmouth,  Noribik,  Suf- 
folk, and  Gosport,  burned  tliose  places,  and  spread  devastation 
through  the  country.  They  demolished  magazines,  and  took 
great  quantities  of  provisions,  which  had  been  prepared  for 
the  American  army,  and  burned  or  removed  all  the  stores  and 
shipping.  Failing,  however,  in  the  grand  object  of  producing 
a  revolt,  Clinton  recalled  them  to  New  York. 

He  next  resolved  to  attack  the  American  works  at  Stony 
and  Verplank's  Points,  two  opposite  projections  of  land  on 
the  Hudson  river.  The  Americans  had  constructed  these 
works  at  great  labor  and  expense.  They  were  important,  as 
they  commanded  King's  Ferry,  and  if  they  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  British,  the  Americans  would  be  obliged  to  take  a  circuit 
of  ninety  miles  up  the  river,  to  communicate,  by  land,  between 
the  eastern  and  southern  provinces. 

General  Clinton,  commanding  this  expedition  in  person, 
left  New  York  on  the  last  of  May.  He  first  proceeded 
against  Stony  Point ;  and  the  Americans,  being  unprepared 
for  defense,  evacuated  the  place.  At  Verplank's  Point,  the 
fort  named  La  Fayette  had  just  been  completed.  Unfortu- 
nately, however,  this  fort  was  commanded  by  the  heights  of 
Stony  Point,  upon  which  the  British  had,  during  the  night, 
planted  a  battery  of  heavy  cannon,  and  another  of  mortars. 
Early  in  the  morning,  this  artillery  was  turned  against  Fort 
La  Fayette  ;  and  the  enemy  having  invested  it,  all  probability 
of  relief  was  cut  ofl',  and  the  garrison  surrendered.  Genera] 
Clinton  gave  orders  for  completing  the  works  of  Stony  Point ; 
and,  on  the  2d  of  June,  he  encamped  his  army  at  Philipsburg, 
half  way  between  Verplank's  Point  and  New  York. 

At  this  period,  the  commerce  of  the  British  on  Long  Island 
sound  was  nearly  destroyed  by  the  Connecticut  privateers. 
They  intercepted  whatever  made  its  appearance  on  their 
waters,  and  by  this  means  distressed  the  British  army  in 
New  York,  which  had  been  accustomed  to  receive  its  sup- 
plies from  this  quarter.  Governor  Tryon,  by  the  orders  oi 
Clinton,  embarked  with  a  strong  detachment,  proceeded  to 
New  Haven   and  destroyed  all  the  shipping  which  he  found 


AT    STONY    POINT.  221 

in  that  port.  He  then  advanced  to  Fairfield,  Norvvalk,  and  PART  III. 
Greenwich,  all  of  which  places  he  barbarously  consigned  to  period  ii. 
the  llames.  Besides  the  loss  of  a  great  quantity  of  shipping  and  chap.  ix. 
whale-boats,  the  destruction  of  private  property  was  great.        v-^-v-*w> 

While  the  British  were  thus  desolating  the   coast  of  Con- 
necticut,  Washington  undertook  the  recovery  of  Verplank's 
and  Stony   Points.     He  charged  General  Wayne  Avith  the 
attack  of  Stony  Point,  and  General  Howe  with  that  of  Ver- 
plank's.    The  troops  commanded  by  Wayne  arrived  under  the 
walls  of  ihe  fort  about  midnight.      Divided  into  two  columns, 
they  attacked  the  fort  from  opposite  positions.     The  English 
opened  a  tremendous  tire  upon  them  ;  but  they  rushed  impe- 
tuousiy  onward,  opening  their  way  with  the  bayonet.     They     *ii    Js" 
scaied  the  fort,  and  the  two  victorious  columns  met  in  the   Americans, 
centre   ot   the   works.     The    loss   of  the   British,  in  killed,       ""^cr 
wounded,  and  prisoners,  amounted  to  six  hundred :  the  Ame-  stony  Poinu 
ricans  losi  but  one  hundred.     This  was  one  of  the  most  bril- 
liant exploits  of  the  whole  war.     The  attack  upon  Verplank's 
Point  proved  unsuccessful. 

When  Clinton  received  intelligence  of  the  capture  of  Stony 
Pomt,  he  determined  not  to  suffer  the  Americans  to  remain  in 
possession,  and  dispatched  a  corps  of  troops  to  dislodge  them. 
Washington,  unwilling  to  hazard  a  battle,  ordered   General* 
Wayne  to   retire,  having  dismantled  the  fort,  and  removed 
the  artillery  and  stores  ;  which  were  valuable  and  important.  Garrison  at 
On  the  19th,  Major  Lee,  with  three  hundred  men,  completely  PaulusHook 
surprised  the  British  garris(m  at  Paulus  Hook,  killed  thirty   ^"^P^^^^ 
of  the  enemy,  and  took  159  prisoners. 

At  the  east,  the  British  obtained  some  advantages  over  the  jr  ^^^^' 

L nsucccss 

Americans.     Colonel   M'Lean  had  embarked  from  Halifax,     ful  expe- 
with  a  detachment,  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot  river  dition  of  th« 
he  was  strongly  posted.     His  object  was  to  annoy  the  eastern   ^.f^^nst^the 
frontier,  and  to  prevent  the  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts  from    British  at 
sending  reinforcements  to  the   army  of  Washington,     The    ^^nobscot 
Bostonians,  in  great  alarm,    fitted  out,  under  the  command  of 
Commodore   Saltonstall,   an  armament  with  which  they  dis- 
patched a  portion  of  land  troops,  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Lovell.     On  their  arrival  at  Penobscot,  instead  of  attack- 
ing the  enemy  immiediately,  which  would  have  insured  them 
success,  they  delayed  fifteen  days,  in  order  to  entrench  them- 
selves.    On  the  day  of  the  intended  attack.  Commodore  Col- 
liei,  whom  Clinton,  on  hearing  of  the  situation  of  M'Lean, 
had  sent  from  Sandy  Hook  to  his  relief,  appeared  with  his 
fleet,  at  the  mouth  of  the   Penobscot.     The  Americans  re- 
embarked,  but  Collier  attacked  their  flotilla,  and  entirely  des- 
troyed it.     The   soldiers  and  sailors,  in  order  to  effect  their 
escape,  were  obliged  to  land,  and  hide  themselves  in  the  for- 
ests ;  through  which  they  found  their  way  to  their  homes. 
The  failure  of  this  enterprise  was  a  severe  mortification,  as 
well  as  a  serious  loss,  to  the  Americans. 


222 


SULLIVAN    CHASTISES    THE    INDIANS    AND    TORIES. 


1779. 

Aug.  29. 
Sullivan  de- 
feats the  tO' 
ries  and 
eavases. 


In  the  meantime,  the  massacre  of  Wyoming,  another  at 
Cherry  Valley,  and  other  Indian  enormities,  had  called  so 
loudly  for  punishment,  that  in  July,  congress  sent  General 
Sullivan,  witli  3,000  troops,  to  repress  the  incursions  of  tho 
savages.  He  proceeded  up  the  Susquehannah  ;  and  at  Wy- 
oming was  joined  by  a  reinforcement  of  1,600  men.  under  th« 
command  of  James  Clinton,  of  New  York 

The  Indians  and  royalists  had  assembled  in  great  numbers, 
under  the  direction  of  their  ferocious  leaders,  Johnson,  But- 
ler, and  Brandt.  Confident  in  their  strength,  they  had  ad- 
vanced to  Newtown  ;  and,  while  awaiting  Sullivan's  approach, 
had  thrown  up  an  extensive  entrenchment,  strengthened  by  a 
palisade  and  redoubts,  after  the  European  manner.  General 
Sulli\^an,  on  his  arrival,  immediately  attacked  the  place  ;  and 
the  Indians,  after  defending  it  two  hours,  fled  in  disorder. 
Few  however  were  killed,  and  none  made  prisoners.  Sulli- 
van took  possession  of  Newtown,  from  whence  he  made  in- 
cursions into  the  other  parts  of  their  country.  The  terrified 
savages  made  no  further  resistance,  but  escaped  to  the  forests. 
A  great  quantity  of  grain  was  burned,  forty  Indian  villages 
were  utterly  destroyed,  and  ho  trace  of  vegetation  left 
General  Sullivan,  after  having  accomplished  this  severe  ret 
ribution,  went  with  his  army  to  Easton,  in  Pennsylvania 


CHAPTER  X. 


Campaign  of  1779. — Continued. 


1779. 

War  of  the 
French  and 
English  in 
the  West 
Indies 


trench  oon- 
Qucr  St. 
Vincent. 


To  understand  the  history  of  the  war,  it  is  necessary  to 
keep  in  view,  not  only  the  movements  of  the  forces  of  Amer- 
ica, but  also  those  of  its  ally  and  its  enemy.  The  commence- 
ment of  the  present  year  found  the  Count  d'Estaing  and 
Lord  Byron,  with  their  respective  fleets,  in  the  West  Indies. 
The  former  was  reinforced  by  a  squadron,  under  the  Couni 
de  Grasse,  and  the  latter  by  an  armament  under  Commodore 
Rowley. 

Their  fleets  were  now  nearly  equal,  and  the  English  were 
desirous  of  a  naval  battle  ;  but  the  French  had  in  view  the 
conquest  of  the  neighboring  English  islands  ;  and  for  thai 
purpose,  had  on  board  a  considerable  land  force,  which  must, 
in  the  event  of  a  battle,  be  exposed,  and  could  afford  no  as- 
sistance. D'Estaing  was  therefore  averse  to  an  engagement, 
and  lay  quietly  at  anchor,  at  INlartinico. 

Meantime,  Lord  Byron  sailed  towards  England,  to  convoy 
a  fleet  of  merchantmen.  No  sooner  had  he  left  the  West 
Indies,  than  the  French  admiral  sent  a  detached  squadron  Xc* 


THE  AMERICANS  COMPLAIN  OF  THE  FRENCH.  223 

St     Vincent,    which    succeeded    in    capturing  that  valuable    PART  III, 
island.  PERIOD  £ 

On  the  30lh  of  June,   d'Estaing,  wlio  had  received  a  rein-     chap.  x. 
tbrcement  from  France,  left  Martinico,  his  fleet  consisting  of  ^-"^^n^^^^ 
twenty-live  sail  of  the  line,  and  on  the  2d  of  July,  came  to     1779. 
anchor  in  a  harbor  of  Grenada.     On  this  island  ho  landed  -pj^^l  \ 
2,500   men,  and  attacked  and  carried,  by  a  bloody  and  de-  nue  Gren<i- 
structive  assault,  St.  George,  its  principal  fortress,  when  the         ':»• 
whole  island  submitted  to  France. 

Shortly  after  these  events,  d'Estaing  received  letters  from 
General  Lincoln,  President  Lowndes,  of  South  Carolina,  and 
Mr.  Plombard,  consul  of  France,  from  which  he  learned  the  pyencU  ad- 
dissatisfaction  which  existed  in  America.  The  republicans  miral  re- 
complained,  that  the  alliance  with  France  had  produced  ^'t'j^e^^J^^grf/ 
nothing  which  corresponded  either  to  the  greatness  of  their  cans, 
ally,  or  the  general  expectations  of  the  Americans.  It  was 
said,  that  the  sums  expended  upon  Rhode  Island  were  worse 
than  fruitless  ;  and  that  the  zeal  with  which  the  Bostonians 
had  victualled  and  equipped  the  French  fleet,  produced  no 
better  effect  than  its  immediate  desertion  of  their  coasts,  on 
distant  expeditions.  The  loss  of  Savannah  and  Georgia, 
which  opened  to  the  British  an  easy  entrance  to  the  Caroli- 
nas,  was  attributed  to  this  cause  ;  and  finally  it  was  said,  that 
while  the  French  were  enriching  themselves  in  distant  seas, 
with  the  conquests  of  the  British  possessions,  they  left  the 
Americans,  contrary  to  the  stipulations  of  the  treaty,  to  sus- 
tain the  burden  of  the  war.  These  complaints  were  followed 
by  earnest  entreaties,  that  d'Estaing  would  immediately  re- 
store the  confidence  of  the  Americans,  by  hastening  to  their 
succor. 

Count  d'Estaing  had  received  instructions  to  return  imme-     Sept.  i. 
diately  to  Europe,  but  moved  by  these  representations  he  ven-   arlfvef  ^^ 
tured    to    disobey  the  summons ;    and   directing  his    course  the  coast  of 
to   Georgia,  he   appeared  off  the  coast  on  the    1st  of  Sep-     Georgia 
tember. 

He  believed  that  there  were  two  plans,  which,  if  iVmerica 
could  successfully  execute,  the  war  must,  of  necessity,  come 
to  a  conclusion.     One  of  these,   was  the  destruction  of  the 
army  under  General   Prevost,  at  Savannah  ;  and  the  other,     Concerts 
and  more  difficult,  was  to  attack  by  sea  and  land,  conjointly  ^.'^J'jfjf'^''^^  . 
with  Washington,  the  British  forces  in  the  city  of  New  York.     LincohT 
It  was   determined  to  attempt  the  former  ;     and  the   Count 
d'Estaing  and  General  Lincoln  lost  no  time  in  commencing 
their  joint  operations. 

The  French  admiral  had  sent  ships  to  Charleston  with  the 
joyful  news  of  his  arrival  in  those   waters.     They  surprised 
and  captured  some   British  vessels   loaded  with   provisions.  British  gen- 
General   Prevost,  alarmed  at  his  danger,  sent  expresses,  di-   eral  at  Sa- 
recting  the   forces  under   IVIaitland,  and  those  at  Sunbury,  to '"^^^1!^^^  ^^J^ 
repair  with   soeed  to  Savannah.     He   removed  the   shipping      posts 


224 


UNFORTUNATE    SIEGE    OF    SAVANNAH. 


PART  III 


Sept.  21. 
Savannah 
invested  by 
the  French, 

ho  are  join- 
ed by  the 
Americans. 


Oct.  3. 

Unfortunate 

bombard- 
ment of  Sa- 
vannah. 


Oct.  9. 
The  com- 
bined armies 
make  a 
bloody  as- 
sault,  and 
arc  repulsed 


Pulaskf 
slain. 


Oct.  18. 

The  siege 
raised 


farther  np  the  river,  destroyed  the  batteries  on  the  island  of 
Tybee,  and  pressed  the  completion  of  the  works  at  Savannah. 

Meantime,  Gen.  Lincohi  marched  towards  Savannah,  leav- 
ing orders  for  the  militia  to  collect  from  all  quarters,  and  join 
his  army.  Before  he  had  arrived,  d'Estaing  had  invested 
the  place,  and  demanded  of  Prevost  to  surrendei  to  the  arms 
of  France.;  a  measure  which  was  displeasing  to  the  republi- 
cans. The  expected  reinforcements  of  Prevost  had  not  yet 
arrived  ;  and  he  amused  the  French  admiral  by  a  protracted 
negotiation.  D'Estaing  even  went  so  far  as  to  give  Idm  a 
truce  of  twenty-four  hours.  In  the  meantime,  Maitland  ar- 
rived, with  eight  hundred  men  ;  and  there  was  then  no  fur- 
ther talk  of  surrendering.  Pulaski,  with  his  legion,  and  Lin- 
coln, with  3,000  troops,  had  also  arrived  before  Savannah 
Works  were  erected,  and  a  regular  siege  was  commenced  od 
the  24th  of-  September. 

On  the  3d  of  October  the  trenches  were  completed,  tho 
batteries  armed,  and  a  bombardment  commenced.  Fifty- 
three  pieces  of  cannon,  and  nine  mortars,  sent  an  incessant 
shower  of  balls  and  shells.  The  city  was  on  fire  in  many 
places.  The  burning  roofs  fell  upon  the  women,  the  children 
and  the  unarmed  multitude  ;  and  every  where  were  seen  the 
crippled,  the  dying,  and  the  dead.  Five  days  this  firing  con- 
tinued, and  although  so  dreadful  to  the  town,  it  was  nearly 
harmless  to  the  fort.  Touched  with  the  sufferings  Avhich  he 
witnessed,  Prevost  requested  permission  that  the  women  and 
children  should  be  sent  down  the  river,  on  board  of  vesseb 
intrusted  to  the  care  of  the  French,  to  await  there  the  issue 
of  the  siege.  d'Estaing,  fearing  to  be  again  entrapped,  refu- 
sed this  humane  request. 

In  the  meantime,  the  French  fleet  would  be  exposed  to 
dangers,  and  himself  to  disgrace,  should  the  admiral  longei 
detain  it.  And  although  the  allies  knew  that  they  were  put- 
ting to  great  hazard  that  which  delay  would  make  certain,  yet 
the  exigency  of  the  case  seemed  to  demand  it ;  and  it  was 
resolved  to  assault  the  town.  The  flower  of  the  combined 
armies  were  led  to  the  attack  by  the  two  commanders,  d'Es- 
taing and  Lincoln.  They  met  with  many  disasters,  and  a 
final  repulse.  The  number  of  the  slain  and  the  wounded 
shows  that  the  battle  must  have  been  bloody.  The  French 
loss  was  700 ;  the  American,  four  hundred.  The  Count 
d'Estaing  was  wounded,  but  recovered ;  the  Count  Pulaski, 
while  bravely  charging  at  the  head  of  200  horse,  received  a 
wound  which  caused  his  death,  and  deprived  America  of  one 
of  her  most  valiant  and  disinterested  defenders.  On  the  18th, 
the  allies  raised  the  siege  of  Savarmah.  Lincoln  crossed  the 
river  Avith  his  regular  troops ;  the  nnhtia  disbanded,  and  re- 
turned to  their  liomes  ;    and  d'Estaing  set  sail  f)r  Europe. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  fearing  an  attack  from  the  French,  with- 
drew his  troops  from  Rhode  Island  precipitately,  with  the  loss 


PAUL    JONES. A    HORRIBLE    NIGHT-SCENE.  225 

of'liis  munitions  ;  leaving  that  state  to  revert  peaceably  to  the   PART  HI. 
union.  period  ii. 

Near  the  close  of  this  year  occurred,  on  the  coast  of   Eng-     cha?.  x 
land,   that  unexampled  sea-fight,  which  gave  to  <.he  name  of  v^^^^-^ 
Paul  Jones  such  terrific  eclat.     This  man  was  a  native  of  Scot-     1T79. 
land,   but  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  United  States.     Ilis  PaulJjnea. 
flotilla  was  composed   of  the  Bonhomme   Richard,   of  forty 
guns  ;  the  Alliance,  of  thirty-six,  (both  American  ships,)   the 
Pallas,  a  French  frigate  of  thirty-tv/o,  in  the  pay  of  congress, 
and  two  other  smaller  vessels.     He  fell  in  with  a  British  mer- 
chant fleet,  on  its  return  from  the  Baltic,  convoyed  by  Captain 
Pearson,  with  the  frigate  Serapis,  of  forty-four  guns,  and  the 
Countess  of  Scarborough,  of  twenty. 

Pearson  had  no  sooner  perceived  Jones,  than  he  bore  down     Sept.  23. 
lo  engage  him,  while  the  merchantmen  endeavored  to   gain   Fierce  en- 
the  coast.     The   American   flotilla    formed   to  receive   him.   ^vith  Cap- 
The  two  enemies  joined  battle  about  seven  in  the  evening,  tain  Pearson 
The  British  having  the  advantage  of  cannon  of  a  longer  reach,  of  Scotl^id* 
Jones  resolved  to  fight  them  closer.     He  brought  up  his  ships, 
until  the  muzzles  of  his  guns  came  in  contact  with  those  of 
his  enemy.      Here  the   phrensied    combatants   fought   from 
seven  till  ten.     Paul  Jones  now  found  that  his  vessel  was  so 
shattered,  that  only  three  efiective  guns  remained.     Trusting 
no  longer  to  these,  he  assailed  his  enemy   with  grenades ; 
which,  falling  into  the  Serapis,  set  her  on  fire  in  several  pla- 
ces.    At  length  her  magazine  blew  up,  and  killed  all  near  it. 
Pearson,  enraged  at  his  oflicers,-  who  wished  him  to  surren- 
der, commanded  them  to  board.     Jones,  at  the  head  of  his 
crew,   received  them  at  the  point  of  the  pike  ;  and  they  re- 
treated.    But  the  flames  of  the  Serapis  had  communicated  to 
her  enemy,  and  the  vessel  of  Jones  was  on  fire. 

Amidst  this  tremendous  night  scene,  the  Alliance  came  up, 
and,  mistaking  her  partner  for  her  enemy,  she  fired  a  broad- 
side into  the  vessel  of  Jones  ;  but  by  the  glare  of  the  burning 
ships  she  discovered  her  mistake,  and  turned  her  guns  against 
her  exhausted  foe.  Pearson's  crew  were  killed  or  wounded,  Jones  con- 
his  artillery  dismounted,  and  his  vessel  on  fire  ;  and  he  could  1^^*^  ^^  ^ 

•^     •  rni       ^  r    ^       c^  •  ^  unwarranta- 

no  longer  resist.  The  flames  oi  the  berapis  were,  however,  [,ie  waste  oi 
arrested  ;  but  the  leaks  of  the  Good-man  Richard  could  not  be  human  life, 
stopped,  and  the  hulk  went  down  soon  after  the  mangled  re- 
mains of  the  crew  had  been  removed.  Of  the  375  who  were 
on  board  that  renowned  vessel,  300  were  killed  or  wounded. 
The  Pallas  had  captured  the  Countess  of  Scarborough ;  and 
Jones,  after  this  horrible  victory,  wandered,  wdth  his  shattered, 
unmanageable  vessels  for  some  time  ;  and  at  length,  on  the 
6th  of  October,  had  the  good  fortune  to  find  his  way  to  the 
waters  of  the  Texel. 

Having  now  brought  to  a  close  the  military  affairs  of  the 
campaign,  we  pause  to  take  some  note  of  the  political  trans- 
actions. 


226  TROUBLES. DEMAGOGUES    AND    OFFICE-SEEKERS. 

PART  III.        Notwithstanding  the  apparent  inutility  to  the  republicans,  of 
PERIOD  II.  the  French  fleet,  it  was  in  reality  of  great  importance  to  theil 
CHAP.  X.     cause,  as  it  kept  the  British  constantly  in   check.     But  the 
'^-^"^'^"'*^  alliance  with  France  had  also  its  disadvantages.     The  public 
1779.      feelinir,  so  lonsr  strained  to  an  unnatural  elevation,  was  now 
All  vantage    predisposed  to  sink  to  apathy  ;  and  the  Americans  were  led 
vantage  of   to  believe  that  England  must,  from  the  power  of  France,  soon 
he  French  be  compelled  to  yield,  although  they  should  remit  their  efforts. 
The  leading  patriots  saw  the  evil  with  alarm.     Endeavor 
Washington  ^^"8"  ^^  counteract  it,  they  called  on  the  people,  by  the  memory 
and  others    of  their  past  exploits,  by  the  necessity  of  preserving  the  re- 
^t^the'^'^ub'iic  ^P®^^  ^^  *^®^^  allies,  by  the  perils  which  still  impended,  and 
insensibility,  by  the  power  and  treacherous  policy  of  their  yet  unconquered 
adversary,  to  arouse  from  their  lethargy,  and    trust  not   in 
chance  or  in  strangers,  but  in  their  own  exertions,  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  their  rights  ;  but  vain  was   the  appeal  ;  and 
even  the  army  was  affected  by  the  lethargic  torpor  of  the  pub- 
lic mind. 

Another  evil  had  arisen.     The  disorders  of  the  times  had 
produced  a  race  of  men,  who,  seeking  solely  to  enrich  them- 
selves, made  a  trade  of  the  public  distress.     What  did  they 
The  dema-    care  if  their  country  should  fall,  if  they  could  share  her  spoils  1 
office^bv^Ts  ^^'^''y  supplies  enriched  them,  as  they  afforded  them  preten- 
of  the  time    COS  for  peculation  ;  and  the  state  often  paid  dearly  for  what 
deciy  true    jt  never  received.     Such   wretches  are  ever  the   loudest  to 
chime  in  with  the  tune  of  the  times.     Hypocrites  in  patriot- 
ism, vociferous  for  their  country's  rights,  they  deceived  the 
undiscerning,  and  acquired  an  influence,  by  which  they  sought 
to  remove  from  office  all  who  obstructed  their  designs  ;  and 
by  their  intrigues,  the  appalling  cry  of  tory  was  raised,  and 
sometimes  not  in  vain,  against  the  upright  officer  Avho  refused 
to  connive  at  their  selfish  rapacity. 
Public  im-        One  cause  of  this  alarming  degeneracy  in  morals,  lay  in  the 
consequence  ^^^P^^ciation  of  paper  currency.     At  the  close  of  this  year,   a 
of  a  lluctua-  dollar  in  specie  could  scarcely  be  obtained  for  forty  in  bills, 
tingcurren-  But,  the  paper  was  fluctuating  in  its  value.     Hence  a  set  of 
men  arose,  who  preferred   speculating  on  this  currency,   to 
honest  industry;  and  often  in  the  changes  which   occuired, 
the  worthless  amassed  sudden  wealth,  while  many  deserving 
persons  of  moderate  fortunes,  sunk  at  once  to  poverty.     That 
the   bills   should  have  depreciated,   will   not  be  mysterious, 
when  we  consider  that  the  immense  sum  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  millions  had  now  been  issued  by  congress. 

The  honest  individual  of  private  life,  will  be  surprised  lu 

England     learn  another  reason  of  the  depreciation  of  American  paper, 

The"co^nS^  although  the  wily  politician  knows  that  it  is  no  new  "  trick  o/ 

nenfal       State."     England,  on  this  occasion,  turned  counterfeiter.    Her 

money.      ministers  sent  over,  and  her  generals  distributed  whole  chests 

of  spurious  bills,  so  perfectly  imitated,  as  scarcely  to  be  dis- 

tinguished  from  the  true. 


EUROPEAN  TRICKS  OF  STATE.  227 

In  the  meantime,  America  was  scarcely  less  in  danger  from   PART  III 
friends,  than  enemies.     Congress  was  beset  by  tlie  intrigues  period  n. 
of  France  and  Spain.     The  former  had  not  intended  to  de-     chap,  x 
clare  in  her  favor,  until  far  greater  concessions  had  been  ob-  ^^«--v-^^ 
tained  ;  but  had  been  surprised  into  the  step,  by  the  unexpect-     1779. 
ed  fortune  which,  in  the  capture  of  Burgoyne,  the  Americans  Selfish  pcli. 
had  single-handed  won  for  themselves,  and  which  made  the  French  cabi- 
French    cabinet  fear,   that,  unless    they   hasted   to    declare        i^e- 
jiemselves,  the  contest  would  be  decided,  and  America  be- 
come  independent,  without  being  in  any  degree  indebted  to 
them,  or  inclined  to  favor  them.     They  also  feared  that  they 
should  lose  the  opportunity  of  obtaining  a  powerful  and  effi- 
cient ally  in  a  war  which  they  wished,  on  their  own  account, 
to  wage  against  their  too  powerful  neighbor,  and  hereditary 
enemy.     Now  that  by  the  alliance,  these  objects  were  se- 
cured, they  wished,  in  the  particulars  which  yet  remained  to 
be  settled,  to  drive  a  hard  bargain  for  their  services  ;  and  to 
make  the  Americans  think  meanly  of  themselves,  would  be  to 
enhance  the  value  of  those  services. 

M.  Gerard,  in  his  communications  to  congress,  endeavored, 
by  such  means,  to  make  them  consent  to  abandon  to  France 
the  extensive  fisheries  of  Newfoundland  ;  and  to  Spain,   the 
exclusive    navigation   of   the  Mississippi.     The   alliance    of   ^^  unnue 
Spain  was  also  to  be  thrown  into  the  scale  ;  and  the  advanta-  ^over  5n-^ 
ges  of  this  were  magnified.     But  congress  were  not  deceived,  gress  obtain 
they  refused  the  specious  bait  ;  and  Spain,  having  precisely  ^pran^T  ^^ 
the  same  policy  as  France,  and  the  same  desire   to  humble      Spain. 
England,  declared  war  against  that  power,  to  suit  her  own 
purposes  ;    without  succeeding  in  making  America  believe, 
that  she  did  it  for  her  sake. 

The  British  ministry 'had,  in  the  spring,  sent  out  Admiral  December. 
Arbuthnot  wdth  a  reinforcement  for  the  American  service.  i^^thnS  con 
He  was,  however,  delayed  by  the  way,  and  did  not  arrive  veys  Sir  H 
until  August.  Under  convoy  of  his  fleet,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  ?k"7°n/,/) 
with  7,000  men,  sailed  in  December  from  New  York,  for  the  men,' to 
south,  and  after  a  tempestuous  and  protracted  voyage,  landed  the  south, 
at  Tybee  Island,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Savannah,  the  last  of 
January. 

General  Lincoln,  with  his  army,  was,  at  the  close  of  this    A.merican 
year,  in  winter-quarters,  at  Shelden  ;  and  Washington,  divi-  army  in  win 
ding  his  army  into  two  parts,  sent  one  division  to  take  post  at  ^f  r-quarters. 
West  P«)int,  and  himself,  with  the  other,  occupied  the  heights 
at  Morristown 


828  THE  ARMED  NEUTRALITY  ANNOYS  ENGLAND. 


CHAPTER   XL 

European  Affairs. — Campaign  of  1780. 

PART  fll.  Fresh  indications  of  hostility  towards  England  were  mam 
fested  by  the  European  powers.  That  nation  had  become 
mistress  of  the  sea,  and  had  borne  her  honors  haughtily ;  claim 
ing  the  right  of  searching  the  vessels  of  neutral  nations,  for 
articles  contraband  of  war,  and  not  allowing  their  national  flag 
England  be-  j-q  protect  them  from  her  troublesome  and  insulting  scrutiny. 

comes  mis-       .     ^  r       t  r    ■      t  •  ^•  1  ^      1 

tress  of  the  A  common  leelmg  oi  indignation,  at  this  conduct,   pervaded 
«cean.       the  nations  :  which,  by  the  policy  of  Catharine  II.  of  Russia, 
England  was  made  to  feel,  without  the  power  of  resenting. 
On  the  occasion  of  the  displeasure  produced  by  the  search  and 
"  Armed  ^^  seizure  of  a  number  of  Dutch  vessels,  sailing  under  the  con- 
proposed    voy  of  the  Count  de  Byland,  that  princess  proposed  to  the  na- 
»y  Catharine  tions  to  Unite  in  an  "  armed  neutrality  ;"  and  immediately  the 
Russia.    j^ij^fTs  of  Denmark  and  Sweden  acceded  to  the  proposal. 

The  treaty  to  which  they  were  mutually  bound,  and  which 
constituted  the  basis  of  this  confederacy,  stipulated,  that  neu- 
tral vessels  might  freely  navigate  from  one  port  to  another, 
even  upon  the  coast  of  belligerent  powers  ; — that  all  effects 
become  free  so  soon  as  they  are  on  board  a  neutral  vessel, 
except  such  articles,  as  by  a  former  specified  treaty,  had  been 
declared  contraband  ; — that  no  port  should  be  deemed  block- 
aded, until  such  an  actual  naval  force  had  invested  it,  as  to 
make  its  entrance  dangerous  ; — that  when  any  vessel  had 
shown  by  its  papers,  that  it  was  not  ihe  carrier  of  contraband 
goods,  it  might  place  itself  under  the  escort  of  ships  of  war, 
which  should  prevent  its  being  stopped  • — and  finally,  that  the 
legality  of  prizes  should  be  determinea  by  these  rules.  In 
order  to  command  respect  for  this  confederation,  the  three  al- 
lied powers  agreed  that  each  should  keep  a  part  of  its  navy 
equipped,  and  make  common  cause  in  protecting  their  com- 
mon trade. 
Reception  These  articles  were  communicated  to  the  courts  of  France, 
"^^^tr^  lir^b'^  Spain,  Holland,  England,  and  Portugal,  with  an  invitation  to 
the  different  join  the  confederacy.  The  two  former  expressed  great  admi- 
povver.-  of  ration  of  their  wisdom,  and  joy  in  their  adoption  ;  and  not  only 
^^°^''-  acceded  to  tliem,  but  wished  the  northern  powers  to  under- 
stand, that  by  their  directions  to  their  admirals,  they  had  al- 
ready anticipated  them.  The  British  ministry,  unwilling  to 
come  to  an  open  rupture  with  Russia,  but  determined  not  to 
admit  the  principles  of  the  confederac}^  dissembled,  for  the 
present,  their  displeasure,  and  replied  to  the  invitation  in  a 
vague  and  indecisive  manner.  Portugal,  fearful  of  offending 
England,  declined  the  alliance  ;  but  Holland,  irritated  at  the 


CHARLESTON    BESIEGED    BY    SIR    H.    CLINTON.  229 

Boizure  o*'  lier  vessels,  and  parlaking  in  the  common  feeling  of  ^^^.T^^L 
resentment  towards  England,  disregarded  her  threats,  and  period  il 
joined  the  armed  neutrality. 

Surrounded  by  so  many  perils,  ii  is  not  strange  that  Eng- 
land prosecuted  the  American  war  with  less  energy,  than  in 
preceding  years.  Yet  no  signs  of  fear  or  discouragement 
w^ere  manifested.  The  policy  now  to  be  pursutjd  was  to  draw 
all  the  troops  to  the  south,  except  so  many  as  were  requisite 
to  keep  possession  of  the  posts  already  acquired  at  the  north. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  after  remaining  a  short  time  in  the  vi-  Sir  H.  Clin- 
cinity  of  Savannah,  set  sail  on  the  10th  of  February  for  charlesto*'* 
Charleston,  and  landing  within  thirty  miles  of  the  city,  he 
took  possession  of  John's  Island  and  Stono  Ferry,  and  after- 
wards of  Wappoo  Cut  and  .lames  Island.  A  part  of  his  army 
proceeded  and  took  post  on  the  banks  of  Ashley  river,  oppo- 
site to  Charleston.  His  forces  w^ere  soon  increased  by  1,200 
troops  from  Savannah,  under  General  Patterson. 

Not    doubting   that   Charleston   would  be   attacked.   Gen-      General 
eral  Lincoln  removed  thither  with  his  army  ;  and  in  conjunc-  Lincoln  and 
tion  with  Governor  Rutledge,  to  whom  the  state  had  confided     RuISe 
dictatorial  powers,  he  tried  every  measure  to  put  the  city  in  a   prepare  for 
posture  of  defense.     But  they  had  great  difficulties  to  encoun-     defense. 
ter.     The  militia  had  been  disbanded ;  they  were  dispirited,    rp,   •    ,. 
and  afraid  to  enter  Charleston  on  account  of  the  small-pox,     courage- 
which  was   there   prevailing.     Paper  currency  was    out   of      menu 
credit,  and  many  becoming  discouraged,  as  to  the  final  success 
o^  the  republican  cause,  took  advantage  of  the  amnesty  which 
had  been  oilered  by  Provost.     A  considerable  force  was  how- 
ever  collected,  and   great  diligence  was   displayed  in    con- 
structing fortifications. 

The  siege  commenced  on  the  1st  of  April,  and  the  enemy   p^P"^  ^• 
was  employed  at  succeeding  periods,  in   erecting  batteries       sieves  ^ 
across  Charleston  Neck,  while  the  garrison  were  equally  as-  Charlestov) 
siduous  in  preparing  for  defense.     General  Lincoln  had  posted  ^"'^  *^"^^  J*^ 
General  Huger,  with  a  detachment  at  Monk's  Corner.     Hu-    American 
ger  was  driven  from  this  position,  on  the  14th  of  April,  by  the       army. 
British  troops,  under  Colonels  Webster,  Ferguson,  and  Tarle- 
lon ;  and  thus  the  only  road  by  which  a  retreat  could  be  ef- 
fected, was  at  the  command  of  the  besiegers.     Their  force 
also  was,   about  this  time,  increased  by  the  arrival  of  3,000 
troops  from  New  York. 

The  British  fleet  had.  on  the  9th  of  April,  passed  fort  Moul- 
trie, without  making  an  attack,  losing  by  its  guns,  only  twenty- 
seven  men.     It  then  anchored  near  fort  Johnson.     Clinton^ 
the  same  day,   completed  the  first  parallel  across  Charleston      May  7. 
Neck,  about  1,100  yards  from  the  American  works  ;  and  after  J°^'^  MouW 

'.,•'.  ,         ,  11.,  .       trie  surrtaji 

summonmg  the  garrison  to  surrender,  he  opened  his  batteries        ers. 
upon  the   town.     Colonel  Pinckney,   who   commanded    fort 
Moultrie,  having  withdrawn  his  troops  to  Charleston,  that  fort 
was  surrendered  on  the  7th  of  May. 
17  ^ 


230 


THE    BRITISH    MASTERS    OF    SOUTH    CAROLINA. 


PART  III. 


IT  80. 


Monoreiff 


The   British 
take  the  fort 
at  Ninety- 
Six. 


May  28. 

Colonel 

Tarleton 

surprises 

and  de'eats 

Colonel  Bu- 

ford  at  Wac- 

saw. 


Clinton  mas- 

wf  of  South 

Carolina. 


Proceeds   to 
establish  the 
royal  govern- 
ment. 


June  10. 
Returns  to 
New  York. 


General  Lincoln  being  thus  completely  surrounded,  capitu- 
lated on  the  12th,  surrendering  his  whole  army,  which  con- 
sisted of  seven  general  officers,  ten  continental  regiments,  and 
three  battalions.  Four  hundred  pieces  of  artillery,  and  four 
frigates  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  successful  operations  of  the  British  in  the  siege  o 
Charleston,  and  in  the  defense  made  at  the  close  of  the  last 
year,  at  Savannah,  are  l)y  historians  attributed,  in  a  great  de- 
gree, to  the  superior  skill  of  their  chief  engineer,  Moncrieff. 

After  taking  possession  of  the  capital,  Clinton  planned  three 
expeditions,  all  of  which  proved  successful ;  one  against 
Ninety-Six,  one  towards  the  Savannah  river,  and  the  third  to 
scour  the  country  between  the  Cooper  and  Santee  rivers. 
The  object  of  the  last  was  to  disperse  a  corps  under  Colonel 
Buford,  who  were  retiring,  by.  forced  marches,  in  hopes  to 
meet  another  body  of  Americans,  who  were  on  the  march  from 
Salisbury  to  Charlotte.  Buford  retreated  with  great  celerity. 
But  Colonel  Tarleton,  the  most  active  of  Clinton's  officers, 
commanded  the  pursuit,  and  after  marching  one  hundred  and 
five  miles  in  fifty-four  hours,  on  the  2Sth  of  May,  he  came  up 
Avith  Buford,  at  Wacsaw.  The  English  victory  was  com- 
plete, but  it  was  stained  with  cruelty.  They  massacred  many 
of  those  who  ofiered  to  surrender,  and  from  this  time  the  pro- 
verbial mode  of  expressing  the  barbarous  act  of  killing  those 
who  surrender,  was,  "  Tarleton's  quarter."  Thus  the  cavalry, 
which  Clinton  had  brought  with  him,  had  proved  of  essential 
service  to  his  arms  ;  and  the  alert,  yet  sanguinary  Tarleton, 
at  that  period,  seemed,  to  the  terrified  inhabitants,  to  be  every 
where  present. 

There  no  longer  remained,  in  South  Carolina,  a  force  capa- 
ble of  withstanding  the  British.  The  inhabitants  flocked  from 
all  parts  to  meet  the  royal  troops,  and  declare  their  desire  of 
resuming  their  ancient  allegiance.  Clinton  Avrote  to  England, 
that  "  South  Carolina  was  English  again."  But  he  was 
aware  that  his  conquests  could  not  be  preserved,  but  by  re- 
establishing the  civil  administration.  He  published  a  full 
pardon  to  all  who  should  immediately  return  to  their  duty. 
But  they  must  consider  themselves  established  in  the  duties, 
as  well  as  the  rights  of  British  subjects  ;  that  is,  they  must 
take  up  arms  in  support  of  the  royal  government.  Those  who 
had  families,  were  required  to  form  a  militia  for  home  defense  ; 
those  who  had  not,  to  serve  with  the  royal  forces,  for  any  six 
months  of  the  ensuing  twelve.  Thus  citizens  became  armed 
against  citizens  ;  and  brothers  against  brothers. 

General  Clinton,  seeing  the  afiairs  of  the  south  in  apparent 
tranquillity,  distributed  his  army,  amounting  to  about  4,000 
troops,  into  the  most  important  garrisons  ;  and  leaving  Lord 
Cornwallis  in  the  command  of  the  soutliern  department,  ho 
returned  to  New  York.  That  city  had  been  exposed  to  dan- 
ger.    The  garrison  was  weak ;  and  such  had  been  the  im 


DEPRECIATION    OF    THE    CONTINENTAL    MONEY. 


231 


paralleled  severity  of  the  winter,  that  Washington  might  have 
marched  his  army,  with  all  his  artillery  and  baggage,  across 
any  of  its  surrounding,  and  now  solid  waters.  But  the  mis- 
erable condition  of  the  American  army,  would  not  allow  the 
commander  to  take  advantage  of  this  unexpected  circumstance. 
Previous  to  the  return  of  Clinton,  General  Knyphausen, 
who  had  been  left  in  command,  had,  with  5,000  men,  made 
an  excursion  into  New  Jersey,  and  for  a  time  occupied  Eliza- 
bethtown.  He  had  manoeuvred  to  draw  Washington  from  the 
heights  of  Morristown,  intending  to  occupy  that  strong  post 
himself,  and  thus  force  the  American  army  into  the  open 
country ;  but  his  plan  was  penetrated,  and  his  expedition 
proved  fruitless.  Before  his  return,  an  affair  occurred  near 
Springfield,  in  which  General  Greene,  who  was  sent  by  Wash- 
ington, to  watch  the  motions  of  Knyphausen,  lost  about  eighty 
men,  and  the  British,  as  was  supposed,  somewhat  more. 
Springfield,  which  consisted  of  fifty  houses,  was  set  on  fire. 
At  sight  of  the  fiames,  the  inhabitants  aroused.  The  spirit 
of  the  early  days  of  the  revolution  rekindled.  They  collect- 
ed in  such  numbers,  and  pursued  the  British  with  such  vio- 
lence, that  their  general  was  glad  to  take  advantage  of  the 
night,  to  withdraw  his  army  from  the  open  country  of  Jersey 
to  the  defenses  of  New  York. 


PART  III. 


17§0. 

June  23. 
Skirmish  at 
Springfield 


New  Jersey 
patriotism 
rekindles 


CHAPTER   XII. 

Campaign  of  1780 — continued. 


Up  to  this  period,  congress  had  maintained  their  bills  at 
their  nominal  value,  and  had  often  declared,  that  a  dollar  in 
paper  should  always  be  given  and  received  for  a  dollar  in  sil- 
ver. But  compelled  to  vield  to  the  pressure  of  circumstances, 
they  now  decided,  that,  in  future,  the  bills  should  pass,  not  at 
their  nominal,  but  at  their  conventional  value.  The  govern- 
ment, which  Sir  Henry  Clinton  established  in  South  Caro- 
lina, had  first  made  such  a  decree  ;  and  had  caused  a  table  to 
be  constructed,  showing  what  had  been  the  rate  of  deprecia- 
tion, and  the  actual  value  of  the  bills,  in  years,  and  even  in 
months  past.  The  object  of  this  calculation  was  to  obtain  a 
lule,  by  which  the  payment  of  debts  might  be  regidated.  This 
example  congress  found  it  expedient  to  follow. 

Ill  Carolina  and  Georgia,  the  British  saw,  with  chagrin, 
that  there  were  stiL  those  who  were  devoted  to  the  cause  of 
independence  ;  and  their  resentment  dictated  measures  of  ex- 
traordinary rigor.  Their  possessions  were  sequestrated,  their 
families  jealously  watched,  and  subjected   as  rebels,  to  con- 


1780. 

Congress 
obliged  to 
sanction  the 
depreciation 
of  their  pa- 
per curren- 
cy 


lll-treatraepl 

of  the  south 

crn  patriot* 

by  the 

Britisk 


232 


THE    HEROINES    OF    SOUTH    CAROLINA. 


PART  III. 


They  are 

obliged  to 

take   up 

anns. 


Heroism  of 

the  women 

of  South 

Carolina 


General 
riew  of  the 
progress  of 
public  senti- 
ment. 


Exertions  to 
raise  money 
for  the  sup- 
port of  the 
unay. 


tinual  vexations.  Within  the  city,  they  were  refused  access 
to  the  tribunals,  if  they  had  suits  to  bring  against  a  debtor ; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  they  were  abandoned  to  all  the  pro- 
secutions which  those  who  had,  or  pretended  to  have,  claims 
against  them,  chose  to  institute. 

But  there  was  still  another  more  grievous  injury,  and  one 
which  stung  the  Carolinians  to  madness.  This  was  the  pro- 
clamation by  which  the  British  commanders  had  absolved  the 
prisoners  of  war  from  their  parole,  and  restored  them  to  the 
condition  of  British  subjects,  in  order  to  compel  them  to  fight 
under  the  royal  banner.  Had  they  been  suffered  to  remain 
at  home,  they  would,  by  degrees,  have  become  reconciled  to 
what  they  could  not  but  feel  to  be  the  degradation  of  their 
country.  But  with  the  requirement  to  take  up  arms,  their 
v/rath  rekindled.  "If  we  must  fight,"  said  they,  "  it  shall  be 
for  America  and  our  friends,  not  for  England  and  strangers." 

The  heroism  of  the  women  of  Carolina  gives  them  a  rank 
with  the  noblest  patriots  of  the  revolution.  They  gloried  in 
being  called  "  rebel  ladies."  They  refused  their  presence  at 
every  scene  of  gayety.  Like  the  daughters  of  captive  Zion, 
they  would  not  amuse  their  conquerors.  But,  at  every  hazard, 
they  honored,  with  their  attention,  the  brave  defenders  of  their 
country.  They  sought  out  and  relieved  the  sufferino-  soldiers, 
visited  prison  ships,  and  descended  into  loathsome  dungeons. 
Sisters  encouraged  their  brothers  to  fight  the  oppressor ;  the 
mother  her  son,  and  the  wife  her  husband ;  and  their  parting 
advice  was,  "  prefer  prisons  to  infamy,  and  death  to  servitude." 

Where  important  national  afi'airs  are  concerned,  there  is  a 
certain  degree  of  warmth  and  animation,  which,  pervading 
the  public  mind,  marks  the  healthy  state  of  a  nation.  When 
this  has  risen  to  an  unnatural  heat,  a  period  of  lassitude  and 
inertness  succeeds,  before  the  national  pulse  again  recovers 
its  healthful  beat.  Such  a  preternatural  state  of  public  feeling 
was  excited  in  America,  by  the  wrongs  of  Britain,  and  pro- 
duced the  noble  eflTorts  of  '76.  But  it  is  not  in  human  na- 
ture to  keep  long  strained  to  a  high  pitch.  A  period  of  lassi- 
tude succeeded,  and  in  '79,  the  nation  was  asleep.  But  its 
sleep  recruited  its  vital  energies.  The  enemy,  contemning  its 
apparent  weakness,  had  applied  the  scourge  of  a  barbarian 
warfare.  Its  efiects,  though  cruel  to  individuals,  were  whole- 
some to  the  body  politic  :  and  America  aroused  from  her 
slumbers,  and  awoke  to  better  deeds. 

The  leading  patriots  saw  with  delight,  the  rising  enthusi- 
asm of  the  people,  and  neglected  no  means  which  could  cher- 
ish and  propagate  it.  Congress  sent  circular  letters  to  all  the 
states,  earnestly  exhorting  them  to  complete  their  regiments, 
and  raise  and  send  recruits  to  the  army.  The  militia  obeyed 
the  call  with  alacrity.  The  capitalists  subscribed  large  sums 
to  replenish  the  exhausted  treasury.  A  bank  was  instituted 
at  Philadelphia,  on  which  congress  could  draw  for  the  neces- 


MRS.    VVASUfNGTON. LA    FAYETTE  S    RETURN. 


2:^3 


CHAP.  xni. 


sities  of  the  army.  With  generous  patriotism,  commercial  PART  III 
houses  and  weahhy  individuals  stepped  forward  to  support  the  I'EIUOd  ii, 
public  credit,  by  their  personal  responsibility  ;  although  the 
situation  of  affairs  still  oflered  too  many  motives  of  doubt  and 
distrust. 

Nor  was  this  patriotic  zeal  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  the 
soldiers,  confined  to  the  men.  The  women  in  all  parts  of  the 
country,  displayed  great  activity,  in  collecting  materials  and 
jn^])-iring  clothes  for  the  soldiers.  In  Philadelplda,  they 
formed  a  society,  at  the  head  of  which  was  Martha  W'ashing- 
ington,  wife  of  the  commander-in-chief.  This  lady  was  as 
prudent  in  private,  as  her  husband  was  in  public  affairs 
taking  of  his  complacent  dignity  and  even  temperament,  she 
had  no  caprices  to  disturb  his  affections,  and  withdraw  his 
attention  from  public  aflairs  ;  and  thus  it  was  owing,  in  no  in- 
considerable degree,  to  the  talents  and  virtues  of  his  wife, 
that  Washington  could  give  himself  wholly  to  the  dictates  of 
that  patriotism,  which  this  virtuous  pair  mutually  shared,  and 
reciprocally  invigorated.  Mrs.  Washington,  with  the  ladies 
who  had  formed  the  society,  themselves  subscribed  considera- 
ble sums  for  the  public ;  and  having  exhausted  their  own 
means,  they  exerted  their  influence,  and  went  from  house  to 
house,  to  stimulate  the  liberality  of  others. 


1780. 

Sooiel)'  of 

adies;  and 

haracter  of 

Par,  Mrs.  Wash 

ingtoii. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Campaign  of  1780 — continued. 


At  this  period,  La  Fayette  returned  with  the  cheering  in- 
telligence, that  a  body  of  French  troops  had,  at  the  time  of 
his  departure,  already  embarked  in  a  fleet  destined  for  Amer- 
ica. His  exertions  had  accelerated  their  departure,  and  he 
had  again  come,  self-devoted  to  the  generous  cause  of  free- 
dom. He  was  received  by  all  classes,  with  the  ardent  affec- 
tion, which  his  bland  manners  and  social  as  well  as  public 
virtues  excited,  and  which  his  services  and  talents  commanded. 

The  expected  succors  soon  arrived  at  Rhode  Island.  They 
consisted  of  a  squadron  of  seven  sail  of  the  line,  five  frigates, 
and  two  corvettes,  commanded  by  M.  de  Ternay,  bearing 
6,000  soldiers,  under  the  command  of  the  Count  de  Rocham- 
beau.  To  prevent  the  operation  of  that  jealousy  of  the  French 
troops,  which  was  felt  in  America,  the  prudent  arrangement 
had  been  made  between  congress  and  the  court  of  Versailles, 
that  General  Washington  should  be  the  commander-in-chief 
of  all  the  forces,  both  French  and  iVmerican  ;  and  that  Ame- 
rican officers  should  take  rank  of  French  officers  of  the  same 
grade.  The  Americans  welcomed  their  allies  with  every  de- 
17 


17§0. 

La  Fayette 
returns  to 
America, 


July  10 

A  French 

squadron  ajs 

rives  with 

troops. 


A  spirit  ol 
true  polite 

ness  ser- 
viceable to 

nations. 


234  SUMPTER  AND  MARION. BARON  DE  KALB. 

PART  III,  monstration  of  gratitude,  and  put  them  in  immediate  posses- 
PERiOD  II.  sion  of  the  forts  on  Rhode  Island.  Washington,  in  order  to 
CHAP.  XIII.  cement  more  firmly  the  union  between  the  two  nations,  ordered 
'-'^''^^''^^*^  the  distinctive  colors  of  the  national  flags,  to  be  blended  in  the 
banners  of  his  army. 

At  New  York,  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  whose  squadron  had  con- 
sisted of  four  ships   of  the  line,  was  now  reinforced  by  the 
arrival  of  six  ships,  under  Admiral  Graves.      General  Clinton 
Cl   t        Us  <i6t<3^™i*^<5d  on   attacking  the     French    immediately.         He 
to  attack  the  accordingly   embarked  on   board  the    squadron    of    Admiral 
French.      Graves,   with  6,000  choice  troops,  and  sailed  for  Rhode  Isl- 
and.     Washington,  in  the  meanwhile,  having  watched  the 
movements   of    Clinton,    immediately  marched  his   army  to 
Kingsbridore,  with  the  intention  of  attacking  New  York,  which 
was  now  left  almost  defenseless.      But  Clinton  learning  this 
movement,  and  finding  also  that  the  French  were  reinforced 
Washington  at  Rhode   Island,  by  the  New  England  militia,  relinquished 
compels  him  ^]^q  expedition,  and  returned  to  defend  New  York.     The  in- 
decision and  timidity  manifested  by  the  British,  on  this  occa- 
sion, infused  new  courage  into  the  Americans. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  at  the  north,  the  inha 
bitants  of  the  south  were  not  inactive.  The  insolence  of  the 
Partisan  British  troops  had  become  insupportable  ;  and  the  people 
warfare.  ^^  North  and  South  Carolina  had  assembled  in  numbers,  and 
seized  every  opportunity  of  harassing  them.  Among  the  offi- 
cers, who  headed  these  desultory  parties,  none  rendered  such 
Suropter  and  distinguished  services  as  Colonels  Sumpter  and  Marion. 
Sumpter  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  possessed  an 
extensive  influence  with  his  fellow-citizens.  He  collected 
great  numbers  of  the  inhabitants,  and  although  they  were 
compelled  to  trust  to  chance  for  their  means  of  subsistence, 
and  even  sometimes  to  use  their  implements  of  husbandry  as 
weapons  of  war,  yet  they  menaced  the  enemy  in  all  direc- 
tions. So  daring  were  they,  that  in  some  instances,  they  en- 
countered the  enemy  with  but  three  charges  of  ammunition 
to  a  man. 

Frequent  skirmishes  with  the  British,  at  length  furnished 
them  with  muskets    and   cartridges,   and    Colonel   Sumpter, 
Au"^.  6.      whose  numbers  now  amounted  to  600  men,  determined  upon 
Sumpter  d©  attacking  some  of  their  strong  posts.     His  first  attempt  was 
B  nfsh  at    "P^'^^  Rocky  Mount,  where  he  was  repulsed  ;  he  then  made  an 
Hanging     attack  at  Hanging  Rock,  and  destroyed  a   British  regiment, 
Rock.       stationed  at  that  place.      Perfectly  acquainted  with  every  part 
of  the  country,  he  was  enabled  to  elude  all  pursuit.    This  parti- 
san warfare,  while  it  weakened  the  number  of  the   English, 

o        J      emboldened  the  Americans,  and  strenrthened  their  confidence 

Baron  de      .       .  ,  '  *= 

Kalb  enters  m  themselves. 

A.  C.  with  a  Jn  the  meantime  a  few  regular  troops,  under  the  command 
^oScd^bV'  of  ^^^®  I^aron  de  Kalb,  had  been  sent  from  Maryland  to  llie 
(^en.  Gates,  defense  of  Carolina.     Owing  to  the  excessive  heat  of  the 


GATES    DEFEATED    AT    CAMDEN.  235 

season,  and  the  diinculty  of  procuring  provisions,  they  pro-  PART  III. 
ceedcd  by  slow  marches.     On  their  way  they  were  reinforced  period  ii. 
by  the  Virginia  militia,  and  the  troops  of  North  Carolina,  com-  cuap.  xui. 
manded  by   General    Caswell.      At  Deep   River  they  were  ^-^^^-^^^y 
joined,  on  the  25th  of  July,  by  General  Gates,  who  had  been 
appointed  to  the  connnand  of  the  southern  army.      He  imme- 
diately advanced  towards  South  Carolina   with  a  force  now 
amounting  to  about  4,000  men. 

When  he  arrived  on  the  frontiers   of  the  state,  he  issued  a     1780. 
proclamation,  inviting  the  inhabitants  to  join  him,  and  promis-  G^itos'  pro©, 
ing  pardon  to  all,  from  whom  oaths  had  been  extorted  by  the     ^'"=^^'°"- 
English,  excepting  those  who  had    committed   depredations 
against    the  persons   and    property   of   their    fello\v-citizens.  He  is  joined 
Multitudes  flocked  to  him,  and  even  whole  companies,  which    ^y  "i^"* 
had  been  levied  in  the  provinces  for  the  service  of  the  king, 
deserted. 

Lord  Rawdon,  who  had  now  the  command  of  the  British 
forces  on  the  frontiers  of  Carolina,  had  concentrated  them  at 
Camden.     On  learning  the' approach  of  Gates,  he  gave  imme- 
diate notice  to  Cornwallis,  who  soon  after  joined  him.     At     j^      ^^ 
ten,  on  the   night  of  the   15th  of  August,  the  whole   British   British  and 
force,  amounting  to  2,000  men,  marched   from  Camden  to  at-  American  ar- 
tack  the  Americans  in  their  camp  at  Clermont.     Gates  had   pj^^  '^  s^J., 
also  commenced  his  march  from  Clermont,  with  the  view  of    prise,  and 
surprising  the    British  camp.      About  two   in  the   morning,  ""^'^^^g^^f 
the  advanced  guards  of  the    armies  met  and  fired  upon  each 
other.     From  prisoners  made  on  both  sides,  the  commanders 
learned  each  other's  movements.     The  two  generals  suspend- 
ed  their  fire,   waiting   for  the  light  of   day,  and  the  armies 
having   halted,   were  formed  in  the  order  of  battle.      The 
ground  on  which  they  had  met  was  exceedingly  unfavorable 
to  Gates ;  he  could  not  advance  to  the  attack  but  through  a 
narrow  way,  bordered  by  a  deep  swamp,  and  the  situation 
rendered  the  superiority   of  the  iVmerican    numbers   of  no 
avail. 

In   the   morning  a  severe  and   general  action  was  fought.  ^^^^-  ^6- 
The  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  militia  fled  in  the  commence-  tle°of  Cam* 
ment  of  the  battle,  and   General  Gates  in  vain  attempted  to  den  and  de- 
rally  them.     The  continentals  were  thus  left  to  maintain  the  ^eatoftho 
contest,   and    though    they   defended   themselves    with  great 
bravery,  and  several  times  gained  ground,  yet  they  were  una- 
ble to  restore  the  fortune  of  the  day.     The  rout  became  gene- 
ral, the  Americans  fled  in  the  greatest  disorder.     They  were 
pursued  by  the  British  twenty-three  miles.     The  whole  loss 
of  the  Americans  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  was  about 
two   thousand.     General    Gregory  was  killed ;  the  Baron  de 
Kalb,  w4io  was  wounded,  and  General  Rutherford  were  taken 
prisoners.      All  the  artillery,  baggage,  and  stores,  fell  into  the  ^g^^j^  ^^^^ 
hands  of  the   enemy.      The  loss  of  the  British  amounted  to       Kalb. 
17* 


236 


ARNOLD    PROCLAIMED    A    TRAITOR. 


PART  III. 
PERIOD  II. 
CHAP.   XIV. 


1'5'§0. 

Aug.  18. 
Tarleton 
surprises 
and  ds feats 
Sumpter. 


General  Ma- 
rion. 


only  three  hundred  and  twenty-four.     The  Baron  de  Kalb  died 

of  his  wounds  three  days  after  the  battle.* 

General  Gates  retreated  to  North  Carolina,  leaving  the 
British  triumphant  in  the  south. 

Colonel  Sumpter  continued  to  show  himself  on  the  banks 
of  the  Wateree  ;  but  on  learning  the  defeat  of  Gales,  he  re- 
tired with  300  men,  and  two  field  pieces,  to  North  Carolina. 
Tarleton,  with  his  legion,  was  sent  in  pursuit  of  him,  and 
surprised  him  on  the  banks  of  Fishing  Creek.  Sumpter  with 
a  few  of  his  men,  escaped  ;  but  most  of  them  were  taken  by 
Tarleton,  and  put  to  the  sword. 

Marion,  who  about  this  time  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier-general,  still  kept  the  field.  Shehering  himself  in 
the  fastnesses  of  the  mountains,  he  occasionally  sallied  out 
upon  the  British  and  tories,  and  seldom  failed  of  surprising 
and  capturing  such  parties,  as  with  his  small  force  it  was 
prudent  for  him  to  attack. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


Campaign  of  1780. — Arnold's  Treason. 


17§0. 

Arnold  a 

traitor. 


Arnold's  ca- 
reer of  de- 
generacy. 


He  is  cen- 
sured by 
congress. 


While  these  affairs  were  transacting  at  the  south,  an  un- 
expected event  occurred  at  the  north,  which  arrested  the  gen- 
eral attention.  A  design  which  had  for  fifteen  months  been 
maturing  in  darkness  was  now  brought  to  light.  Arnold,  the 
loudest  to  proclaim,  and  the  fiercest  to  fight  for  his  patriot- 
ism, had  bargained  to  sell  himself  and  his  country  for 
gold. 

Arnold  was  dear  to  the  American  people  ;  he  had  been  val- 
iant in  their  service,  and  his  maimed  person  bore  the  marks 
of  the  field  of  Saratoga.  On  account  of  his  wounds  he  was 
obliged  to  retire  from  active  service.  He  solicited  and  ob- 
tained from  congress,  the  post  of  commandant  of  Philadel* 
phia.  Here  he  lived  in  princely  magnificence.  Inhabiting 
the  house  of  Gov.  Penn,  he  gave  it  a  splendid  furnishing,  and 
it  became  a  scene  of  high  play,  sumptuous  banquets,  and  ex- 
pensive balls.  To  support  this  pageantry,  he  resorted  to  com- 
merce and  privateering.  Unfortunate  in  these,  his  next  re- 
source was  the  public  treasure,  to  which,  as  an  oflicer  of  the 
government,  he  had  access.  He  presented  accounts  unwor- 
thy of  a  general.     Congress  indignant,  caused  them  to  be  in- 


*  Of  the  monument,  which  has  been  erected  in  Camden,  to  the  memory  of  de 
Kalb,  La  Fayette,  in  his  latest  visit  to  America,  helped  to  lay  the  corner-stone 
But  where  has  America  placed  a  memento  of  him  ^ 


237 

vestigatcd.  The  commissioners  whom  they  appointed,  rcdii-  PART  III 
ced  them  to  one  half.  Arnold  stormed  ;  but  on  a  reinvesti-  peiuod  ii. 
gation,  his  accomits  appeared  even  worse  than  the  first  report  cijap.  xiv. 
had  stated  them.  Arnold  now  wreaked  his  vengeance,  by  the  ^— •^s^^<»*->' 
most  shameless  invectives  against  congress.  The  state  of  17§0. 
Pennsylvania  took  up  the  quarrel,  and  brought  him  before  a  ^^^'  'V?P/* 
court-martial.  By  the  sentence  of  this  court  he  was  repri-  wfishingtoa. 
mandod  by  Washington. 

From  what  other  quarter  could  he  obtain  the  money  to  sup- 
port his  extravagance,  since  the  last   resource  had   failed  ? 
The  coffers  of  England  he  knew,  might  be  opened  to  supj)ly 
him.     He  should  also  obtain  revenge  on  the  objects  of  his 
wrath :    and    for    these    motives    he   resolved    to    barter    his 
conscience.     He  developed  his  intention  in  a  letter  which  he 
addressed  to  Col.  Robinson,  by  whom  it  was  communicated 
to  Sir  Henry  Clinton.     Determined  to  make  the  most  of  his 
new  ally,  Clinton  revolved  in  his  mind  what  was  the  most 
important  service   which  could  be  rendered,  w^hile  Arnold's      He  ne- 
treachery  remained  concealed.     The  foe  within  the  fortress,  ^sifSmy^ 
is  employed  by  its  enemy  to  open  the  gates.    This  was  the  Clinton,  and 
nature  of  the  service  which  Arnold  was  to  perform ;    and,  in-  ^'^^^^  '^^.^^' 
stigated  by  Clinton,  he  sought  and  obtained  of  Washington,  command  at 
4ihe    command  of  the  fortress   at   West  Point.      As    Arnold  ^^est  Point, 
passed  up  the  river  to  assume  his  command,  how  must  those 
guardian  mountains,  whose  rugged  passes  had  so  often  shel- 
tered the  little  army  of  his  country,  have  seemed  to  frown 
upon  the  traitor,  who  was  about  to  deliver  it  up  to  the  enemy ! 

Plis  first  measure  w^as  to  scatter  the  army  at  different  points, 
so  that  it  might  be   easily  cut  ofif  by  the   B.ritish.     All   was 
ready,  and  a  few  days  woidd  have  consummated  the  treason, 
but  for  a  providential   disclosure.     Major  Andre,  the  aid -de-    Major  An 
camp  of  General  Clinton,  had  been  by  him  intrusted  with  the        ^^^'    ' 
negotiation.      This  young  officer  was,  both  in  person   and   Hecorrev 
mind,  one  of  the  most  perfect  specimens  of  human  nature  ;  ponds  with 
concentrating  all  the  qualities  which  the  writer  of  romance  is     ^r^old. 
fond  of  attributing  to  his  hero.     Sir  Henry  Clinton's  partiality 
had  however  invested  its  object  with  a  false   light ;    or  he 
would  not  have  fixed  on  one  so  ingenuous,  to  conduct  a  plot 
requiring  such  art  and  subtlety. 

Arnold   and   Andre   had  corresponded    under  the   feigned 
names  of  Gustavus  and  Anderson.     As  the  crisis  approached,     Sept.  2J. 
they  concei\'ed   that  a  personal   interview  was  necessary,  in  "l/J-sona^T* 
order  to  concert  their  last   measures.     On  the   night  of  the     iciriov. 
21st  of  September,  Andre  landed  from  the   British  sloop  of 
war  Vulture,  a  little  below  Stony  Point,  where  he  met  Ar- 
nold.    They  spent  the  whole  night  in  conference  ;  and  when 
the  day  dawned,  their  dispositions  were  not  all  concluded. 
Andre  was  kept  in  close  concealment  through  the  day,  and 
at  night  he  prepared  to  return.     By  the  entreaties  of  Arnold, 
he  was  prevailed  upon  to  change  his  uniform  for  a  common 


238 


MAJOR  ANDRE  S  ARREST. 


PART  III. 


1780. 
Andrd  is 
taken  by 

three 
soldiers. 


They  take 
bim  to  the 

nearest 

American 

fort. 


A  court-mar- 
ial  appoint- 
ed to  try 
Arvird. 


Sir  H.  Clin- 
ton urge^  his 
acquittal. 


dress,  instead  of  concealing  it  as  he  had  formerly  done  by  a 
cloak.  As  the  Vulture  had  in  consequence  of  an  attack  from 
the  shore,  dropped  farther  down  the  river,  it  became  neces- 
sary for  him  to  proceed  towards  New  York  by  land.  He 
took  a  horse  from  Arnold,  and  a  passport,  under  the  name  ot 
John  Anderson.  Having  safely  passed  the  American  guard, 
and  reached  Tarrytown,  near  the  British  posts,  three  soldiers 
of  the  militia  crossed  his  way,  and  he  passed  on.  One  of 
them  thought  the  traveller  had  something  peculiar  in  his  ap- 
pearance, and  called  him  back.  Andre  inquired,  "  where 
are  you  from  ?"  "  From  below,"  (intending  to  be  understood 
from  New-York,)  replied  the  soldier.  "  So  am  I,"  said  the 
self-betrayed  Andre. 

He  did  not  attempt  to  conceal  his  connection  with  the  Brit- 
ish, but  he  offered  every  bribe  which  he  thought  could  tempt 
men  like  them.  He  pleaded  with  all  the  energy  inspired  by 
the  love  of  life,  and  by  the  momentous  concerns  that  his 
preservation  then  involved.  But  the  humble  patriots  spurned 
the  bribe,  and  were  deaf  to  the  entreaty.  Their  names  were 
John  Paulding,  David  Williams,  and  Isaac  Van  Wert.  They 
searched  his  person,  and  found  papers  in  his  boots,  in  the 
hand-writing  of  Arnold,  which  disclosed  the  treason.  They 
immediately  conducted  Andre  to  Colonel  Jameson,  the  officer 
who  commanded  the  advanced  guard  near  Peekskill.  This 
officer  hesitated.  He  could  not  be  persuaded  that  his  gene- 
ral would  betray  that  country  for  which  he  had  shed  his 
blood ;  and  he  indiscreetly  permitted  Andre  to  write  to  him. 
Arnold  thus  learned  that  he  was  arrested;  and,  seizing  a 
boat,  he  escaped  on  board  the  Vulture. 

Washington,  during  these  transactions,  had  been  to  meet 
and  confer  with  the  French  officers  at  Hartford,  in  Connecti- 
cut, but  he  had  nearly  reached  his  camp  when  the  nev^s  met 
him.  tlis  first  care  was  to  learn  whether  Arnold  had  accom- 
plices. Convinced  by  a  strict  scrutiny  that  none  of  his  other 
officers  were  guilty,  his  next  was  the  painful  duty  of  bring- 
ing to  trial  and  execution,  the  interesting  young  Andre. 

Although  from  the  usages  of  war,  Washington  might  have 
given  his  prisoner,  found  as  he  w^as  in  disguise,  the  same 
hasty  execution  as  that  to  which  Howe  had  some  years  be- 
fore sent  the  equally  interesting  Hale  ;  yet  he  was  aware, 
that  in  this  transaction  the  eyes  of  Europe  and  iVmerica  would 
be  upon  him,  and  his  heart  inclined  him  to  mercy.  He 
therefore  summoned  a  court  martial ;  and  was  careful  to  ap- 
point a  tribunal  of  whom  none  could  complain,  and  who 
would  be  as  merciful  as  public  safety  would  allow.  La  Fay- 
ette and  Greene  were  among  its  members ;  and  who  could 
doubt,  if  such  men,  with  all  the  kindness  of  their  nature, 
gave  sentence  of  death,  that  such  must  have  been  the  sicrn 
dictate  of  their  military  duty.  ^ 

From  this  fate,    Sir  Henry  Clinton   strove,  with  all  the 


EFFORTS  OF  THE  BRITISH  TO  SAVE  ANDRE.  239 

eainestness  of  a  tender  father,  to  shield  his   favourite.     He   P^J_i|[L 
wrote  to  Washington,  urging,  that  whatever  Andre  had  done,  period  n 
especially  the  change   of  his  dress,  was  by  the  direction  of  chai'.  xiy 
Arnold,  an  American  general ; — and  that  his  detention  was  a  ^--•^>^^^»-' 
violation  of  the   sanctity  of  flags,  and  the  usages  of  nations.     I'S'SO. 
Arnold  also  wrote  in  his  favor,  endeavourins;  to  charoc  him-      -^"'o^'^ 

o  o  writes 

self  with  tlie  blame  of  the  transaction ;  and  alledging,  that  in 

his    character,   as  an    American  general,   he  had  a  right  to 

grant  to  Andre  the  usual  privilege   of  a  flag,  for  the  purpose 

of  conferring   with  him,   and  to  provide   for  his  safe  return  in 

any  manner  he  should  choose. 

Andre  appeared  before  his  judges  with  a  noble  frankness. 
He  was  calm  and  composed,  as  to  his  own  fate,  but  anxious 
to  screen  his  friends,  especially  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  He  dis- 
guised no  fact,  and  resorted  to  no  subterfuge.  He  ingenu- 
ously disavowed  what  Clinton  and  Arnold  had  mainly  urged 
in  his  defense,  that  he  had  come  under  the  protection  of  a  -^"^'"^  ^P^ 
flag ;  and  the  fact  w^as  unquestioned  that  he  was  in  disguise.  death. 
Grieving  at  the  sentence  they  were  compelled  to  pronounce, 
his  judges  condemned  him  to  death  as  a  spy. 

Clinton,  smitten  with  anguish,  again  sought  to  negotiate  his 
release  ;  and  Washington,  at  his  request,  sent  General  Greene  ^J[e,Jpt  hl^ 
down  the  river  to  meet  and  confer  with   General  Robinson,    release  by 
This  friend  of  Andre  exerted  all  the  powers  of  reasoning  to     pron^ses 

r^  *i     ^    ^1  ^  •      .        T-'    •  I  •         •       and  threats. 

convmce  Greene  that  the  sentence  was  unjust.  Faihng  m 
that,  he  urged  his  release  on  the  score  of  interest ;  he  prom- 
ised, that  any  American,  charged  with  whatever  crime,  should 
be  exchanged  for  Andre  ;  and  he  hinted  that  the  sparing  of 
his  favourite,  would  do  much  in  the  mind  of  the  British  com- 
mander in  favor  of  the  Americans.  Finding  all  these  efforts 
unavailing,  he  resorted  to  threats.  He  delivered  a  letter  from 
Arnold,  which  contained  the  declaration,  that  if  Andre  was 
executed,  the  rebels  of  Carolina,  hitherto  spared  by  Clinton, 
should  all  be  put  to  instant  death.  This  interference  of  Ar- 
nold would  havfc  injured  the  cause  it  designed  to  serve,  had 
not  that  cause  been  already  hopeless. 

Andre  prepared  to  meet  his  approaching  fate.     Life,  and  He  prepares 
its  fair  prospects,  he   could  relinquish  :  but  there  were  cir-    ^°^  deatiu 
cumstances  relating  to  his  domestic  affections,  and  his  honor, 
which  touched  his  heart.     His  widowed  mother  and  his  sisters, 
on  the  far  shore  of  an  intcrvenino-  ocean,   were  w^atching  for 
every  vessel  that  might  bring  them  news  of  him.     One  would 
reach  thom  in  a  few  weeks  ;  and  who  would  console  them  for 
its  tidings !    and  must  they  learn  not  ordy  that  he  was  dead, 
but  that  he  died  upon  the  gallows  !     There  was  the  bitterness 
of  death;  and  he  besought  Washington,  that  he  might  be  al- 
lowed to  die  by  the  musket,  and  not  by  the  halter.     The  cruel 
rules  of  that  sanguinary  science,  which  philanthropy  hopes 
may,  in  some  future  age,  cease  to  exist,  compelled  Washing-      Oct.  2 
ton  to   deny  even  this  poor  request.     Andre  then  asked  per-  Is  executjd 


240 


CORNWALLIS    IN    NORTH    CAROLINA 


PART  III. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.   XIV. 


17§0. 

Arnold  re- 
warded, but 
despised. 


The  captors 
of  Andre  re- 
warded and 
honored. 

Sept. 
Cornwallis 
arrives  at 
Charlotte- 
town. 


Oct.  7. 
Defeat  of 

Ferguson  at 

King's 
Mountain. 


CJomwallis 
retreats  to 
South  Caro- 
lina. 


mission  to  write  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  which  was  granted . 
and  to  the  care  of  this  general,  he  commended  his  widowed 
mother,  and  afllicted  sisters.  Brought  to  the  gallows,  he 
said,  "  And  must  I  die  thus  ?"  The  burst  of  grief  was  calmed 
by  devotion,  when  he  said,  with  composure,  "  bear  me  witness 
that  1  die  as  a  brave  man  should  die  ;"  and  the  scene  closed. 

Arnold  received  from  the  British  jCI 0.000,  and  the  rank  of 
brigadier-general.  For  this  he  bartered  his  honor,  his  peace, 
and  his  fame  ; — changing  the  high  esteem  of  the  public  into 
general  detestation.  The  English,  although  they  stooped  to 
purchase  the  treason,  could  not  but  despise  the  traitor.  Even 
his  innocent  children  could  not  defend  their  little  rights 
among  their  playmates  ;  but  the  finger  of  scorn  was  pointed 
at  them,  and  they  were  hissed  with  "  traitor,"  "  traitor."* 

The  three  captors  of  Andre  were  honored  as  benefactors 
to  their  country.  They  received  the  thanks  of  congress,  a 
silver  medal,  and  a  pension  for  life. 

Cornwallis,  after  the  battle  of  Camden,  directed  his  efforts 
to  the  subjugation  of  North  Carolina ;  and  with  that  view,  he 
commenced  his  march  from  Camden  towards  Charlottetown. 
But,  in  order  to  maintain  the  royal  cause  in  South  Carolina,  he 
distributed  detachments  of  troops  upon  different  parts  of  the  fron- 
tier.    He  arrived  at  Charlottetown  about  the  last  of  September. 

In  the  meantime.  Colonel  Ferguson,  who  had  been  previ- 
ously sent  into  the  province  by  Lord  Cornwallis,  had  commit- 
ted acts  of  so  barbarous  a  nature,  as  to  awaken  the  highest 
indignation.  Wherever  he  went,  devastation  marked  his  pro- 
gress, and  the  people  determined  no  longer  to  submit  to  his 
atrocities.  The  mountaineers  collected  in  great  numbers, 
under  several  commanders,  the  principal  of  whom  were  Col. 
Campbell  and  Col.  Shelby;  and  arming  themselves  with 
such  weapons  as  they  could  obtain,  they  attacked  Ferguson 
on  a  woody  enunence,  called  King's  Mountain.  He  fell,  after 
a  vigorous  contest,  and  three  hundred  of  his  party  were  killed 
and  wounded.     His  successor  in  command  surrendered. 

This  defeat  was  a  severe  blow  to  Cornwallis,  and  rendered 
his  situation  in  North  Carolina  precarious.  The  loyalists,  in- 
timidated, no  longer  evinced  an  eagerness  to  espouse  his  cause. 
The  republicans  assembling  under  Colonels  Sumpter  and 
Marion,  made  every  effort  to  annoy  him  ;  and  the  royal  troops 
were  in  continual  danger  of  being  surprised  by  these  active 
leaders.  Under  these  circumstances,  he  found  it  prudent  to 
retire  to  South  Carolina,  and  await  the  reinforcements  which 
he  there  expected.  He  accordingly  repassed  the  Catawba, 
and  stationed  his  army  at  Winnsborough,  where  he  could  con- 

*  I  had  this  little  lact  from  a  lady,  who  was  herself  a  schoolmate  of  Arnold's 
children.  It  was  hard  upon  these  innocent  beings  ;  but  it  may  be  usefully  re- 
lated. Perhaps,  could  Arnold  have  known  the  insults  to  which  his  conduct 
would  have  exposed  his  children,  he  would  have  paused,  before  it  was  too  laiC  ; 
and  the  same  reflection  may  save  some  future  father,  when  tempted  to  a  deed 
of  dishonor 


ARNOLD    RAVAGES    VIRGINIA. 


241 


veniently  hold  communication  with  the  forces  at  Camden  and 
Ninety-Six. 

In  order  to  co-operate  with  Lord  Cornwallis,  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  had  detached  General  Leslie,  with  a  corps  of  3,000 
men,  to  Virginia.  They  landed  at  Portsmouth,  and  ravaged 
the  adjacent  country,  in  consequence  of  the  defeat  of  Fer- 
guson, Cornwallis  ordered  Leslie  to  embark  for  Charleston. 

Colonel  Sumpter  continued  to  harass  the  British  on  all  sides. 
He  had  surprised  some  small  detachments,  and  made  many 
prisoners.  Tarlcton  was  now  sent  by  Cornwallis,  to  surprise 
this  formidable  olhcer.  He  found  him  posted  at  Blackstocks, 
near  Tiger  river.  Tarleton.  attacked  with  great  impetuosity, 
but  was  soon  compelled  to  retreat.  But  Sumpter  being  dan- 
gerously wounded,  and  unable  to  retain  the  command  of  his 
forces,  they  were  disbanded. 

General  Gates  had,  during  the  period  of  these  transactions, 
exerted  himself  to  collect  new  troops,  and  had  greatly  im- 
proved the  condition  of  his  army.  He  had  not,  however,  been 
successful  in  the  southern  war ;  and  Washington,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  request  from  the  south,  nominated  Greene  to  su- 
persede him.  This  officer  found  the  army  at  Charlottetown  ; 
and,  notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  Gates,  it  was  still  feeble, 
and  unable  to  cope  with  Cornwallis.  He  therefore  deter- 
mined, by  the  advice  of  the  commander-in-chief,  not  to  hazard 
a  general  action,  but  to  harass,  if  possible,  the  British  army, 
and  reduce  it  by  degrees. 

General  Leslie,  with  a  reinforcement  of  1,500  men,  now 
J9ined  Cornwallis,  at  Winnsborough.  This  accession  of  troops 
renewed  his  hopes  of  reducing  North  Carolina  and  Virginia. 
To  render  the  success  of  the  enterprise  more  certain,  by  pre- 
venting the  Virginians  from  sending  succors  to  Greene,  Arnold 
had  been  sent  to  the  Chesapeake,  with  fifty  transports  and 
1,600  men.  He  landed  his  troops  in  Virginia,  and  commen- 
ced, what  now  seemed  his  favorite  employment,  the  devasta- 
lion  of  his  country. 


PART  III. 

PEllIOD  IL 
CHAP.  XV. 


17§0. 

Rnncounter 

between 

Sumpter  and 

Tarleton 


Dec.  2. 

Gates  is 
superseded 
by  Greenp 


Arnold 
makes  a  de- 
scent upon 
Virsjinia. 


CHAPTER   XV. 


Campaign  of  1781. — European  Politics. — American  Affairs. 


England,  during  the  past  year,  though  alone  in  arms, 
against  both  hemispheres,  had  remained  unshaken.  Spain 
had,  at  immense  expense,  laid  and  continued  the  siege  of 
Gibraltar,  which,  under  its  commander,  Elliot,  had  made  the 
most  obstinate  defense  found  in  the  annals  of  modern  history. 
That  nation  had  also  sent  out  immense  fleets,  which,  uniting 
with  those  of  France  and  Holland,  had  twice  threatened  Eng- 


I7§0-1 

Operations 
of  the  belli 
gerent  pow 


542 


AMERICA    EXHAUSTED. CONGRESS    ACT    WITH    VlGoR. 


PART  III 


i'y§o-i. 

De  Giasse 

to  be  sent 

from  France 

with  a  fleet. 


English 
send  rein- 
forcements. 


America  in 
an  exhaust- 
ed condition. 


Perplexities 
of  congress. 


They  lay  a 
direct  tax  to 
raise  money. 


land  itself  with  invasion  ;  but  untoward  circumstances  prevent 
ed  the  attempt. 

The  naA^al  operations  of  the  belligerent  powers  were, 
during  these  years,  of  astonishing-  magnitude.  Great  battles 
were  fought  in  the  West  Indian  and  European  seas  ;  in  which 
the  allies  and  the  English  were  each,  alternately,  the  conquer- 
ors and  the  conquered.  Each  also  took  from  the  other,  on 
various  occasions,  large  fleets  of  merchant  vessels.  But,  in 
these  captures,  the  advantage  had  been  more  frequently  with 
the  EnMish.  Several  of  the  West  India  islands  changed  mas- 
ters  during  these  contests.  Pensacola  was,  in  May,  taken  by 
the  Spaniards,  who  thence  extended  their  conquests  over  the 
whole  province  of  Florida. 

Amidst  these  contests,  neither  England  nor  France  forgot 
America.  France,  in  addition  to  the  force  under  Rochambeau, 
determined  to  send  out  a  large  fleet,  under  the  Count  de 
Grasse,  which,  after  performing  certain  services  in  the  West 
Indies,  was  to  repair  to  the  coast  of  America,  and  co-operate 
with  de  Rochambeau  and  Washington.  This  measure  proved 
of  the  highest  importance  to  America. 

The  English  equipped  a  fleet,  by  which  Lord  Cornwallis 
was  to  receive  a  reinforcement  of  several  regiments  of  Eng- 
lish troops,  and  3,000  Hessians. 

The  situation  of  America  at  this  period  was  such  as  to  give 
hope  to  her  enemy,  and  alarm  to  her  friends.  The  eflbrts 
made,  during  the  precedmg  year,  and  the  successes  experi- 
enced at  the  south,  had  produced  the  happy  eflect  of  reviving 
public  spirit.  But  although  temporary  relief  had  been  afforded, 
no  permanent  means  of  supplying  the  returning  and  increas- 
ing wants  of  the  army,  had  been  provided  ,  and  from  this 
cause,  the  country  seemed  standing  on  the  verge  of  ruin. 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  conceive  a  situation  more  trying 
than  that  of  the  American  congress.  They  v/ere  striving,  not 
for  conquest,  but  for  existence  ;  their  powerful  foe  was  in  full 
strength,  in  the  heart  of  their  country  ;  they  had  great  military 
operations  to  carry  on,  but  were  almost  without  an  army,  and 
wholly  without  money.  Their  bills  of  credit  had  ceased  to  be 
of  any  worth ;  and  they  were  reduced  to  the  mortifying  ne- 
cessity of  declaring,  by  their  own  acts,  that  this  was  the  fact ; 
as  they  no  longer  made  them  a  legal  tender,  or  received  them 
in  payment  of  taxes.  Without  money  of  some  kind,  an  army 
could  neither  be  raised,  nor  maintained.  But  the  greater  the 
exigency,  the  greater  were  the  exertions  of  this  determined 
band  of  patriots. 

They  directed  their  agents  abroad  to  borrow,  if  possible, 
from  France,  Spain,  and  Holland.  They  resorted  to  taxation  ; 
although  they  knew  that  the  measure  would  be  unpopular ; 
and  that  they  had  not  the  power  to  enforce  their  decree.  The 
tax  laid  was  apportioned  among  the  several  state  governments, 
by  whose  authority  it  was  to  be  collected.     Perceiving  that 


THE    PATRIOT    MORRIS. MONEY    BORROWED.  243 

there  was  disorder,  waste,  and  peculation  in  the  manairement  PART  in. 
of  the  fiscal  concerns,  they  determined  on  introducing  thorough  period  ii 
reform  and  strict  economy.  They  accordingly  appointed  as  chap.  xv. 
treasurer,  Robert  Morris,  of  Philadelphia  ;  a  man  whose  pure 
morals;  ardent  patriotism,  and  great  knowledge  of  financial 
concerns,  eminently  fitted  him  for  this  important  station. 

The  zeal  and  genius  of  Morris  soon  produced  the  most  fa- 
vorable results.     By  a  national   bank,  to  which  he  obtained  17§0-1. 
the  approbation  of   congress,  he  contrived  to  draw  out  the   The  genius 
funds  of  wealthy  individuals,  and  by  borrowing,  in  the  name  of    °  "  °"'^*' 
the  government,  from  this  bank,  and  pledging  for  payment  the 

taxes  not  yet  collected,   he  was  enabled  to   anticipate   them,   ^o^nds  the 
-  -^     .  -      '         ,  TT       1  11-  •  "fst  national 

and  command  a  ready  supply.     He  also  used  his  own  private       bank. 

credit,  which  was  good,  though  that  of  his  government  had 
failed  ;  and,  at  one  time,  bills,  signed  by  him  individually, 
were  in  circulation,  to  the  amount  of  five  hundred  and  eighty- 
one  thousand  dollars. 

While  America  received  this 'great  service  from  the  zeal     Franklin 
and  ability  of  one  of  her  patriots  at  home,  she  owed  not  less  money'from 
to  the  exerti^ons  of  another  abroad.     Franklin,  at  the  court  of  France  and 
France,  obtained  from  Louis  XVI.  a  gift  of  six   mihions   of    Holland. 
Uvres  ;  and  as  Holland  refused  to  lend  to  the  United  States, 
on  their  own  credit,  the  French  monarch  granted  at  the  soli- 
citations of  the  minister,  his  guarantee  to  the  States  General ; 
who,  on  this  security,  lent  to  congress  the  sum  of  ten  millions 
of  livres.     Spain  refused  to  furnish  money  to   the    United 
States,  unless  they  would  renounce  the  navigation  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi,   which  w^as  steadily  refused. 

The  funds  raised  from  abroad  and  at  home,  were  expended 
with  the  utmost  prudence.     All  who  furnished  supplies,  w^ere    j'^p^gJJ^J^ 
paid  by  the  treasurer,  with  the  strictest  punctuality  ;  and  pub-  restore  con/i 
lie  confidence,  by  degrees,  sprang  up  in  the  place  of  distrust ;      dence 
order  and  economy  in  the  room  of  confusion  and  waste. 

Before  these  measures  had  imparted  vigor  to  the  fainting 
republic,  an  event  occurred  which  threatened  its  subversion  : 
in  fact,  it  was  one  of  the  causes  which  led  to  the  reformation 
in  the  finance,  and  the  establishment  of  the  new  system.  The  j.^^, 
whole  Pennsylvania  line,  amounting  to  near  1,500  men,  re- Revoltoi  ta* 
voUed.  They  Avere  suffering  the  extremity  of  want.  They  ^^J^J^f^^^*' 
had  enlisted  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war ;  and  as  the 
three  years  expired  at  the  close  of  1780,  they  contended  that 
they  had  now  a  right  to  be  discharged,  and  to  return  to  their 
homes.  The  government,  however,  maintained  that  they 
had  a  claim  to  their  services  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
From  these  causes  a  violent  tumult  broke  out  on  the  night 
of  the  1st  of  January.  The  soldiers  declared  that  they 
would  march,  with  arms  in  their  hands,  to  the  hall  of  con- 
gress, and  demand  justice.  It  was  in  vain  that  their  officers 
attempted  to  appease  them.  Their  most  popular  leaders,  La 
Fayette,  and  others,  were  constrained  to  quit  the  camp.     Gen- 


344  MUTINY    IN    THE    AMERICAN    ARMY. 

PART  III,   eral  Wayne  presented  himself  boldly  among  them,  with  a 
PERIOD  II.   pistol  in  his  hand  ;  but  they  menaced  his  life,  and  pointed 
CHAP.  XV.    their  bayonets,  as  if  to  execute  their  threats.     Marchmg  to- 
^^^"-^^"""-^  wards  Philadelphia,  they  had  already  advanced  from  Middle- 
brook  to  Princeton,  when  they  were  met  by  Generals  Reed 
and  Sullivan,  who  were  commissioners  appointed  by  congress 
to  investigate  facts,  and  take  measures  for  the  restoration  of 
public  tranquillity. 
l'y§l.         In  the  meantime,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  informed  of  these  af- 
A  pacific     fairs,  made  every  disposition  to  draw  the  mutineers  into  the 
^^visJd  by '    service  of  the  British.     He  passed  with  his  forces  into  Staten 
Washington,  Island,  and  sent  three  American  loyalists,  to  make  them  the 
and  adopted  j^Qg^  temptincr  offers.     These  the  insur^rents  declined.     Mean- 
'  while,  the  commissioners  of  congress,  hai'ing  been  advised  by 
Washington  to  pursue  a  pacific  course,  offered  to  grant  dis- 
charges to  those  who  had  enlisted  for  three  years,  or  during 
the  war.     They  promised  remuneration  for  what  they  had  lost 
by  the  depreciation  of  paper  securities,  the  earliest  possible 
payment  of  arrears,  an  immediate  supply  of  necessary  clothing, 
and  an  oblivion  of  their  past  conduct.     The  mutineers  accept- 
."Jlinton's     ^^  ^^^®  proposals  ;  and  congress,  in  due  time,  fulfilled  the  con- 
nissaries    ditions.     The  Pennsylvanians  then  delivered  to  congress,  the 
Hwijed.      emissaries  of  Clinton,  who  were  immediately  hanged, 
awtfw  Tersey      ^  ^^^^  days  after  this  affair,  the  troops  of  New  Jersey  also 
iioops  revolt,  erected  the  standard  of  revolt.     Washington,  prepared  to  ex- 
ished^^' '  ^®^^  some  movement  of  the  kind,  instantly  marched  against 
them  with  so  powerful  a  force,   that  he  compelled  them  to 
suoi.iit ;  and  chastising  their  leaders  with  severity,  the  army 
was  no  longer  disturbed  by  sedition. 

In  tiiv;  meantime,  the  war  was  vigorously  carried  on  at  the 

Greene  se-   south,  by  both  the  contending  parties.     General  Greene  sepa- 

parates  the  rated  his  ai.ny,  which  consisted  of  2,000  men,  into  two  parts, 

my^nTcTtwo'  ^^^  ^^  ^^®  he«d  of  One  division  he  encamped  at  the  conduence 

divisions,    of  Hicks'  creek  with  the  Pedee  ;  while  Colonel  Morgan,  at 

the  head  of  the  oJicr,  moved  by  his  direction  into  the  western 

part  of  the  state,  lO  guard  the  passages  of  the  Pacolet. 

Cornwallis,  unwiihng  to  advance  into  North  Carolina,  while 
Jan.  17.      Morgan  was  in  his  reai,  detached  Tarleton  to  oppose  him  with 
Cowpens     ^  corps  of  eleven  hundicJ  men,  and  two  field  pieces.     Tarle- 
ton finding  Morgan  at  a  p\cice  called  the  Cowpens,  attacked 
Morgan  de-  with  his  usual  impetuosity.     After  one   of  the  severest  and 
feats  Tarle-  j^gg^  fought  engagements  of  th^  whole  war,  the  British  were 
defeated.     The  disparity  of  loss  in  this  engagement  was  sur- 
prising ;  that  of  the  British  being  three  hundred   kill^.d   and 
wounded,  while  that  of  the  iVmericcUts  was  only  twelve  killed, 
and  sixty  wounded.     Colonel  Morgarv  look  five  hundred  pris- 
oners, and  all  the  artillery  and  baggage  v(  the  "enemy.     Colo- 
nels Washington,  Howard,  and  Pickens,  distinguished  them- 
selves in  this  action. 

Colonel  Morgan  now  directed  his  march  towards  Virginia 


ton. 


THE  FAMOUS  RACE  THROUGH  THE  CAROLINAS. 


245 


Cornwallis,  mortified  at  the  defeat  of  his  favorito  ofTiccr,  pre- 
pared to  pursue  him  with  vigour.  lie  intended  to  intercept 
him  on  his  route,  retake  the  prisoners,  and  prevent  his  junc- 
tion with  Greene.  Both  Morgan  and  Cornwallis  now  proceeded 
by  forced  marches  towards  the  Catawdia,  each  army  exerting 
themselves  to  reach  the  fords  before  the  other.  Morgan  had 
the  advantage.  He  had  crossed  the  river  two  hours  only  when 
the  ]3ritish  appeared  on  the  opposite  bank.  Night  came  on,  and 
Cornwallis  was  obliged  to  delay  crossing  until  daylight.  A 
heavy  rain  fell,  and  in  the  morning  the  ford  was  impassable, 
and  the  impatient  Cornwallis  was  obliged  to  wait  three  days 
before  the  subsiding  waters  allowed  him  to  pass. 

In  the  meantime,  Greene,  anxious  for  the  fate  of  the  pur- 
sued troops,  had  left  his  army  under  the  command  of  General 
Huger,  to  make  their  way  toward  the  sources  of  the  rivers, 
where  they  were  fordabie,  and  had  himself  proceeded  with 
only  a  few  attendants,  to  join  Morgan.  It  was  at  this  junc- 
ture, that  he  arrived  at  the  camp,  and  took  upon  himself  the 
command.  Another  race  now  commenced.  The  British 
came  up  with  the  Americans  at  the  ford  of  the  Yadkin.  The 
republican  army  had  crossed  over,  and  only  a  quantity  of  bag- 
gage remained  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  when  the  foe  ap- 
peared in  sight.  Again  the  waters  suddenly  rose,  and  Corn- 
wallis was  once  more  obliged  to  stop,  and  look  inactively  on, 
while  the  expected  fruit  of  toilsome  marches  was  snatched 
from  him.  And  it  was  done  by  no  human  hand.  At  this  sig- 
nal deliverance  every  pious  feeling  of  the  American  bosom 
rose  in  gratitude  to  Him,  who  had  made  to  them,  as  to  his 
people  of  old,  a  way  through  the  waters,  while  he  had  closed 
it  to  their  enemies. 

General  Greene  directed  his  course  towards  Guilford,  where 
he  was  to  be  joined  by  General  Huger.  On  the  9th  of  Feb- 
ruary, the  tw^o  detachments  of  the  American  army  reached 
that  place,  and  effected  their  junction  in  safety.  Cornwallis 
now  proceeded  to  the  Dan  ;  intending,  by  reaching  these  fords 
before  the  Americans,  to  prevent  their  communication  with 
Virginia.  In  this  also,  he  was  disappointed  :  the  Americans, 
on  the  14th,  crossed  the  Dan,  with  all  their  artillery,  baggage, 
and  stores,  leaving  the  British  yet  in  their  rear. 

Cornwallis  now  repaired  to  Hillsborough,  where  he  en- 
deavored to  prevail  upon  the  inhabitants  of  North  Carolina,  to 
espouse  the  royal  cause.  But  the  people  generally  consider- 
ed it  to  be  declining,  and  few  listened  to  the  call.  He  how- 
ever sent  Tarleton,  with  his  legion,  to  the  district  between  the 
Haw  and  Deep  Rivers,  to  encourage  the  rising  of  the  loyal- 
ists, whom  he  had  understood  to  be  numerous  in  that  quarter. 
General  Greene  had  sent  Col.  Lee,  with  a  body  of  cavalry 
to  attack  a  company  of  loyahsts,  marching  to  Cornwallis, 
nnder  the  command  of  Colonel  Pyle.  The  Americans  char- 
ged them  with  vigor,  and  the  tories,  supposing  them  to  be 
18 


PART  IIL 
PERIOD  IL" 

CHAP.     XT. 


1781. 

Mor^'an  is 
pursued  by 
Cornwalli.**, 
but  is  saved 
by  the  rise 
of  -waters. 


Anotner 
race  from 
the  Cataw 

ba  to  the 
Yidkin. 

Americant 
again  saved. 


Feb.  9. 

T\vo  di- 
visions of 
the  Ameri- 
can army 
unite. 

They  reach 
the'  Dan. 

Still  IB  ad. 
Vance  of 

Cornwai'i*. 


Singular  do 

feait  of  two 

parties  of 

royalists. 


246 


ENCOUNTER    OF    THE    SOUTHERN    ARMIES. 


PART  III. 


1781. 

March  15. 
Battle  of 
Guilford 
court-house. 
The  Ameri- 
cans retreat. 


The  van- 
quished gen- 
eral pursues 

the  victo- 


Ccrr.v^allis 

proceeds  to 

Virginia. 


Tarleton's  legion,  and  themselves  mistaken  for  republicans 
declared  their  attachment  to  the  royal  cause,  and  vociferated 
the  cry,  "  long  live  the  king."  Between  two  and  three  hun- 
dred were  killed  by  their  enraged  assailants,  and  the  smvi- 
vors  compelled  to  surrender.  Tarleton,  by  a  singular  coin- 
cidence, soon  after  met  another  small  body  of  royalists,  col- 
lected  for  a  similar  purpose,  and  slaughtered  them,  believing 
them  to  be  republicans.  While  advancing  to  encounter  Lee, 
Tarleton  was  called  back,  by  Cornv/allis,  to  Hillsborough. 

Greene  had  now  received  a  reinforcement  of  continental 
troops,  and  several  bodies  of  militia,  which  augmented  his 
army  to,  4,400  ;  and  he  no  longer  wished  to  avoid  an  engage- 
ment with  the  British.  Having  made  every  preparation 
in  his  power,  he  marched,  and  took  post  at  Guilford  court- 
house, about  eight  miles  from  the  grounds  occupied  by  the 
British  general.  The  armies  met  on  the  15th  of  March. 
Early  in  the  battle,  some  companies  of  the  militia  fled,  and 
the  American  regulars  were  thus  left  to  maintain  the  conflict 
alone.  They  fought  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  with  great  brave- 
ry, and  in  some  instances  forced  the  British  to  give  way. 
They  were,  however,  at  length  compelled  to  retreat,  but  it  was 
only  step  by  step,  and  v/ithout  breaking  their  ranks.  The 
loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  engagement,  was  estimated  at 
1,300  ;  that  of  the  British  in  proportion  to  their  number,  was 
more  considerable. 

Greene  now  retreated  to  Speedwell's  iron  works,  ten  miles 
from  the  field  of  battle.  Cornwallis,  although  he  had  the  re- 
putation of  a  victor,  found  himself,  in  consequence  of  his 
losses,  obliged  to  retreat,  while  Greene  was  in  a  condition  to 
pursue  ;  thus  affording  the  singular  spectacle  of  a  vanquished, 
pursuing  a  victorious  army.  Cornwallis  retired  to  Bell's  mills, 
and*  after  a  few  days'  repose,  marched  towards  Wilmington. 
Greene,  having  collected  the  fugitives  of  his  army,  followed 
the  British,  and,  with  his  light  infantry,  continually  infested 
their  rear.  He,  however,  soon  altered  his  course,  and  pro- 
ceeded, by  forced  marches,  towards  Camden  in  South  Ca- 
rolina. 

On  Cornwallis'  arrival  at  Wilmington,  he  was  undetermined 
whether  to  return  to  the  relief  of  South  Carolina,  or  to  march 
into  Virginia,  and  join  the  forces  under  Arnold.  A  council 
of  war  was  called,  which  decided  upon  the  last  measure,  and 
the  British  general,  after  having  remained  in  Wilmington  a 
few  days,  to  refresh  his  troops,  proceeded  towards  Petersburg; 
leaving  the  command  of  the  forces  in  the  Carolinas,  to  Lord 
Rawdon,  whose  talent  and  military  ardor  would,  he  hoped, te 
able  to  hold  the  army  of  Greene  in  check,  keep  possession  o/ 
the  province,  and  establish  the  British  authority. 


RAWDON    ATTACKS    GREENE    AT    HOBKIRK's    HILL.  247 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

Campaign  of  1781,  continued. 

Lord  Rawdon  having  fixed  his  head-quarters  at  Camden,  PART  IIL 
fortified  the  place  with  great  care.     The  other  principal  posts  period  il 
of  the  British  in  this  region,  were  Charleston,  Ninety-six,  and   chap,  xvi, 
Augusta.      They  had,  however,  garrisoned  several  others  of  '^--^-^v^'^-^ 
minor  importance.     The  disaffection  of  the  inhabitants  to  the 
British  cause,  compelled  them  thus  to  divide  their  troops,  in 
order  to  maintain  points,   Avhose  communication   with  each 
other  was  necessary  to  their  subsistence.    The  retreat  of  Corn-  ^  1'5'81 
wallis  gave  the  republicans  new  hopes.     Sumpter  and  Marion,  ^i^rfon'^an- 
by  their  bold  but  prudent  movements,  Avere  continually  gain-  aoy  the  Brit 
ing  advantages  over  the  royalists.     Regarded  as  leaders  who        ^"• 
would  conduct  their  followers  to  success  and  glory,  hundreds 
flocked  to  their  standards,  whom  they  organized  into  regular 
companies.       Thus  they  became  so  powerful,  that  they  were 
able  to  hold  in   check  the  whole  of  lower  Carolina,  while 
Greene,  with  his  army,  faced  Lord  Rawdon  in  the  highlands. 
This  officer,  finding  that  his  position  was  becoming  danger- 
ous,  strengthened  his  army  by  calling  in  several  of  his  out- 
posts. 

General  Greene,  at  this  time,  appeared  in  view  of  Camden, 
at  the  head  of  his  army.     He  intrenched  himself  within  a 
mile's  distance,  at   Hobkirk's  Hill.      Ra\vdon  would  have  re- 
treated towards  Charleston  ;  but  the  way  was  occupied  by 
the  light  troops  of  Sumpter  and  Marion.     He  perceived  that 
the  Americans  trusted  to  the  strength  of  their  post,  and  guard- 
ed it  with  negligence.      Leavinsf  Camden  in  the  care  of  the 
convalescents,  he  marched,  on  the  night  of  the  25th  of  April, 
with  every  man  in  his  army  capable  of  carrying  a  firelock, 
and  taking  a  circuitous  route,  he  fell,  by  surprise,  on  the  left    April  2& 
flank  of  the  Americans.     Greene,  perceiving  that  the  British  Amencarw 
moved  in  a  solid,  but  not  extended  column,  immediately  caused  and  defeated 
them  to  be  attacked,  at  the  same  time,  on  both  flanks,  and  in  at  Hobkirk'* 
front.     The  battle  became  general  and  fierce.     The  royalists 
gave  way.     Rawdon  pushed  forward  his  reserve.     The  Ame- 
ricans, in  their  turn,  retreated,  and  the  efforts  of  Greene  and 
his  officers,  to  rally  them,  were  ineff'ectual.     The  loss  of  the 
Americans,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  was  268  ;  that 
of  the  British,  nearly  equal. 

The  American  general,  after  this  affair,  retired  from  Hob- 
kirk's Hill,  and  encamped  about  five  miles  from  his  former 
position,  to  re-organize  his  army.  Rawdon,  like  Cornwallis 
at  Guilford,  found  the  effects  of  the  battle  to  be  rather  those 
of  a  defeat  than  a  victory.     He  was  inferior  to  his  enemy  in 


t\S 


BRITISH    FORTS    IN    SOUTH    COROLINA    CAPTURAi). 


PART  IL 


British  forts 

taken  by  the 

Americans. 

May  22. 
Greene  in- 
^sts  Nine- 
ty-Six. 


June  5. 

Augusta  ca- 
pitulates to 
the  Ameri- 
cans. 


June  18. 

Greene 
makes  an  un^ 
successful 
attack  upon 
Ninety-Six, 
Mul  retires. 


Haslilities 
tu:^nded. 


Colonel 
Isaac 
iiuyne. 


cavalry,  and  could  not  pursue  him.  With  his  army  weake\ied, 
the  inhabitants  in  every  direction,  were  rising  against  him ; 
and  he  hnd  reason  lo  tremble  for  several  of  his  posts,  which, 
as  he  was  informed,  were  besieged  by  the  Americans.  On 
the  10th  of  May  he  evacuated  Camden,  razed  its  fortifications, 
and  retreated  towards  Charleston.  On  the  13th,  he  arrived 
at  Nelson's  ferry  ;  where  he  learned,  that  Forts  Watson  and 
Georgetown  had  capitulated  to  Marion  and  Loe  ;  and  Motte 
to  Sumpter.  The  prisoners,  taken  in  these  forts,  amounted  to 
nearly  800,  besides  a  considerable  quantity  of  military  stores. 
From  Nelson's  ferry,  Rawdon  moved  to  Eutaw  Springs. 

Ninety-Six  and  Augusta  were  now  the  only  posts  which  re- 
mained to  the  British  in  the  upper  country,  and  these  were 
already  invested  by  militia,  under  colonels  Clarke  and  Pick- 
ens. General  Greene  now  directed  his  army  against  Ninety- 
Six,  which  was  the  strong  hold  of  the  royalists ;  and,  on  the 
22d  of  May,  began  a  regular  siege. 

Meantime,  Rawdon,  whose  army  had  been  reinforced  by 
three  regiments  from  Ireland,  put  himself  in  motion  to  oppose 
the  Americans  and  preserve  his  fortresses,  particularly  that 
of  Ninety-Six.  On  his  march,  he  learned  that  Augusta  had 
capitulated  to  the  militia,  commanded  by  the  gallant  colonel 
Pickens. 

Greene  believed  that  his  troops  were  in  no  condition  to 
contend  against  the  augmented  army  of  Rawdon,  combined 
with  the  garrison  of  Ninety-Six.  Unwilling,  however,  to 
leave  the  place  without  an  effort,  which  should,  at  least,  vin- 
dicate the  honor  of  the  American  arms,  he  made  a  vigorous 
assault  upon  the  fort,  and  gained  a  considerable  advantage, 
though  he  did  not  succeed  in  capturing  it.  He  then  removed 
his  army  beyond  the  Tiger  and  Broad  rivers.  Rawdon  ap- 
proached, and  made  some  unavailing  attempts  to  draw  Greene 
into  an  engagement.  After  this,  he  entered  and  examined 
Ninety-Six  ;  and  finding  the  place  not  capable  of  withstanding 
a  regidar  attack,  he  abandoned  it,  and  directed  his  march 
towards  Orangeburg;  where,  on  the  12th  of  July,  he  estab- 
lished his  head-quarters.  Greene  followed  him ;  but,  finding 
his  position  covered  by  the  windings  of  the  Edisto,  he  bent 
his  march,  on  the  IGth,  to  the  heights  which  border  the  San- 
tee.  The  season  proving  uncommonly  hot  and  sickly,  the 
contending  armies,  by  tacit  consent  suspended  their  ope- 
rations. 

During  this  period,  occurred  the  last  scene  of  a  memorable 
tragedy.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  none  could  have 
been  found  more  the  subject  of  envy,  than  Isaac  Hayne. 
Blessed  with  the  goods  of  fortune,  he  was  eminently  endow- 
ed with  those  qualities  which  gain  the  love  of  men,  and  he 
possessed  all  the  finer  sensibilities  which  ennoble  our  nature, 
and  glow  in  the  breast  of  the  husband,  the  father,  the  friend 
and  the  patriot.     At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  he  enter- 


ROYAL  CAUSE  SUFFERS  BY  THE  DEATH  OF  HAYNE. 


cd  with  ardor  into  tlic  views  of  the  republicans,  and  assisted 
in  person  at  the  defense  of  Charleston.  On  the  surrender  of 
that  city,  Colonel  Ilayne,  whose  consequence,  as  a  leader, 
was  appreciated  by  the  British,  was  oflered  the  alternative  of 
becoming  a  liritish  subject,  or  going  into  rigorous  conhnemcnt. 
For  himself,  he  would  not  have  hesitated  a  moment  to  choose 
captivity.  But  his  wi-fe  and  children  were  at  his  plantation 
anguishing  with  the  small-pox.  And  not  only  did  he  feel  it 
agony,  at  such  a  time,  to  be  separated  from  them,  but  he  knew, 
that  should  he  refuse  the  ofler  of  the  British,  a  lawless  sol- 
diery would  violate  and  lay  waste  the  retreat  of  his  suffering 
family.  Torn  by  conflicting  duties,  who  could  blame  him,  if, 
ill  such  a  situation,  the  husband  and  the  father  triimiphed  over 
the  patriot.  He  consented  to  invest  himself  with  the  condition 
of  a  British  subject,  on  the  solemn  assurances  of  General 
Patterson,  that  he  should  not  be  called  on  to  bear  arms  against 
his  countrymen. 

Meanwhile,  the  republicans  had  found  means  to  change  the 
fortune  of  the  war.  The  British  obliged  to  act  on  the  defen- 
sive, no  longer  regarded  their  engagements  as  sacred,  but 
called  on  Hayne,  with  others,  to  repair  to  the  royal  army. 
Feeling  now  released  from  an  obligation  which  the  British 
themselves  had  viola  ed,  he  left  a  home  which  had  been  deso- 
lated by  the  loss  of  his  wife  and  two  of  his  children,  and  once 
more  took  arms  in  the  cause,  which  he  had  ever  held  dear. 
Engaged  as  a  colonel  commanding  a  corps  in  the  partisan 
warfare,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  confined  in  a  deep  dun- 
geon in  Charleston.  Without  even  the  form  of  a  trial,  Lord 
Rawdon,  with  Colonel  Balfour,  the  commandant  of  Charles- 
ton, contrary  to  the  usages  of  war,  sentenced  him  to  death. 
The  royalists,  with  the  governor  at  their  head,  petitioned  for 
the  prisoner,  and  declared  the  impolicy  of  the  act.  The 
most  distinguished  women  of  Charleston,  touched  with  his 
virtues,  plead  for  him  with  feeling  and  eloquence.  But  more 
than  all,  his  children,  clad  in  mourning  for  their  mother,  ap- 
peared before  the  judges,  and  stretching  out  their  little  hands, 
entreated  with  tears,  for  the  life  of  their  surviving  parent. 
But  it  was  all  in  vain,  and  Hayne  was  led  to  execution. 

Amidst  the  execrations,  which  Rawdon's  unrelenting  cru- 
elty had,  in  this  instance,  drawn,  not  only  upon  himself,  but 
upon  the  cause  wdiich  he  had  thought  proper  to  use  such 
means  in  vindicating,  that  general  left  the  capital  of  Carolina, 
and  returning  to  England,  the  command  of  the  army  devolved 
on  Colonel  Stuart. 
'^8 


17§1 


Virtues  and 
iufTorings  ai 

Colonel 

Hayne 


Genenu 

sympathy 
excitedL 


Aug.  4. 

Execution 

of  Colonel 

Hayne. 

Rawdon  su 

perseded  hy 

Colonel 

Sluart. 


2h0 


THE    LAST    BATTLE    AT    THE    SOUTH. 


PART  III. 
PERIOD  IL 

CHAP.  XVII. 


1T§1. 

Sept.  8. 
Battle  of  Eu- 
taw  Springs. 


Jan.  4. 
Arnold  rava- 
|t)s  Virginia 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Campaign  of  1781 — continued. 

General  Greene,  still  in  his  camp,  at  the  High  Hills  of  the 
Santee,  had  made  the  best  use  in  ms  power,  of  the  time  al- 
lowed him  by 'the  suspension  of  arms.  It  was  now  the  be- 
^^inning  of  September  ;  the  sultriness  of  the  season  had  abated, 
and  he  determined,  if  possible,  to  dispossess  the  British  of 
the  remaining  posts  in  the  upper  country.  He  crossed  the 
Wateree,  and  marched,  circuitously,  to  the  Congaree  ;  passed 
it  with  all  his  army,  and  descended  along  its  right  bank,  in- 
tending to  attack  Colonel  Stuart,  who,  at  this  time,  occupied 
a  post  at  M'Cord's  Ferry.  He  fell  back  upon  Eutaw 
Springs,  and  thither  General  Greene  pursued  him. 

The  armies  engaged  on  the  8th.  The  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs,  is  memorable  as  being  one  of  the  most  bloody,  and 
valiantly  contested  fields  of  the  war ;  and  also  for  being  the 
last  of  any  note  that  occurred  at  the  south.  General  Greene 
drew  up  his  forces  with  great  skill,  and  made  the  attack.  His 
soldiers  resorted  promptly  to  the  use  of  the  bayonet,  which 
they  had  formerly  appeared  to  dread.  The  British  were  rout- 
ed and  fled  ;  but  finding,  in  their  flight,  a  large  house  and  some 
other  objects,  affording  shelter,  they  rallied,  and  repulsed  their 
assailants  with  hea\y  loss.  Greene,  finding  it  impossible  to 
dislodge  them,  retreated  to  his  camp,  bearing  500  prisoners. 
The  whole  loss  of  the  British,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  pris- 
oners, was  about  1,000,  that  of  the  Americans,  600.  Con- 
gress voted  their  thanks  to  General  Greene,  and  presented 
him  with  a  conquered  standard  and  a  medal.  Greene  was 
ably  seconded  by  his  officers,  among  whom  were  colonels 
Lee  and  Washington,  the  latter  of  whom  was  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner. 

Greene's  army  having  been  reinforced,  the  British  no  lon- 
ger dared  to  keep  the  open  country,  but  retired  to  Charleston. 
Thus  had  the  Americans,  in  a  few  months,  recovered  the 
whole  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  except  their  capitals. 
The  skill  and  valor  manifested  by  Greene,  in  their  defense, 
have  given  him  a  rank  among  the  heroes  of  the  revolution, 
second  to  none  but  the  commander-in-chief. 

It  will  be  recollected,  that  we  left  both  Cornwallis  and  the 
traitor  Arnold  in  Virginia.  The  latter  had  landed  on  the  4th 
of  January,  with  a  force  of  1,600  men,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Richmond,  where  he  destroyed  the  public  stores.  He  then 
sent  detachments  to  diflerent  places,  and  not  only  public  stores 
were  wasted,  but  Arnold  and  his  officers  committed  the  most 
wanton  depredations  on  private  property. 


LA    FAYETTE    DEFENDS    VIRGINIA.  251 

Washington,  although  perplexed  with  the  recent  mutiny  of  PARTJIL 
the  troops,  and  the  deranged  state  of  the  tinances,  concerted  period  a 
measures  with  the  French,  by  means   of  which,  he  hoped  to  chap,  xvn 
relieve  Virginia,  and  obtain  possession  of  the  traitor  and  his 
force.     La  Fayette,  at  the  head  of  1,200  light  infantry,  was 
sent  towards    Virginia,  while  the  conmiander  of  the  French 
fleet,  at  Kliode  Island,  dispatched  a  squadron  of  eight  sail  of 
the  line  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  Arnold  from  the  Chesapeake. 
But  Clinton,  gaining  intelligence  of  the  plan,   sent  Admiral    ^^^J^^^  ^l 
Arbuthnot  to  the  relief  of  Arnold,  with  a  squadron  of  equal    tween  the 
force.      These  two   fleets  met,  and  fought  otT  Cape  Henry,  French  and 
on  the   16th  of  March,   and  suffered  equal,  though  not  very     fleeta'oflF 
considerable  loss.     But  the  French  were  constrained  to  re-  Cape  Henry, 
iinquish  their    design,   and   return   to   Rhode  Island.     Upon 
hearing  this.  La  Fayette,  who  had  arrived  at  Annapolis,  retreat- 
ed to  the  head  of  Elk. 

Clinton,  finding  how  narrowly  Arnold  had  escaped,  sent  to 
his  assistance  General  Philips,  with  2,000  men.     Thus  rein- 
forced, he  resumed  the  work  of  pillage  and  destruction.     La 
Fayette  arrived  in  time  to  save  Richmond ;  but  he  witnessed 
from  that  place,  the  conflagration  of  Manchester,  on  the  op- 
posite   bank  of  the   James.     About  this   time,   both  parties     May  20. 
learned  the  approach  of  Cornwallis,  and  it  became  the  object    British^r- 
of  Philips  and  Arnold,  to  form  a  junction  with  him.     They   mies  at  Pe- 
marched  to  Petersburg  to  await  his  arrival.     They  arrived  be-     ^^rsburg. 
fore  Cornwallis.     General   Philips  sickened  and  died  on  the 
13th  of  May,  and,  on  the  20th,  Cornwallis  reached  the  place. 

After  remaining  a  few  days  at  Petersburg,  Cornwallis,  now 
in  command  of  the  combined  forces,  directed  their  march  into 
the  interior  of  Virginia,  supposing  as  was  the  fact,  that  the 
Americans  were  too  weak,  and  too  much  dispersed,  to  ofier 
any  etfectual  opposition.  There  were,  however,  three  sepa- 
rate corps  of  republican  troops  in  Virginia;  one,  under  Gen- 
eral La  Fayette  ;  another,  and  a  smaller  one,  under  the  Baron 
Steuben  ;  and  the  Pennsylvania  line  under  General  Wayne. 
Had  they  been  united,  they  w^ere  by  no  means  a  match  for  the 
army  of  Cornwallis.  But  La  Fayette,  who  had  the  chief 
command,  showed  how  well  he  had  profited  by  the  lessons  of 
Washington.  Prudent  and  brave,  understanding  better  than  La  Fayeft* 
the  British,  the  ground  over  which  the  armies  moved,  he  harasses 
harassed  them,  and  restrained  their  motions  ;  without  once  Cornwallis 
sufiering  himself  to  be  led  into  a  snare,  or  his  army  to  be  en- 
dangered. When  Cornwallis  pursued,  he  retreated ;  when, 
intent  upon  some  other  object,  his  foe  held  another  direction, 
mimediately  La  Fayette  pursued  in  his  turn,  hanging  upon  his 
rear,  and  embarrassing  his  movements. 

Whihi  at  Westover,  Cornwallis  detached  Colonel  Tarleton    Tarleton 
to  Charlotteville,  where  the  legislature   of  Virginia  were  in   cfj^rlotte! 
session,  and,  at  the  same  time,  sent  a  detachment  to  the  Point       viUe 
of  Fork   at  the  junction  of  the   two  rivers,  which   form  the 
18* 


252  WASHINGTON    GAINS    AN    IMPORTANT    MARoH. 

PART  III.  James,  to  seize  some  stores  at  ihat  place.  Both  these  expe- 
ditions  were,  in  a  measure,  successful ;  but  Tarletoii  was 
disappointed  of  the  prize  on  which  he  most  calculated.  This 
was  the  capture  of  Gov.  Jefferson,  who,  after  having  provided 
for  the  safety  of  a  considerable  quantity  of  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, found  means  to  elude  the  vigilance  of  his  pursuers. 
l'y§I.  Cornwallis,   while   thus  ranging  the  interior  of  Yiiginia, 

Sir  H.  Clin-  constantly  checked,  however,   by  La  Fayette,  was  suddenly 
ton  orders    recalled  to  the  sea-coast,  by  an  order  from  Sir  Henrv  Clinton, 

Cornwallis         ,  ,     .  ,  .       -^  .  ,  .  .  'i    -r^  ■,' 

to  the  coast,  who  beuig  apprehensive  that  the  Americans  and  French 
meditated  an  attack  on  New  York,  and  fearing  that  he  was 
not  in  sufficient  force  to  resist  them,  had  directed  Cornwallis 
to  embark  3,000  of  his  troops,  to  join  his  garrison.  That  general, 
intent  on  obeying  the  mandate,  marched  with  his  army  to  Ports- 
mouth; where  he  received  orders  to  retain  the  troops.  Clin- 
ton, having  received  a  reinforcement  of  3,000  Germans,  now  be- 
lieved he  could  dispense  with  further  aid ;  and  ordered  Corn- 
wallis to  proceed  to  Point  Comfort,  and  there  fortify,  in  order 
that  the  British  might  have,  in  any  event,  a  secure  retreat. 
Cornwallis  found  reasons  for  disliking  this  post,  and  obtained, 
of  Clinton,  permission  to  select  another.  He  fixed  on  York- 
town,  a  village,  which  is  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  York 
Confwailis  ^iver.  Upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream,  on  a  projecting 
enters  York-  point,  which  narrows  and  deepens  its  channel,  is  the  smaller 
town.  village  of  Gloucester.  Cornwallis  entered  Yorktovvn,  August 
23d,  and  proceeded  to  erect  fortifications. 

Washington,  anxious  to  avail  himself  of  the  naval  superi- 
,,  ority,  which  the  expected  French  fleet  under  de  Grasse  v/ould 

Washington  afibrd,  had  a  meeting  with  Count  Rochambeau,  at  Wethers- 
meditates  an  field,  in  Connecticut.     Here  it  was  proposed  to  attack  New 
NewVork    ^^^^'     Clinton,  apprised   of  this,   determined,   as    we    have 
seen,  to  recall  a  part  of  the   forces  of  Cornwallis,  but  was 
prevented  by  the   arriA^al  of  3,000  German  troops,  which  in 
creased  his  garrison  to  upwards  of  10,000. 

In  the  meantime,  Washington  was   disappointed  in  his  ex- 
pected recruits.     Instead  of  12,000  regular  troops,  which  he 
hoped  to  have,  he  could  hardly  muster  5,000,  a  number,  by 
no  means  adequate  to  the   projected  siege.     He  learned  that 
the  Count  de  Grasse,  could  not  remain  on  the  American  coast 
longer  than  October,  and  finally,  that  his  destination  was  the 
August.      Chesapeake.      From   these   considerations,  Washington   sud- 
CJhanges  his  denly  changed  his   plan,   and  bent   all  his  energies  to   take 
Dlan.        Cornwallis  in  the  snare  which  he  seemed  laying  for  himself- 
Success  depended  upon  secrecy  ;  for  had  Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton been  apprised  of  his  object,  he  might,  at  first  have  defeated 
it.     But  it  may  reasonably  be  supposed,  that  few.  at  this  time, 
were  in  the  covmsels  of  the   commander-in-chief;    for  never 
was  a  secret  better  kept,   or  an   enemy  more   completely  de- 
ceived.    Washington  made  every  show  of  preparation  to  at- 
tack  New  York.     He  broke  up  his  camp  at  New  Windsor 


DE    GRASSE    BLOCKS    UP    THE    CHESAPEAKE.  253 

And   advanced  down  the  river  to  Kingsbridgc.     The  French  PART  III. 
army,    consisting    of  5,000    men,    under    Kochambeau,    had  period  ii. 
marched  from   Rhode  lisland,  and  joined  him  early  in  July,  chip, xvii. 
They   appeared   daily  to  expect  the  arrival  of  de  Orasse   at  v^.^-^-«w-/ 
New  York.     Suddenly  Washington  crossed  the  Hudson,  and     17'§1. 
directed  the  rapid  march  of  the  allied  armies  across    AJew  ^^5^  "^"^'*^^  *° 
Jersey.     But  he  had  caused  a  report  to  be  spread,  that  this 
was  merely  a  feint,  to  draw  Clinton   from  his   fortifications, 
that  he  might  fight  him  in  the  open  field.     Clinton  deceived, 
remained  within  his  fortress.      Washington,  now  learning  that 
de  Grasse  was  near  the  Chesapeake,  no  longer  delayed  cross- 
ing the  Delaware  ;  but  steered  direct  for  his  object,  well  sat- 
isfied, that  the  time  for  his  foe  to  prevent  its   accomplishment      -   ^  o- 
was  past.     He  arrived,  after  a  rapid   march,   at  the   head  of  Arrives  at 
Elk,  on  the  25th  of  .-lUgust;    and  having  made  the  nccessarj  '^'■^  ■^^^'^  <*' 
arrangements  for  the  t.ansportation  of  his  army,  he  went,  at- 
tended by  Count  Rochambeau,  to  Philadelphia,  and  Baltimore. 
Leaving  there  the   French   commander,  Washington  made  a 
short  visit  to  Mount  Vernon.     This  was  the  first  time  he  had 
crossed  the  threshhold  of  his  beloved  home  for  six  years  and 
five  months  :    so   entirely  had  he  been  devoted  to  his  public 
duties.     On   the    14th  of   September,  the  two   commanders 
joined  La  Fayette  at  Williamsburg. 

The   Count  de  Grasse,  with  twenty-five   sail   of  the  line,    ^^  lirasse 
entered  the   mouth  of  the  Chesapeake,  only  one  hour  before  bbcksup'thc 
Washington  arrived  at  the  head  of  Elk,  and  immediately  per-  Ches?j>/-ike 
formed  the   part  assigned  to  him,  by  blocking  up  the  mouihs 
of  the  York  and  James  rivers ;  thus  cutting  off  all  communi- 
cation between  the  British  at  Yorktown  and  New  York.     He 
also  opened  a  communication  with   La  Fayette,  who,  when 
Cornwallis   first  took  post  at  Yorktown,  had  occupied  a  posi- 
tion  higher  up  the  river,  but  had  now  descended  as  far  as 
Williamsburg.      The   allies    feared    that    Cornwallis,  seeing 
the  toils  into  which  he  was  falling,  would  turn  upon  La  Fay- 
ette, who  was  his  inferior  in  force.     To  prevent  this,  3,000 
light  troops,  under  the   Marquis  de  St.  Simon,  were  sent  up 
the  river  in  boats  to  join  him  at  Williamsburg. 

Cornwallis  had  strengthened  his  works,  and  could  only  be 
overcome  by  a  regular  siege.  The  allies  needed  artillery, 
and  other  preparations  for  besieging  Yorktov/n.  These  they 
expected  from  Rhode  Island,  to  be  brought  by  a  French 
squadron,  commanded  by  the  Count  de  Barras,  who  had  made 
sail  three  days  before  the  arrival  of  de  Grasse  in  the  Ches- 
apeake. To  prevent  falling  in  Avith  the  British  fieet,  Barras 
had  stood  far  out  to  sea.  While  expecting  him,  de  Grasse, 
on  the  5th  of  September,  saw,  ofT  the  capes,  a  British  g^^  g 
fleet  of  nineteen  sail,  under  Admiral  Graves.  The  French  Partial  ac- 
admiral,    advised  by  Washinffton,  behaved  with    great  skill  tion  between 

1  1  TT  1      1         T^    •  •    1  •    11  1  the  English 

and  prudence.      He   engaged  the    British  partially,   to  draw  a^d  French 
them  from  their  anchorage   ground;    by  which  means,  the       fleets 


254  THE    COMBINED    ARMIES    INVEST   YOIIKTOWN. 

PART  HI.  Count  de  Barras,  as  he  expected,  was  enabled  to  pass  by 
PERIOD  II.  them  into  the  bay,  but  refused  a  general  engagement,  which 
CHAP.  XVIII.  would  have  been  putting  at  hazard  a  game,  Avhich,  with  prU" 
dence,  was  already  in  the  hands  of  the  allies. 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

Campaign  of  1781. — Continued. 


CoRNWALLis  had  now  little  hope  of  escape,  but  from  Clin- 
ton. To  him  he  had  found  means  to  represent  his  situation ; 
and  closely  invested  as  he  was,  he  received  an  answer  to  his 
communication.  By  this  he  was  informed,  that  troops  would, 
if  possible,  embark  from  New  York  for  his  relief,  by  the  5th 
of  October. 

Clinton,  hoping  to  make  a  diversion  in  his  favor,    project- 
ed  an  expedition  against   New  London,  in  Connecticut,  the 
command  of  which  he  gave  to  Arnold,  lately  returned  from 
17§1.     Virginia.     The    access    to    the    port   of   New  London,  was 
Sept.  6.      guarded  by  forts  Trumbull  and  Oris  wold,  erected  on  the  op- 
bulhakenTy  posite  banks  of  the  Thames.     Fort  Trumbull  was  easily  cap- 
t!ie  British,  tured.     The  garrison  of  fort  Griswold  was  composed  of  mili- 
tia, hastily  collected  in  the  vicinity  ;  and,  under  the  command 
of  the  estimable   Colonel  Ledyard.     They  made  a  resolute 
woldt?ken    ^^f^^^'^^®'   ^^^^  killed   numbers  of  the  assailants.     At   length 
and  the  ?ar-  they  were  overpowered,   and  ceased  to  resist.     As  the  Brit- 
rison  imtch-  ish  entered,  an  officer  inquired,  "who  commands  this  fort?" 
^"^^  '       "I  did,"  said  Colonel  Ledyard,  " but  you  do  now  ;"  and  pre- 
sented his  sword.     The  monster  took  it,  and  plunged  it  in  his 
bosom.     This  was  the   signal  for  slaughter.     Forty,  out  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty,  were  all  that  escaped.     Scarcely  was 
there  a  father  of  a  family,  in  this  little  town  of  Groton,  but 
was  that  night  butchered,  and  almost  its   entire  population 
were  made  widows  and  orphans. 
Arnold  bums      New  London  was  next  laid  in  ashes,  and  a  great  number 
^^dot^^'   ^^  vessels  richly  laden,  fell  into  the  hands  of  Arnold.     Wash- 
ington was  not,  however,  moved  to  quit  his  post  at  the  south. 
The  people  of  Connecticut  showed  ominous  signs  of  resist- 
ance, and   Arnold  judged  it  prudent  to  return  to  New  York. 
Comwallis       Cornwallis,   in  the   belief  that  he  should   receive   succor 
-,all3  in  his  from   Clinton,    abandoned   his    outposts,    and    withdrew   his 
ant' wUh-   3,rmy  entirely  within  the  fortifications  of  Yorktovvn.     Many 
draws  with-  of  his  own  officers   considered  this  as  a  great  error.     They 
in  his  de-   ^i^^  urged  him  to  attempt  cros.sing  the  river,   and  regaining 
the  open  country,  through  which  they  might,  as  they  believed, 
proceed  by  rapid  marches,  to  New  York.     While  he  delayed 


CORNWALLIS    ATTEMPTS    TO    ESCAPE.  255 

and  deliberated,  the  small  chance  that  was  left  him  of  esca-   PART  III, 
pnig  in  this  way,  was  destroyed.  period  ii. 

The   combined   armies   moved  from  Williamsburg,  on  the  ^^hap.  xvin 
25th  of  September,  and  in  five  days  M'ere  collected  in  the  vi-  <-*^^^^^^-/ 
cinity  of  Yorktown.     Their  whole  force  amounted  to  16,000;     17§1. 
7,000  of  whom  were  French.     They  commenced  their  works    ^^   , ;  ^' 

'  .  ir-wi  ■  ^  •    ^      ^  t  -i^  orktown 

on  the  night  of  the  Gth  of  October,  in  which  they  made  rapid  besieged. 
advances,  notwithstanding  a  hea\y  fire  from  the  fort.  On  the 
9th,  several  batteries  were  completed,  and  a  destructive 
cannonade  commenced.  On  the  11th,  they  began  their 
second  parallel,  which  was  only  three  hundred  yards  from 
the  fort. 

In  order  to  complete  their  trenches,  it  was  necessary  to 
dislodge  the   English  from  two  redoubts  which  were  in  ad- 
vance of  their  main  works.     Washington  determined  on  at- 
tempting  them  by  assault,   and  aware  of  the  emulation  be-     ^r^vo  re- 
tween  the  two  armies,  assigned  to  the  French,  under  Baron   doubts  ai- 
de Viomesnil,  the  taking  of  one ;  while,  to  the  Americans,  ^^^^^g^ 
under  the  Marquis  La  Fayette  and  Colonel  Hamilton,  he  as- 
signed the  capture  of  the   other.     The  ardour  and  eloquence 
of  the   officers  were  equalled  by  the  valor  of  their  troops. 
Their   onset  Avas  so  furious,  that  the   British,  though  they 
bravely  resisted,  could  not  long  withstand.     Both  the  redoubts 
were  taken,  not,  however,  without  loss  to  the  allies,  of  which 
*J:ie  French  suffered  the  greatest  share. 

On  the  night  of  the  1 6th,  the  British,  under  General  Aber-  rp5^^  r  v'  u 

,  .  ^ ,  .  '  .  '  ,  .  -   1  he  Bntish, 

crombie,   made   a  vigorous   sortie,    took   two    batteries,   and  under  Abet 
spiked  eleven  cannon.     They  were  charged  furiously  by  the    crombie, 
French,  under  De  Noailles,  and  driven  back  to  their  entrench-  ™^  tie^  ^°^' 
ments. 

The  British  general  made  one  more  effort,  which  had  he, 
as  advised,  sooner  attempted,  might  perhaps  have  saved  his 
army.  This  was  to  cross  the  river  in  the  night,  to  Glouces- 
ter Point,  where  a  small  garrison  of  the  British,  commanded 
by  Tarleton,  were  watched  by  the  French,  under  De  Choiseul. 
He  intended  to  leave  the  sick  and  wounded ;  whom,  in  a  let- 
ter to  Washington,  he  recommended  to  his  generosity.  His 
army  were  to  embark  in  three  divisions.  A  part  had  already 
crossed,  and  landed  at  Gloucester  Point ;  a  part  were  upon  Cornwallia 
the  river ;  the  third  division  alone  had  not  embarked.  The  a  tempts  to 
air  and  the  water  were  calm,  and  his  hopes  of  escape  were  ^^^-^P®- 
high.  In  a  moment,  the  sky  was  overcast,  and  a  tempest 
arose.  The  very  elements  seemed  armed  against  him,  as  if 
he  was  checked  by  an  invisible  power  which  w^atched  over 
the  destiny  of  thb  American  people,  and  which  before,  by  the 
swelling  of  the  waters,  had  saved  their  army  from  his  grasp. 
The  wind  and  rain  were  violent,  and  his  boats  were  driven 
down  the  river.  The  day  appeared,  and  the  besiegers  dis- 
covering their  situation,  opened  a  destructive  fire  upon  the 
scattered  and  weakened  army  ;  and  they  were  glad,  when  the 


256 


CAPITULATION    OF    CORNWALLIS. 


PART  III. 
PERIOD  11. 

CHAP.  XVIII. 


Terms  of  ca- 
pitulation. 


Oct.  19. 

British  land- 
forces  sur- 
render to  the 
Americans, 
and  the  fleet 
to  the 
French. 


Oct.  24. 
Clinton  at 
the  Capes 

too  late. 


Rejoicings 

public  and 

devout. 


abating  tempest  allowed,  to  return  to  their  almost  dismantled 
fortifications. 

Seeing  no  hope  of  escape,  his  army  incessantly  Avasting  by 
the  destructive  fire  of  the  American  works,  Cornwallis  no 
longer  delayed  to  treat  for  a  surrender.  Before  noon,  on  the 
17th,  he  sent  a  flag  to  Washington,  requesting  a  cessation  of 
arms  for  twenty-four  hours,  and  the  appointment  of  commis- 
sioners to  settle  the  terms  of  surrender.  Washington,  fearing 
the  arrival  of  British  troops,  refused  to  grant  a  truce  longer 
than  two  hours  ;  and  signified,  that  within  that  time,  he  should 
expect  propositions.  Cornwallis  wished  to  obtain  liberty  for 
the  European  troops  to  return  to  their  homes,  upon  their  pa- 
role of  not  aoain  servinjj  in  the  American  war  :  and  also  to 
make  terms  for  the  Americans  who  had  followed  his  fortunes. 
Both  these  conditions  Washington  refused,  as  the  European 
soldiers  would  be  at  liberty  to  serve  in  garrisons  at  home ; 
and  the  case  of  the  citizens  belonged  to  the  civil  authority. 
All  that  the  most  earnest  persuasion  could  obtain  from  Wash- 
ington on  this  point,  was  permission  for  a  sloop,  laden  with 
such  persons  as  Cornwallis  selected,  to  be  allowed  to  pass, 
without  search  or  visit,  to  New  York  ;  he  being  accountable 
for  the  number  of  persons  it  carried,  as  prisoners  of  war.  The 
whole  remaining  British  force  was  to  be  surrendered  to  the 
allies  ;  the  land  army,  with  its  munitions,  to  the  Americans ; 
the  marine,  to  the  French. 

Agreeably  to  the  articles  of  capitulation,  the  posts  of  York- 
town  and  Gloucester  were  surrendered,  on  the  19th  of  Octo- 
ber. The  prisoners,  exclusive  of  seamen,  amounted  to  more 
than  7,000,  of  whom  2,000  were  sick  or  wounded.  Five  hun- 
dred and  fifty-two  of  the  British  had  fallen  during  the  siege. 
Sixty  pieces  of  cannon,  also,  principally  of  brass,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Americans,  two  frigates  and  twenty  transports, 
with  their  crews,  into  those  of  the  French.  General  Lincoln, 
who  had  suff'ered  the  mortification  of  surrendering  an  Ameri- 
can army,  at  Charleston,  was,  with  peculiar  delicacy,  selected 
by  the  commander-in-chief,  to  receive  the  submission  of  the 
British. 

The  French  and  Americans  added,  on  this  occasion,  the 
praise  of  generosity  and  humanity,  to  that  of  wisdom  and  valor. 
Their  leaders  vied  with  each  other,  in  acts  of  kindness  to  the 
conquered  officers,  and  every  possible  attention  was  paid  to 
the  accommodation  of  the  soldiers. 

On  the  day  in  which  the  capitulation  was  signed,  Clinton 
passed  Sandy  Hook,  with  a  powerful  force,  to  go  to  the  succor 
of  Cornwallis  ;  he  appeared  off"  the  capes  of  Virginia  on  the 
24th  ;  where,  hearing  of  the  surrender  of  the  army,  he  imme- 
diately returned  to  New  York. 

This  event  caused  a  burst  of  joy  and  exultation  throughout 
America.  Nor  did  the  people,  or  the  civil  rulers,  amidst  the 
honirs  which  were  showered  upon  the  American  and  French 


VERMONT    AN    INDEPENDENT    NATION.  257 

cononianders,  forget  to  acknowledge  their  supreme  obligation  PART  III. 

to  the  Great  Commander  and  Ruler  of  armies  and  of  na-  period  n. 

tions.  c"AP.  XIX. 

Washington  would  gladly  have  detained  the  French  fleet  to  ^— •■^v^'*--' 

co-operate  in  a  descent  upon  Charleston;  but  de  Grasse  be-  ITSl. 

ing  under  orders  from  the  French  court,  to  be  in  the  West  ^[^^,^^^3^}^^ 

Indies  on  a  certain  day,  dared  not  hazard  the  detention  of  his  the  West  In 

fleet ;  and  made  sail  for  those  islands  without  delay.  Jif^^«- 

General  La  Fayette,  who  had  sought  America  in  her  adver-  La  Favetta 
sity,  left  her  as  soon  as  prosperity  dawned  upon  her  fortunes. 
He  embarked  about  this  time  for  France,  leaving  deep,  in  the 
hearts  of  a  grateful  people,  the  remembrance  of  his  virtues  and 
his  services. 


returns  to 


CHAPTER   XIX. 


Vermont. — Measures  of  Peace. — Fears  and  discontents  of  the  Army  happily 
quieted. 

Vermont  was.  at  this  period,  an  independent  nation.     That     1781. 
its  territory  was  first  settled  by  grants  from  New  Hampshire,  Situation  of 
and  afterwards  decided,  by  the  English  government,  to  belong       ^""°^^ 
to  New  York,  are  facts  which  have  already  been  stated.     Had 
New  York,  at  the  time  of  this  decision,  given  quiet  possession 
of  the  soil  to  those  individuals  who  had  purchased,  and  culti- 
vated farms  under  New  Hampshire,  Vermont  would  now  have 
been  a  portion  of  that  state.     But  it  being  attempted  to  eject 
those  settlers  by  force,  they  forcibly  resisted. 

In  this  situation,  the  inhabitants  applied  to  congress  for  its 
interference,  and  were,  by  this  body,  recommended  to  submit, 
for  a  time,  to  the  authority  of  New  York  ;  but,  being  resolutely     -«,,«« 
opposed  to  this  step,  they  met  in  convention,   in   1777,   and  x)eclaresi^ 
declared  the  New  Hampshire  grants  to   be  an  independent    sclfinde- 
state,  under  the  title  of  "  New  Connecticut,  alias  Vermont  ;"     pcn<ien*- 
the  first  appellation,  and  the  ungrateful  "  alias,"  being  after- 
wards dropped. 

Their  affairs  were,  at  first,  managed  by  several  of  the  lead- 
ing men,  called  "  a  Council  of  Safety."  Their  first  legisla- 
ture met  at  Windsor,  in  March,  1778.  In  the  same  month,  a 
portion  of  the  towns  east  of  Connecticut  river,  petitioned  to 
unite  with  Vermont.  To  this  request  the  Vermontese  acce- 
ded ;  but,  in  consequence  of  the  complaints  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, the  union  was,  the  following  year,  dissolved. 

Application  was  next  made  to  congress  for  admission  into 
the  confederacy,  but  New  York  presented  a  counter-memorial ; 
and,  in  consequence,  the  separate  existence  of  Vermont  as  a 
state,  was  not  acknowledged. 


$^58 


THE  AMERICANS  EXHAUSIED  BY  WAR. 


PART  III. 


1T§1. 

Vermont  ne- 
gotiates with 
the  British. 


Poverty  of 
the  Ameri- 
can govern- 
ment. 


Congress, 
counselled 
by  Washing- 
ton, do  all  in 
their  power. 


Trials  and 
magnanimity 
of  the  treas- 
urer. 


In  the  summer  of  1781,  the  situation  of  Vermont  was  singu- 
lar in  the  extreme.  The  politicians  of  that  settlement,  at  the 
head  of  whom  were  Governor  Chittenden,  and  the  brothers, 
Ethan  and  Ira  Allen,  while  they  had  boldly,  but  warily,  main- 
tained its  rights  against  the  claims  of  New  York,  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  the  decisions  of  congress,  had,  at  the  same  time, 
defended  the  territory,  frontier  as  it  was,  against  the  British, 
by  secret  negotiations,  which  had,  for  their  apparent  object, 
that  Vermont  shoukl  place  itself  under  British  protection 
But  the  people,  warm  with  enthusiasm  for  the  American  cause, 
would  have  risen  in  venoeance  against  the  rulers  who  thus 
preserved  them,  had  they  known  the  means  by  which  theii 
protection  was  efTected.  Affairs  were,  however,  coming  to  a 
crisis,  and  but  for  the  fortunate  capture  of  Corn wallis,  it  is  im 
possible  to  foresee  what  would  have  been  the  situation  of  those 
patriotic  men,  who  ran  such  personal  hazards  to  save  the 
people,  against  their  own  will ;  and  play  a  political  game  for 
their  advantage. 

The  great  effort  made  by  congress  in  the  winter  of  1780 — 
81,  had  enabled  them  to  provide  for  the  campaign  of  the  ei.- 
suing  season.  It  was  most  fortunate  for  America  that  the  re- 
sult was  favorable  ;  for  such  was  the  extreme  poverty  of  the 
government,  that  it  seems  impossible  that  another  active  and 
expensive  campaign  could  have  been  sustained.  There  was 
no  fault  in  the  arranorments  of  conoress  ;  no  remission  of  ac- 
tivity,  prudence,  and  patriotism,  on  the  part  of  the  treasurer. 
On  the  contrary,  congress  had  made  the  most  judicious  ar- 
rangements early  in  the  winter  of  1781.  They  were  aided  in 
their  deliberations  by  Washington,  who,  at  their  request,  had 
stopped  at  Philadelphia,  on  his  way  from  Yorktown  to  his  ac- 
customed winter-quarters.  They  laid  taxes,  and  apportioned 
them  among  the  several  states  ;  and  made  such  other  regula- 
tions, that  the  commander-in-chief  had  sanguine  hopes  that 
every  thing  would  be  in  readiness  for  an  early  campaign,  as 
he  had  strenuously  urged  that  the  way  to  obtain  an  honorable 
peace,  was  to  be  in  readiness  for  war.  But  the  several  state 
governments  wholly  failed  of  paying  their  quotas ;  alledging  the 
utter  inability  of  their  constituents  to  support  further  taxation. 

Although,  by  the  judicious  arrangements  of  Morris,  the  pub- 
lic expenses  were  much  diminished,  yet  they  were  still  neces- 
sarily great,  and  must  so  continue,  although  the  means  of 
meeting  them  thus  unexpectedly  failed.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  1782  not  a  dollar  remained  in  the  treasury.  "  Yet  to 
the  financier,"  says  Marshall,  "  every  eye  was  turned ;  to 
him  was  stretched  forth  the  empty  hand  of  every  public  cred- 
itor, and  against  him,  instead  of  the  state  authorities,  were  the 
complaints  and  imprecations  of  every  unsatisfied  claimant  di- 
rected." 

The  people  of  England  had  also  felt  severely  the  expenses 
of  the  war,  and  on  hearing  the  disasters  which  had  attendee' 


THE    WAR    BECOMES    UNPOPULAR    IN    ENGLAND.  259 

their  armies,  particularly  that  of  Cornvvallis,   they  no  longer   PART  lU. 
suppressed  their  discontent.     When  they  saw  that,  notwith-  period  ti. 
standing  all  their  sacrifice  of  life  and  property,  nothing  re-   chap.  xix. 
mained  to   them  on  the  American    shores   but    New  York,  ^>-— ^v^"^^ 
Charleston,   and  Savannah  ;  and  that  these  posts  could  only     1782. 
be  maintained  by  strong  fleets  and  garrisons,  all  hope  of  re-  T-^pf^^,"P'? 
ducing  the  Americans  to  subjection  vanished,  and  to  close  a     ^i'sh  for 
useless  and  ruinous  war,  was  the  decided  wish  of  the  people,   peace  with 
Still  the  king,  in  his   speech  at  the  opening  of  parliament,     A-menca. 
showed  his  unwillingness  to  relinquish  his  sway  over  what 
he  had,  during  his  life,  considered  his  patrimony.     The  peo- 
ple, however,  persisted  in  their  desire  for  peace,   and  loudly 
demanded  the  removal  of  ministers,  who  advised  the  king  to 
measures  so  much  against  the  public  interest. 

The  house  of  commons,  moved  by  this  expression  of  feeling, 
as  well  as  by  the  eloquent  speeches  of  General  Conway,  and    .-,  , 
others,  voted,  "  that  they  should  consider  as  enemies  to  his   Parliament 
majesty  and  their  countr}^  all  who  should  advise,  or  attempt,  takes  mea*- 
a  further  prosecution  of  offensive  war  on  the  continent  of     ^pgac^^'^ 
America."     This  vote  was  follov/ed  by  the  resignation  of  the 
office  of  prime  minister,  by  Lord  North,  and  the  appointment 
of  an  administration  favorable  to  peace. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  now  superseded  in  command  by  Sir     Sir  Guy 
Guy  Carleton  ;  whose  conciliatinor  conduct  as  orovernor  of  Can-  Carleton  m- 
ada,  had  gained  him  the  esteem  of  the  Americans.     The  gen-     Clinton 
eral  sentiment    of  all  parties    was    favorable  to  peace  ;  and 
after  this,  there  were  no  hostile  operations,  except  a  {ew  of 
inconsiderable  importance  in  South  Carolina.     In  one  of  these, 
fell  the   young  and   gallant  Colonel   Laurens,  lamented   by 
Washington  and  the  whole  army. 

Admiral  Digby,  who   the   summer  before  had  arrived   in 
New  York,  with  reinforcements,  was  appointed,  with  Carle- 
ton,  by  the  British  ministry,  to  treat  with  the  Americans  for     Fruitless 
peace,  on  the  ground  of  acknowledging  their  independence;   plan  of  the 
but  congress,  findinj?  that  parliament  had  not  sanctioned  this  mimstry  to 

.     .  •  .  .  ""ct  an  3.a- 

step  of  the  ministry,  refused  to  negotiate  with  their  agents,  vantage  ovei 
Neither  could  the  ministry  succeed  in  an  effort  to  destroy    congress 
their  alliance  with  France,  by  procuring  the  American  govern- 
ment to  treat  separately  from  its  ally. 

Congress  were,  however,  careful  to  be  ready  for  the  first 
honorable  overtures  which  they  should  receive.     They  ap- 
pointed four  distinguished  men,  already  in  Europe,  as  their  »^'^'^"^'T' 
agents.     These  were  Dr.  Franklin,  .Tohn  Adams  their  minis-  andLaurenis! 
ter  at  the  Hague,  John  Jay  their  envoy  at  the  court  of  Spain,  commission- 
and  Henry  Laurens   first  appointed  to  the  post  now  filled  by  ^^J^^  ^peacf 
Mr.  Adams,  but  taken  on  his  passage  by  an  English  frigate, 
and  confined  in  the  Tower  of  London.  April  19. 

Mr.  Adams  procured,  from  the  states  of  Holland,  on  the  19th  Holland  re 
of  April,  the  recognition  of  American  independence.  On  the  indepen- 
8th  of  October,  he  obtained  a  treaty  of  amity  and  commerce ;      dence. 


560 


TREATY    OF    PEACE. 


PART  III. 


17§3. 

Sept.  3. 

Definitive 

treaty  is 

signed. 

The  con- 
ditions of  the 
treaty  advan- 
tageous to 
America. 


Subject  of 

neutral 

rights 

omitted. 


Discontents 
and  fears  of 
the  officers. 


Ambitious 
project. 


and,  not  long  after,  a  loan  of  money,  to  the  great  relief  of  his 
exhausted  country. 

To  meet  the  American  commissioners  at  Paris,  the  court  of 
St.  James  sent  Mr.  Fiizlierbert  and  Mr.  Oswald.  On  the 
20th  of  January,  1783,  preliminary  articles  of  peace  were 
signed  at  Versailles. 

The  defmitive  treaty  was  deferred  until  the  adjustment  of 
affairs  between  England  and  France,  the  ally  of  America,  and 
was  not  signed  until  the  3d  of  September,  1783. 

The  terms  granted  to  America  by  this  treaty,  in  respect  to 
extent  of  territory,  and  right  to  the  fisheries,  were  equal  to 
the  most  sanguine  expectations.  The  English  ministers  then 
in  power,  seemed  to  be  aware  of  the  policy  of  ma,king  Ame- 
rica independent  in  fact,  as  well  as  in  name  :  probably  the 
more  so,  as  a  contrary  disposition  was  manifested  by  France. 
Both  powers  believed  that  if  she  remained  in  a  state  of  de- 
pendence, it  must,  from  the  posture  of  affairs,  be  upon  France, 
rather  than  upon  England.  The  American  negotiators  were 
men  of  great  ability  and  ardent  patriotism,  and  Avell  knew 
how  to  turn  this  state  of  things  to  the  advantage  of  their 
country. 

But  in  the  general  pacification,  and  amidst  the  protracted 
negotiations  of  the  several  parties,  nothing  was  stipulated  on 
the  subject  of  neutral  rights,  which  had  been  the  moving  cause 
of  the  coalition  against  England  ;  and  thus  a  door  was  left  open 
for  future  contention  and  bloodshed. 

The  situation  of  the  rising  Republic  of  America,  was,  du- 
ring these  long  negotiations,  extremely  critical.  Had  the  go- 
vernment possessed  the  means  of  paying  their  officers  and 
soldiers,  there  would  have  been  nothing  to  apprehend  from 
disbanding  so  patriotic  an  army.  But  the  officers,  aware  of 
the  poverty  of  the  treasury,  doubted  whether  it  would  be  in 
the  power  of  congress  to  fulfill  the  stipulation  made  in  Octo- 
ber, 1780,  granting  to  them  half-pay  for  life.  While  the  inde- 
pendence of  their  country  was  uncertain,  they  had  pressed 
forward  to  the  attainment  of  that  object ;  and  regardless  of 
themselves,  had  sacrificed  their  fortunes,  and  their  health. 
Now,  that  great  object  was  attained,  they  began  to  brood 
over  their  own  situation ;  and  fears  arose,  that  should  they 
disband  before  their  country  had  done  them  justice,  and  lose 
their  consequence  as  a  body,  they  and  their  services  might  be 
forgotten. 

Nor  were  there  wanting  ofTicers,  whose  personal  ambition 
carried  them  beyond  the  mark  of  right  and  justice  ;  and  brought 
up  the  reflection,  that  if  the  army  could  remain  entire  under 
its  head,  it  might  now  subdue  the  country  which  it  had  de- 
fended:  and  although,  if  a  monarchical  government  were  es- 
tablished, the  commander-in-chief  must  be  the  sovereign  ;  yel 
the  officers  coming  in  for  the  next  share  of  power  and  conse- 
quence, would  become  the  aristocracy. 


•TEMPTATION  AND  STERN  REBUKE.  261 

To  tempt  Washington  to  countenance  these  views,  one  of  PART  lU. 
the  older  colonels  of  the  army,*  was  fixed  upon,  who  wrote  period  il 
him  a  letter  in  a  smooth  and  artful  strain.     He  commented  on    ^"'^p-  ^^• 
the  weakness  of  republics,  and  the  benefits  of  mixed  govern- 
ments.    He  insinuated  that  the  same  abilities  which  had  gui- 
ded the  country  so  gloriously  through  the  storm,  must  now  be 
the  most  suitable  to  conduct  it  through  the  gentler  paths  of 
peace.      There  was  a  prejudice   existing  which  confounded 
mc/iarchy  with  tyrarmy,  and  it  might  be  necessary  to  choose, 
wi*!:^  a  monarchical  government,  some   title,  apparently  more 
moderate,  but  the   writer  believed,  "  that   strong  argiunents 
might  be  produced  for  admitting  the  title  of  King,"  which, 
ne  conceived,   "  would  be  attended  with  some  material  advan- 
tages." 

Washington  was  astonished,  displeased,  and  grieved.  He 
replied,  that  no  occurrence  during  the  war,  had  given  him  more 
painful  sensations,  than  to  learn  that  such  ideas  existed  in  the  His  stem  re 
army — ideas  which  he  "  must  view  with  abhorrence,  and  re-  ^>^^^  ^o  ^^ 
prehend  with  severity.""!  am  at  a  loss,"  said  he,  "  to  conceive  '^'"^  ^ 
what  part  of  my  conduct  could  have  given  encouragement  to 
an  address,  which  to  me,  seems  big  with  the  greatest  mis- 
chiefs which  could  befall  my  country.  If  I  am  not  deceived 
in  the  knowledge  of  myself,  you  could  not  have  found  a  per- 
son, to  whom  your  schemes  are  more  disagreeable.  At  the 
same  time,  in  justice  to  my  own  feelings,  1  must  add,  that  no 
man  possesses  a  more  sincere  wish  to  see  ample  justice  done 
to  the  army,  than  I  do  ;  and,  as  far  as  my  powers  and  influence, 
in  a  constitutional  way,  extend,  they  shall  be  employed  to  the 
utmost  of  my  abilities  to  effect  it,  should  there  be  any  occasion. 
Let  me  conjure  you,  then,  if  you  have  any  regard  for  your 
country,  concern  for  yourself  or  posterity,  or  respect  for  me, 
to  banish  these  thoughts  from  your  mind,  and  never  commu- 
nicate, as  from  yourself  or  any  one  else,  a  sentiment  of  the 
like  nature." 

Thus  nipped  in  the  bud,  nothing  more  was  heard  of  the  pro- 
ject of  making   Washington  a  king.      But  the  causes   of  the 
army's  discontent  remained,  although  congress  had  taken  some 
steps  towards  their  removal.      Washington  repeatedly  urged 
the  subject  upon  their  attention ;  yet  the  designing  among  the    March  iO. 
officers  insinuated,  that  he  had  not  advocated  their  cause  with  The  famou.^ 
sulhcient  zeal.      The  answer  to  a  memorial,  which  they  had   Adc^i^sal^* 
presented  to  congress,  had  not  fully  met  their  wishes.     It  was 
on  this  occasion  that  an  anonymous  paper  was  circulated,  now 
known  to  have  been  written  by  Major  John  Armstrong,  then 

an  aid-de-camp  to  General  Gates.  ,  . 

T^  1-1  1  -T  TVT  •     Itf.  Strength 

it  was  composed  with  great  ability.       Never  was  a   wti-  of  language 

ling  more  calculated  to  become  a  firebrand  of  discord.     There     and  se- 

was  truth  in  its  representations  of  the  toils,  and  yet  unreqiii-      g^ter 

*  This  is  related  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Sparks,    by  whom  the  name  of  this 
officbr  is  not  given.     See  "Sparks'    liteot  Washington." 
19 


262  THE  FATHER  OF  HIS  COUNTRY. 

PART  in.  ted  dangers  and  sufferings  of  the  officers :  but  the  country 
had  not  deserved  the  insinuation,  of  being  so  far  from  doing 
justice  to  her  defenders,  that  "  she  trampled  on  their  rights, 
disdained  their  cries,  and  insulted  their  dirstresses."  Yet  such 
was  the  language  of  the  address.  It  advised  the  officers  "to 
change  the  milk-and-water  style"  of  their  memorial  to  con- 
gress, and  no  longer  appeal  to  their  justice,  but  keep  arms 
in  their  hands,  and  appeal  to  their  fears, 
1782  This  paper  proposed  a  meeting  of  the  officers  on  the  ensu- 

^  Washing-     ij^g  ^^y^     Washington,  aware  of  the  feelings  of  the  army, 

position.      ^^^  ^'^^   availed  himself  of  the  suspension   of  hostilities,  to 

seek  the  pleasures  of  home,  but  had  remained  in  the  camp. 

He  now  saw  that  the  dreaded   crisis  had  arrived.     Intent  on 

His  noble    guiding  deliberations  which  he  could  not  suppress,  he  called 

^"conduct  *  his  officers  to  a  meeting  somewhat  later  than  the  one  appoint- 
ed in  the  anonymous  appeal,  to  which,  in  his  orders,  he  allu- 
ded with  disapprobation. 

In  the  interim,  he  prepared  a  written  address.     The  offi- 
cers met.     The  Father  of  his  Country  rose,  to  read  the  manu- 
script which  he  held  in  his  hand.     Not  being  able  to  distin- 
He  meets    guish  its  characters,   he  took  off  his  spectacles  to  wipe  them 

*^*^  J^^""^^' with  his  handkerchief,  "  My  eyes,"  said  he,  "have  grown 
cers. '  dim  in  the  service  of  my  country,  but  I  never  doubted  her 
justice,"  This  was  a  preface,  worthy  of  the  paper  which  he 
read.  He  alluded  in  the  most  touching  manner,  to  the  suf- 
ferings and  services  of  the  army,  in  which  he  too  had  borne 
his  share.  He  treated  with  becoming  severity,  the  proposi- 
tion, made  in  the  anonymous  paper,  to  seek  by  unlawful 
means,  the  redress  of  their  grievances.  He  assured  them  that 
congress,  though  slow  in  their  deliberations,  were  favorable 
to  the  interests  of  the  army ;  and  he  conjured  them  not  to 
tarnish  the  renown  of  their  brilliant  deeds,  by  an  irreparable 
act  of  rashness  and  folly ;  and  finally,  he  pledged  them  his 
utmost  exertions  to  assist  in  procuring  from  congress  the  just 
reward  of  their  meritorious  services. 

The  officers  listened  to  the  voice  which  they  had  so  long 
been  accustomed  to  respect  and  obey ;  and  the  storm  of  pas- 
sion was  hushed.     His  pledge   of  using  his  influence  with 

^   ^  .  congress,  in  behalf  of  the  army,  was  performed  in  a  manner 

cmigress  in   which  shoM^ed  how  deeply  he  had  their  cause  at  heart.     "  If,** 

»u*ii  ichalf.  said  he,  in  a  letter  to  that  body,  "  the  whole  army  have  not 
merited  whatever  a  grateful  people  can  bestow,  then  have  I 
been  beguiled  by  prejudice,  and  built  opinion  on  the  basis 
of  error.  If  this  country  should  not,  in  the  event,  perform 
every  thing  which  has  been  requested  in  the  late  memorial  to 
congress,  then  will  my  belief  become  vain,  and  the  hope 
that  has  been  excited,  void  of  foundation.  And  if,  (as  has 
been  suggested,  for  the  purpose  of  inflaming  their  passions,) 
the  officers  of  the  army  arc  to  be  the  only  sufferers  by  this 
revolution ;  if  retiring  from  the  field,  they  are  to  grow  old  in 


FINAL    CLOSE    OF    THE    WAR. 


26li 


po\'erty,  wretchedness,  and  contempt ;  if  they  are  to  wade 
through  the  vile  mire  of  dependency,  and  owe  the  miserable 
remnant  of  that  life  to  charity,  which  has  hitherto  been  spent 
in  honor ;  then  shall  I  have  learned  what  ingratitude  is ; 
then  shall  I  have  realized  a  tale  which  will  embitter  every 
moment  of  my  future  life." 

Congress  used  their  utmost  exertions  to  meet  the  exigen- 
cy. They  commuted  the  half-pay  which  had  been  pledged 
to  the  officers  for  a  sum  equal  to  five  years'  full  pay. 

The  news  that  the  preliminaries  of  peace  were  signed,  was 
first  received  in  a  letter  from  f^a  Fayette.  Sir  Guy  Carlelon 
soon  communicated  it  officially;  and  on  the  19th  of  April, 
just  eight  years  from  the  battle  of  Lexington — the  beginning 
of  the  war,  the  joyful  certainty  of  its  close  was  proclaimed 
from  head-quarters  to  the  American  army. 

The  officers  now  satisfied,  the  army  was  disbanded  with- 
out tumult,  November,  1783.  They  mingled  with  their  fel- 
low-citizens, ever  through  future  years  to  be  honored  for  be- 
longing to  that  patriotic  band.  It  is  now  nearly  sixty  years 
since  its  existence,  and  still  there  remains  here  and  there  a 
silver-headed  veteran  of  whom  it  is  said,  "  he  was  a  revolu- 
tionary soldier."  It  is  the  pass-word  to  honour.  At  all  pat- 
riotic meetings,  the  first  place  is  assigned  him ;  and  a  grate- 
ful country  has  liberally  provided  for  his  wants. 

The  Americans  soon  had  the  gratification  of  seeing  their 
independence,  acknowledged  by  most  of  the  European  pow- 
ers. Holland  was  the  only  nation,  except  France,  by  which 
it  had  been  acknowledged,  previous  to  its  recognition  by 
Great  Britain,  in  1782.  The  acknowledgment  was  made  by 
Sweden,  on  the  5th  of  February,  1783  ;  by  Denmark,  on  the 
25th  of  February ;  by  Spain,  on  the  24th  of  March ;  and  by 
Russia,  in  July.  Treaties  of  amity  and  commerce  were, 
about  the  same  periods,  concluded  with  each  of  these  powers 
Prussia  did  not  come  into  these  measures  until  1785. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  the  British  troops  evacuated 
New  York,  and  a  detachment  from  the  American  army  en- 
tered it. 

On  the  4th  of  December,  the  separation  of  Washington 
from  his  officers  took  place  at  New  York.  The  long  and 
eventful  period  which  they  had  passed  together ;  the  dangers 
ihey  had  mutually  shared  ;  the  reflection  that  they  parted  to 
meet  no  more  ;  and,  above  all,  the  thought  that  they  might 
never  again  behold  the  face  of  their  beloved  commander,  filled 
their  hearts  with  sorrow. 

From  New  York,  Washington  hastened  to  Annapolis,  where 
congress  was  then  in  session.  He  immediately  waited  on 
them  for  the  purpose  of  resigning  his  commission.  A  public 
audience  was  appointed  for  that  purpose,  on  the  23d  of  De- 
cember, when,  in  ihe  presence  of  a  large  and  deeply  afiected 
audience,  he  resigned  his  ofllces,  and  commending  his  coun- 


PART  HI. 
I'ERIOD  II. 

CHAP.    XIX. 


1783. 

April  19. 
War  closes 

after  just 
eight  years 
from  its  cora 
mencement. 

Nov.  3. 
American 
arrny  dis- 

l)anded. 


American 
indepen- 
dence ac- 
knowledged 
by  Sweden, 
Denmark, 
Spain,  and 
Russia, 


Nov.  25. 

Evacuation 

of  New 

York. 


Parting  of 
the  officers 

with  the 
commander 


Washing- 
ton's ac- 
counts were 

adjusted, 

hisexpenoca 

paid,  but 

nothing 

moier 


264 


SHAY  S    REBELLION. 


PART  III,  try  to  the  protection  of  God,  retired  to  Mount  Vernon,  follow 
PERIOD  II.  ed  by  the  benedictions  of  America,  and  the  admiration  of  the 
CHAP.  XX.    world. 


CHAPTER  XX, 


Depression  subsequent  to  the  War. 


IT§4. 

Exhausted 

state  of  the 

nation. 


Distresses 
and  discon- 
tents. 


Followed  by 

insurrec- 
tions  at 

Northamp- 
ton and 

Worcester. 


1'7§T. 
Known  as 

"  Shay's" 
rebellion. 


At  the  close  of  the  war,  the  United  States,  although  they 
had  burst  the  bonds  of  European  thraldom,  were  in  a  de- 
plorable condition.  A  heavy  debt  encumbered  the  govern- 
ment ;  and  a  similar  burden  rested  upon  almost  every  corpo- 
ration within  it.  Agriculture,  trade  and  manufactures  had  de- 
cayed during  the  war  ;  and  many  of  the  inhabitants  were 
nearly  destitute  of  clothing,  and  the  necessaries  of  life. 
Immediately  after  the  peace  was  announced,  the  British  sent 
over  a  great  quantity  of  cloths,  of  an  inferior  quality,  which 
were  sold  at  an  exorbitant  price ;  and  thus  almost  all  the 
money  of  the  country  was  collected  and  carried  abroad.  The 
nation  being  in  debt  and  destitute  of  the  means  of  payment, 
heavy  taxes  were  necessarily  imposed.  This  increased  the 
discontent,  which  already  prevailed  among  the  people,  to  an 
alarming  degree.  The  state  governments  resorted  to  various 
measures  for  the  relief  of  their  citizens.  In  Rhode  Island, 
the  government  issued  a  quantity  of  paper-money,  redeema- 
ble at  a  future  day ;  this  measure,  however,  only  involved 
them  in  all  the  difficulties  which  the  general  government  had 
experienced  from  the  same  cause; — depreciation  of  their 
bills,  and  loss  of  public  credit. 

The  distress  which  prevailed  in  the  country  at  length  pro- 
duced insurrections.  In  August,  nearly  fifteen  hundred  in- 
surgents assembled  under  arms  at  Northampton,  and  took 
possession  of  the  court-house.  Their  object  was  to  prevent 
the  sittings  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  and,  of  course,  the 
issuing  of  executions,  under  certain  obnoxious  laws.  The 
governor  issued  a  proclamation,  calling  on  the  citizens  to  sup- 
press such  treasonable  proceedings  ;  but  his  proclamation  wab 
disregarded.  In  the  next  month,  a  scene  similar  x)  that  at 
Northampton,  was  acted  at  Worcester.  A  body  of  men,  ex- 
ceeding three  hundred,  assembled,  and  compelled  the  court 
there  sitting,  to  adjourn. 

The  leader  of  the  malcontents  in  Massachusetts,  was  Dan- 
iel Shays.  At  the  head  of  three  hundred  men,  he  marched 
into  Springfield,  where  the  supreme  judicial  court  was  sitting, 
and  took  possession  of  the  court-house.  He  then  appointed 
a  committee,  who  waited  on  the  court  with  an  order,  couched 


PROPOSALS    TO    REMODEL    THE    GOVERNMENT.  265 

in  the  humble  form  of  a  petition,  requesting  them  not  to  pro-  PART  III. 
ceed  to  business.  period  ii. 

The  number  of  insurgents  increased  ;    the    posture   of  af-  <^"-^p-  ^^• 
fairs  became   alarminu  ;    and   an  army  of  4,000  men  was  at  ^■^■^^v^^*-' 
length  ordered  out  for  their  dispersion.     This  force  was  pla-     1787. 
ced  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Lincoln.      His  first  measure  Lincoln witk 
was  to  march  to  Worcester,  where  he   afibrded   such  protec-  an  army  at 
tion  to  the  court,  that  it   resumed  and  executed  the  judicial  Worcester, 
functions.     He  next  gave  orders  to  dencral  Shepard  to  collect  ^    j   p 
a  sufficient  force  to  secure  the  arsenal  at  Springfield.     Accor-  shepard^to 
dingly,  he  raised  about  900  men,  which   were    reinforced  by  Springfield, 
300  militia,  from  the  county  of  Hampshire.      At  the  head  of  ,  ^'^^'■^  ^e 

1  •     /-  1  11  1  •  1         1 ,      •       ,.    1  1  1  disperses  the 

this  force,  he  marched  as  directed,  to  ^pringneld ;   where  not      rebels. 

being  able  to  persuade  the  multitude  to  lay  down  their  arms, 

he  tired  upon    them,  and  killed  three  men.      The  rioters  fell 

into  confusion,  and  soon  dispersed. 

Commissioners  were  appointed  by  the  government  of  Mas-    T^ev  are 

sachusetts,  empowered  to  promise  pardon,  on  certain   condi-  tried,  four- 

tions,  to  all  concerned  in  the  rebellitm.     Several  hundreds  re-    teen  sen- 

.        ,      1        ,  ,.         /-     ,  •      •  I-,  1  tenced,  non« 

ceived   the   beneht  ol  the  commission,      rourteen  only  were    executed. 
sentenced  to  death,  and  these  were  afterwards  pardoned. 

A  proposal  was  this  year,  made  to   amend  the   articles   of   Defects  m 
confederation.     The   present  frame  of  government,  although  can  form <rf 
it  had  served,  during  the  pressure  of  danger,  to  keep  the  sev-  government 
eral  parts  of  the  nation  together,  was  now  found   inadequate 
to   the  national  exigencies.     In  forming  the  original  articles, 
great    care   had   been   taken  to   withhold   any  delegation    of 
power,  which  might  hereafter  endanger  the  liberties  of  the  in- 
dividual states.     Congress  had  no  authority  to  enforce  its  or- 
dinances ;  and  now  that  the   pressure  of  public  danger  was 
removed,  they  were   contemned  and  disregarded.     Some  of 
the  states  had  violated  treaties  which  had  been  formed  with 
foreign  nations,    and   some  had  refused  to  adopt  a  system  of 
impost  which  had  been  devised.     It  became  evident  that  no- 
thing could  put  a  stop  to  evils  of  this  description,  but  a  more 
energetic  form  of  jjovernment. 

In  1783,  John  Adams,  then  in   Europe,   suggested  to  con- 
gress  the  expediency  of  strengthening  the   general   govern- 
ment.    On  a  motion  of  Mr.  Madison,   in  the  legislature  of 
Virginia,  in  1785,  a  convention  of  delegates,  from  hve  of  the    jVu^f* 
middle  states,  met  at  Annapolis,  in   1786,   who   came   to  the   meet°from 
conclusion,  that  nothing  short  of  a  thorough  reform  of  the  ex-   five  states, 
isting  government,   would  be   efTectual  for  the  welOire  of  the 
country.     Congress  approved  their  proceedings,  and  passed  a 
resolution,  recommending  a  general  convention  of  delegates, 
to  be  holden  at  Philadelphia. 

In  May,  1787,  the  convention   met,  and  instead  of  amend-     17§7. 
ing  the  articles  of  confederation,  they  proceeded  to  form  a  new  Constirution 
constitution      Their  debates  were  long  and  arduous.      A  mo-     philadd 
meutous  political  experiment  was  to  be  tried,  and  the  desti-       phia. 
19 


266 


THE    CONVENTION    FRAME    A    NEW    CONSTITUTION. 


PART  III. 


Political 
views  of  the 
frame rs  of 
the  constitu- 
tion. 


Two  great 

parties  in  a 

forming 

8tate. 


Points  m  the 
slave  ques- 
tioi.  agitated 
Rnd  compro- 
mised. 


nies  of  unborn  millions  hung  upon  their  deliberations.  Re 
specting  many  articles  of  the  constitution,  much  honest  dif- 
ference of  opinion  existed;  and  in  particular,  where  the  strength 
of  the  new  government  came  in  question.  On  the  one  hand, 
it  was  considered,  that,  if  the  government  was  made  too  weak, 
a  state  of  anarchy,  and  consequent  revolution,  would  ensue  ; 
on  the  other,  that  if  it  were  made  too  strong,  Am.erica  would 
lose  the  blessings  of  liberty,  which  she  had  bled  at  every  pore 
to  obtain;  and  only  make  an  exchange  of  foreign,  for  domes- 
tic oppression. 

Some  of  these  politicians  thought  the  only  safe  mode  of 
reasoning  was  from  the  experience  of  the  past,  and  that  all 
speculations  not  drawn  from  this  source,  should  be  condemn- 
ed as  impracticable,  and  visionary.  These  looked  for  an  ex- 
ample to  the  constitution  of  England,  as  containing  the  best 
form  of  government  actually  existing.  Others  believed  that 
as  the  circumstances  of  the  times  changed,  governments 
should  accommodate  themselves  to  the  change  ; — that  the 
present  state  of  the  world,  and  the  situation  of  America,  had 
no  parallels  in  history ; — and  that  therefore  the  track  of  no 
former  nation  could  serve  as  the  guide  to  their  voyage  :  but 
like  the  discoverer  of  their  continent,  they  must  lay  their 
course  through  an  untravelled  way,  with  nothing  to  guide 
them  but  the  light  of  heaven,  and  their  own  observation.  The 
happy  medium  probably  lies  between  the  extremes  of  these 
two  opinions  ;  and  the  constitution  framed,  being  a  compro- 
mise between  them,  the  form  of  government,  which  it  pre- 
scribes, is  probably,  on  that  account,  more  perfect  than  if 
either  side  had  wholly  prevailed. 

Connected  with  these  ideas  concerning  the  greater  or  less 
degree  of  strength  proper  to  give  to  the  new  government,  was 
the  subject  of  the  consolidation,  or  strict  independence  of  the 
states.  Those  who  desired  the  general  government  to  pos- 
sess great  strength,  were  charged  by  their  opponents,  with 
wishing  to  so  arrange  it,  that  in  the  play  of  its  parts,  it  would 
break  down,  and  subject  to  itself,  the  state  governments. 
Those,  on  the  other  hand,  who  feared  oppression  more  than 
anarchy,  watched,  with  a  jealous  eye,  every  infringement  of 
state  rights.  Those  in  favor  of  holding  the  states  strongly 
united,  were  called,  at  this  time  federalists,  and  their  oppo- 
nents, anti-federalists. 

Other  points  of  dispute  arose  which  were  still  more  dan- 
gerous, because  they  divided  parties  by  geographical  lines 
The  most  difficult  of  these,  regarded  the  representation,  in 
congress,  of  the  slave-holding  states.  The  non-slave  hold- 
ers contended  that  the  number  of  representatives  sent,  should 
only  be  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  free  white  inhabitants. 
This  would  bring  some  states,  whose  whole  population  was 
great,  upon  a  level  with  others,  where  the  number  of  iniiabit- 
ants  was  comparatively  small ;  and  members  from  these  states 


DIVISION    OF    VESTED    POWERS.  267 

would  not  give  their  consent  to  such  an  apportionment.     The   PART  IIL 
slaves  were  at  Icngtli  allowed  to  be  reckoned,  in  settling  the   pejuod  ii 
quota  of  representatives,  as  equal  to  three-fifths  of  an    equal   chap.   xx. 
number  of  free  white   inhabitants.     That  these  great  difficul-  ^— ---^^^^i-^ 
ties  were  compromised,  holds  up  this   convention,  as  an  ex- 
ample to  future  times,  of  the  triumph  of  strong  patriotism  and 
honest  zeal  for  the  public  welfare,  over  party  leeling  and  sec- 
tional prejudice. 

It  w^as  not  without  a  struggle,  that  the  new  constitution  was     1789. 
adopted.     Eleven   of  the  states  were,  however,  early  in   the  Federal  con^ 
year    1789,   brought    to   decide   in    favor   of  its   ratification,     adopteo! 
Rhode  Island,  "which  sent  no  members  to  the  convention,  and 
North  Carolina,  refused  to  accept  it. 

The  supreme  authority  in  whose  name  the  constitution   is 
promulgated,  is  that  of  "  the  people  of  the  United  States;"  the  Its  mandate* 
objects  for  which  they  ordain   and  estabhsh,  and  bind  them-   ^^pg™  |e^»® 
selves  to  obey  its  precepts,  are  "to  form  a  more  perfect  union, 
establish  justice,  insure   domestic    tranquillity,    promote   the  its  objects 
general   welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  them- 
selves and  their  posterity." 

The  legislative  power  of  the  Federal  Union,  is  vested  in  a 
senate  and  house   of  representatives,  the  latter  to  be  chosen  The  popular 
for  two  years  by  electors  qualified  to  choose  representatives  t'l^inchofthe 
to  the  state  legislatures  ; — each  to  have  been  for  seven  years    gislature. 
an  inhabitant  of  the  United  States,   and   at  least  twenty-five 
years  of  age.     Representatives   are  to  be  appointed  in  each 
state,  according  to  the  number  of  the  inhabitants,  and  lest  the 
congress  should  become  too  numerous,  the  apportionment  is 
varied,  once  in  ten  years  after  the  taking  of  the  census. 

The  senate  is  composed  of  two  members  from  each  state, 
to  be  chosen  by  the  state  legislatures.     The  term  of  service    The  states 
is  six  years  ;  but  the  first  senate  was  to  be  so  chosen,  that  represented 
one  third  of  the  members  had  two  years  to  remain  in  office,  ^  poj-^^g^  c^'* 
another   four,   and  another   six  ;  so  that  thereafter  no  more  pacity  by  the 
than  one  third  of  the  senate  should  be  composed  of  new  mem-      senate, 
hers.     A  senator  must  have  been  an  inhabitant  of  the  country 
nine  years,  and  not  less  than  thirty  years  of  age. 

The  house  of  representatives  choose  their  presiding  o flic er.    Presiding 
who  is  called  the  speaker.     The  senate  are  presided  over  by     °^^^^'^- 
the  vice-president  of  the  United  States. 

These  two  houses  are   called  the  Congress.     They  must  Time  of  se* 
sit  at  least  as  often  as  once  a  year,  and  their  ordinary  sessions       ^lon 
commence  on  the  first  Monday  in  December, 

All  bills  for  raising  a  revenue  must  originate  in  the  house 

of  repre.'ientatives  ;  the  whole  spirit  of  the  constitution  requi-    gyntaiivea 

ring  iIk'I  the   branch  of  the  legislature  nearest  the  people    intrusted 

should  have  the  care  of  the  people's  money ;  that  is  the  na-     ^p.^^se.* 

tional  treasury.     The  executive  bears  the  public   sw^ord,  and  „,, 
■L  111  -1  rr-ii  •  ^  '^^  exectt- 

tne  popular  branch  carries  the  purse.      1  he  executive  power   tive  power, 

is  vested  in  a  president  and  vice-president ;  each  chosen  for  a 

19* 


268  THE    AMERICAN    CONSTITUTION    NOW    VENERATED 

PART  III,   term  of  four  years ;  each  to  be  a  native  born  citizen,  and  to 
PERIOD  II.  have   attained  the  ago  of  thirty-five.     The  president  is  the 
CHAP.  II.    commander-in-chief  of  the   army  and  navy  when  in   actual 
''"^'*"'^"""*^   service.     With  the   consent  of  two-thirds  of  the   senate,  he 
is  vested  with  the  power  to  make  treaties,  to  appoint  ambassa- 
dors, judges  of  the  supreme  court,  and  many  other  officers. 
TJie  judicial      The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  is  vested  in  one 
power.      supreme  court,  and  such  other  courts  as  congress  may  from 
time  to  time  establish.     The  judges  retain  their  offices  during 
good  behavior.     They  as  well  as  the  president  and  vice-pres- 
Impeach-     ident  may  be  impeached.     This  form  of  accusation  can  only 
ment.       be  brought  forward  by  the  house   of  representatives.     The 
senate   is   vested  with  the  sole  power  to  try  impeachments, 
and  two-thirds  must  concur  to  convict  the  accused  ;  nor  can 
the  penalty  in  such  case  be   greater  than  the  loss  of  office, 
and  disqualification  for  holding  it  in  future. 
ITST.  At  the  close  of  this  period,  Virginia,  North    Carolina,  and 

The         Georgia,  extended  to  the  Mississippi.     The  great  tract  north  of 
Northwest   the  Ohio  river,  and  south  of  the   Lakes  between  Pennsylvania 
Territory     ^^id  the   Mississippi   river,   was   formed   by  Congress  into  the 
North  West  Territory.     The   original  charters  of  Connecticut, 
Massachusetts,   and    New  York,  gave   to   these   states  title  to 
large  portions  of  its  lands,  but  previously  to  the  erection  of  the 
Three       tract  into  a  territory.  Congress  compromised  with  these  states, 
states  reliii-  j^n^i  extinguished  their  claims  ;  except  to  certain  specified  reser- 
cJaims.       vations.     Connecticut  had  a  large  reservation  in  the  north  east 
part  of  Ohio,  by  means  of  which   she  obtained  the  nucleus  of 
her  school  fund. 

The  bill  for  the  erection  of  the  North  West  Territory  passed 
Congress  in  1787.     While  it  was  pending,  Mr.  Jefferson  intro- 
prohibi\ed    <^^^»c*^<^^    ^^^'^   carrir-d   an  amendment,  forever  excluding  slavery 
in  the       from  that  extensive    region.     Territorial  government  was  here 
^l^^'^       fiist  introduced  into  the  American   system.     The  general  gov- 
ernment appoints  for  the  territory  its  executive  and  high  judi- 
Firstterri-   cial  officers,  while  the  people  exercise,  by  an  assembly  of  dele- 
gates, the  legislative  power. 

The  federal  constitution,  at  the  time  of  its  adoption,  was 
far  from  receiving  the  entire  confidence  which  it  now  com- 
mands.    It  made  the   government  too  strong   to  please  one 

Fears  res-    party,  and   too  weak  to  satisfy  the  other  ;    and  while,  on  the 
pelting  the    ^      •;        ,    .  ,     , .         i     i        •  i  ^    ■     ■  ■ 

aonsiitution.  O"^  hand,  it  was  believed,  that  it  would,  in  Us  operation,  even-^ 

tually  overturn  the  liberties  of  America,  on  the  other,  it  was 
pronounced  to  be  a  "  rope  of  sand,"  and  the  date  of  its  dis- 
solution was  augured  to  be  near.  Now,  the  constitution  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  after  seventy  years  of  trial, 
is  regarded,  by  the  friends  of  the  rights  of  man,  in  both  hem- 
ispheres, as  the  palladium  of  civil  liberty. 


Connecticut 
school  fund. 


torial  gov- 
ernment. 


PART  IV. 

FROM   1789  TO   1848. 

PERIOD    I. 

FROM 
THB    FINAL    ADOPTION    OF       |l'7§9,  |    THE  FEDERAL  CONSTITUTIOM 

T  0 
THE  PURCHASE     |   1 84§.   >     OF    LOUISIANA. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Organization  of  the  new  Government. — The  Funding  System. — Party  lines 
strongly  drawn. 

The  fourth  of  March,  1789,  was  the  day  on  which  the  new 
government  was  to  commence  its  operations.  But  from  ne- 
cessary delays,  the  inaug-uration  of  the  president  did  not  take 
place  until  the  30th  of  ApriL 

When  Washington  retired  a^  the  close  of  the  war,  he  had 
fully  intended  to  pass  the  residue  of  his  days  in  domestic  pri- 
vacy ;  and  this  intention  he  had  publicly  announced.     Yet  the 
habit  of  ruminating  on  the   condition  of  his  country  did  not     j  7'§4, 
leave  him  ;  nor  did  his  great  fame  allow  him  repose  from  the  Washingio« 
visits  of  friends,  the  intrusions  of  the  curious,  and  the  solici-     ^"  retire- 
tations  of  the  interested.     He  employed  his  pen  continually, 
in  urging  upon  the  inlluential,  the  necessity  of  remodeling  the 
government.      He  made  a  journey  of  600  miles,  to  visit  his 
lands,  on  the  waters  of  the  Ohio  ;  and,  by  actual  inspection,  September 
became  convinced  of  the  practicability,  as  he  had  long  been 
of  the  importance,  of  uniting  the  west  to  the  east,  by  intercom- 
munication between  the  head  waters  of  the  Atlantic  streams, 
and  the  western  rivers.     He  wrote  a  memorial  on  the  sub- 
ject to  the  government  of  Virginia,  which  gave   rise  to  two 
companies  ;  the    "  Potomac   Company,"  and   the  "  Kanhawa 
and  James  River  Company  ;"  and  thus  he  became  the  author 
of  the  first  efficient  movement,  in  the  great  series  of  internal 
improvements.  Pennsylva- 

EObrts  were  made,  particularly  by  the  states  of  Pennsylva-  "i^  and  Vin 
nia  and  Virginia,  to  devise  some  delicate  method  of  placing  fruhioss^f- 
pecuniary  rewards  at  his  disposal ;  but  he  steadily  refused  forts  to  in- 
them  ;  althouoh  his  afiairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder,  in  an.'^"'^*'  him  to 
absence  of  eight  years  and  a  half;  while  his  hospitality  was      warJaL 


ii70  WASHINGTON    CALLED    FROM    EETIREMENl. 

PAirr  IV.  expensively  taxed,  on  account  of  his  former  public  chaiacter. 
PERIOD  I.  Among  others,  his  faithful  and  beloved  friend  La  P'ayette  came, 
CHAP.  I.  during  this  period,  to  visit  him  at  Mount  Vernon.  Washing- 
*-^''v""*«i-/  ton  accompanied  him  on  his  return,  as  far  as  Annapolis. 
1783.  When  they  parted,  he  had  a  sorrowful  and  just  foreboding, 
Visit  from    ^i^.^^  jj^gy  should  never  meet  again. 

aye  e.       ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^  retrieve  his  affairs,  but  to  indulge  his  taste  and 
Washington  to  advance  the  interest  of  the  country,  he  devoted  himself  to 
anagricu;.-    agriculture  in  the  personal  direction  of  his  estates.     He  cor- 
mra  ist.      responded  with  scientific  agriculturalists  in  Europe  and  Ame- 
rica; and  the  theories  which  he  formed  or  learned  from  tliem, 
he  put  in  j^ractice  ;  ordering,  in  advance,  a  rotation  of  crops 
to  suit  the  several  soils.      His  skill  in  landscape  gardeiiing  is 
even  now  manifest,  in  tlie  beautiful  arrangement  of  his  grounds 
at  Mount  Vernon,  where  every  shiub  and  tree  was  planted 
beneath  his  eye,  and  piuned  by  his  own  hand. 

1786.  The  first  summons  which  he  received  to  quit  this  delightful 
He  IS  sum-  retreat,  was  when  the  lep'islature   of  Viri^inia  chose  him  first 

moned  to        ,     ,  '  ?  ^   •    ^        r  ^         ^  •  • 

become  a    delegate   to   the   convention   winch    iramed    the    constitution, 
member   of  With  reluctance  he  consented  to  the  pleas  of  friendship,  and 
^^'Mon!^'''  ^^^^  calls   of  public   duty.     He   prepared   himself   to  lay  po- 
litical   foundations,  by    the    study   not    only   of   present    cir- 

1787.  cumstances,    but    of   confederated    governments,    ancient   and 
li  made     modern.     Made  president  of  the  convention  by  a  unanimous 

thrconven-  ^'^^*^'  ^^^^  wisdom,  no  less  than  his  influence,  was  felt  through- 

tion.        out  that  august  body  ;  and  at  no  time  did  he  seive  his  country 

with  more  efficiency. 

Is  unani-        The  constitution  being  adopted,  the  universal  voice  of  the 

mously      nation  called   him  forth  to  organize  the  government  he  had 

sidentof'the  ^^^"^  helped  to  devise.     He  was  pained  that  he  must  again,  at 

II.  States  of  the  age  of  fifty-seven,  leave  his  long-coveted  retirement,  and 

Amerieu. 


em 


bark,  with  all  his  honors,  upon  an  untried  and  tempestuous 
X7H9.  sea.  But  he  knew  there  was  no  other  man  on  whom  the  peo- 
April  14.  pie  would  unite,  and  that  his  refusal,  at  such  a  crisis,  would 
an-j-Ts^aT  ^®  fraught  with  danger  to  his  country.  A  special  messenger 
Mount  Ver-  from  the  president  of  congress,  brought  him  the  official  intel- 
iion,  an-     liaence  of  his  election,  and  two  days  from  the  time  of  notice, 

aouncing  his  ,  o  .       ^^         ^^  '  ,  -'  .  .  * 

election,     he  Set  out  for  JNew  York,  where  congress  nrst  convened. 

In  his  progress,  he  was  met  by  numerous  bodies  of  the  peo- 
ple, of  both  sexes,  who  hailed  him  as  the  Father  of  his  Coun 
His  journey  try ;  and  triumphal  arches  were  erected,  to  commemorate  his 
*York.^     achievements.     He  was  attended  by  a  deputation  from  con- 
gress, and  was  received  by  the  governor,  as  he  landed,  amidst 
the  firing  of  artillery,  and  the  acclamations  of  the  people. 
1789.  The  ceremony  of  his  inauguration  was  witnessed,  with  in 

April  30.     expressible  joy,  by  a  great  multitude    of    spectators.      The 
rated"at"i:^ew  novelty  and  importance  of  the  transac^'^m,  the  benign  dignity 
York.       of   Washington's  character  and    n   imers,  the    remembance 
of  the  sufferings,  by  which  America  had  won  the  right  to  go- 
vern itself,  and  which,  with  a  father's  anxious  solicitude,  he 


THE    FIRST    INAUGURATION.  271 

had  shared  ;  all  conspir(3d  to  render  the  pageant  solemn  and   PAET  IV. 
affecting.  period  i. 

In  an  address  to  both  houses  of  congress,  he  modestly  de-  ^'"ap.  i. 
Glared  his  incapacity  for  "  the  weighty  and  untried  cares  be- 
fore him,"  and  offered  his  "  fervent  supplications  to  that  Al- 
mighty Being,  whose  providential  aid  can  supply  every  human 
defect,  that  his  benediction  would  consecrate  to  the  liberties 
and  happiness  of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  a  govern- 
ment instituted  by  themselves  for  essential  purposes  ;  and 
would  enable  every  instrument,  employed  in  its  administra- 
tion, to  execute  with  success  the  functions  allotted  to  his 
charge."  He  remarked,  that  '^  the  foundation  of  our  national 
policy  should  be  laid  in  the  pure  principles  of  private  morality  ; 
and  that  no  truth  was  more  thoroughly  established,  than  that 

there  exists  an  indissoluble  union  between  virtue  and  hanniness ;  n^i. 
.  ,  -,      -  ,  ,  .  I  I  '   1  he  maxima 

between  duty  and  advantage  ;  between  the  genuine  maxims  of  an    of  wisdom 
honest  and  magnanimous  polic}'',  and  the  solid  rewards  of  public  enforced  by 
prosperity  and  felicity."     These  considerations  he  enforced  by  and^philSi- 
the  weighty  reasons,  "  that  the  success  of  the  republican  form      thropy. 
of  government  is  justly  considered,  as  deeply,  perhaps  finally, 
staked  on  the  experiment  intrusted  to  the  American  people  ; 
and  that  the  propitious  smiles  of  heaven  could  never  be  ex- 
pected on  a  nation,  that  disregarded  the  eternal  rules  of  order 
and  right,  which  heaven  itself  had  ordained." 

Congress  made  it  their  first  object  to  establish  a  revenue  Congress  lap 
sufficient  for  the  support  of  government,  and  for  the  discharge    duties  on 
of  the  debt,  contracted  during  the  revolutionary  war.     For  this  and  tonr.age, 
pui-pose,  they  laid  duties  on  the  importation  of  merchandise, 
and  on  the  tonnage  of  vessels  ;  thus  drawing  into  the  public 
treasury,  funds  which  had  before  been  collected  and  appro- 
priated by  individual  states.      To  counteract  the  commercial 
regulations  of  foreign  nations,  and  encourage  American  ship- 
ping, higher  tonnage  duties  were  imposed  on  foreigii,  than  on 
American  vessels,  and  ten  per  cent,  less  duty  on   goods  im- 
ported in  vessels  owned  by  Americans,  than  in  those  belonging 
to  foreigners. 

Those  first  appointed  under  the  constitution  as  heads  of  de- 
partments, were,  Thomas  Jefferson,  secretary  of  state,  Alex-    '^^^  ^T^^ 
ander  Hamilton  of  the  treasury,  and  General  Knox  of  the  de-    Jefferson^' 
partment  of  war.      The  small  navy  was  assigned  to  the  care    Hamijton, 
of  the  latter.     These  officers  were  subject  to  the  inspection    ^"^^  Knox, 
and  control  of  the  president,  to  whom  they  were  required  to 
make  elaborate  reports  in  writing.     They  were  constitution- 
ally removable  by  him. 

During  this  session,  it  was  proposed  to  amend  the  constitu-  Constitutioa 
tion.     Congress,  after  a  long   and  animated  debate,   agreed    amended 
upon  twelve  new  articles,  which  were  submitted  to  the  respec- 
tive state  legislatures ;  ten  of  which  being  approved  by  three- 
fourths  of  these  bodies,  they  became  a  part  of  that  instrument. 

It  was  during  this  session  also,  that  the  important  work 


272 


THE    JUDICIARY    ORGANIZED 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  I. 
CHAP.     I. 


1T§9. 
National  ju- 
(ftciary  com- 
posed of 
three  grades, 
district,   cir- 
cuit, and  su- 
jjreme 
courts. 


Salaries 
fixed. 


Public 
tnanksgiv- 


Sept.  29. 
Close  of  triO 
session  of 
the  first  con- 
gress. 


Washing- 
•on's  paler 
eal  visii  to 
New  Eng- 
land. 


November. 

1T90. 

January  6. 
Scctmd 


was  completed  of  establishing  a  national  judiciary,  to  take  cog- 
nizance of  all  cases,  occurring  under  the  constitution  and  laws 
of  the  United  States  ;  of  all  disputes,  arising  with  foreigners, 
and  between  the  inhabitants  of  different  states.  It  was  to 
consist  of  a  supreme  court,  circuit  and  district  courts.  Ot 
these,  the  district  court,  which  was  to  consist  of  one  judge  for 
each  separate  district,  was  considered  the  lowest ;  and  causes 
were  appealable  from  this  to  the  circuit  court,  which  was  to 
be  composed  of  one  of  the  five  associate  judges  of  the  supreme 
court,  and  the  district  judge  of  the  state  in  which  the  court 
was  held.  Causes  were  appealable  from  this  tribunal  to  the 
supreme  court,  which  was  to  consist  of  a  chief-justice,  and 
five  associate  judges  ;  and  was  to  hold  two  sessions,  annually, 
at  the  seat  of  government.  John  Jay  was  appointed  chief-jus- 
tice, and  Edmund  Randolph,  attorney-general. 

The  salary  of  the  president  was  fixed  at  twenty-five  thou- 
sand dollars  a  year,  that  of  the  vice  president  at  five  tliou- 
sand,  and  those  of  the  heads  of  department  at  three  thousand 
and  five  hundred.  The  representatives  received  six  dollars 
per  day,  and  six  dollars  for  every  twenty  miles'  travel ;  the 
senate  seven  dollars  per  day,  and  the  same  for  travel.  The 
chief-justice  of  the  supreme  court  was  allowed  four  thousand 
dollars,  and  the  associate  judges  three  thousand  five  hundred 
per  annum. 

Before  their  adjournment,  congress,  with  becoming  piety, 
requc-:^ted  the  president  to  recommend  to  the  people  a  day  of 
public  prL3^er  and  thanksgiving  ;  in  which  they  should  uni- 
tedly acknowledge,  "  with  grateful  hearts,  the  many  and  sig- 
nal favors  of  Almighty  God,  especially  by  affording  them  an 
opportunity  peaceably  to  establish  a  constitution  of  govern- 
ment for  their  safety  and  happiness." 

On  the  29th  of  September,  the  first  session  of  congress 
closed  ;  the  secretary  of  the  treasury  being  previously  direct- 
ed, by  a  resolution  of  the  house  of  representatives,  to  prepare 
a  plan  to  provide  for  the  adequate  support  of  the  public  credit, 
and  to  report  the  same  at  the  next  meeting  of  congress. 

After  the  adjournment  of  congress,  the  president  made  a 
tour  through  New  England,  where  he  was  received  by  the 
inhabitants  with  demonstrations  of  the  most  devoted  affection. 
They  crowded  around  him.  They  vied  with  each  other  in 
the  display  of  hospitable  attentions.  Parents  brought  their 
children,  that  they  might  view  in  him  the  living  model  of  ex- 
cellence, and  that  they  might  have,  in  after  life,  the  satisfac- 
tion of  reflecting  that  they  had,  with  their  own  eyes,  beheld 
the  man  whom  the  history  of  their  country  ranked  as  the  first 
of  her  citizens. 

In  November,  North  Carolina  acceded  to  the  new  constitu- 
tion. 

The  second  session  of  the  first  congress  began  on  the  6th 
of  January,  1790.     Mr  Hamilton  early  complied  with  the  di- 


TWO    POLITICAL    PARTIES    FORMED  273 

rections  given  him  at  the  close  of  the  former  session,   and    PART  IV. 
brought  forward  his  celebrated  report,  which  was  drawn  up   rERioD  i. 
with  a  masterly  hand.     He  showed  the  importance  of  public      chap.  i. 
credit,  and  proposed,  as  the  means  of  supporting  that  of  the   ^--"'^^^^^-^ 
United  States,  a  system  of  assuming  or  funding,  not  only  the      1790. 
public  debt,  amounting  to  fifty-four  millions  of  dollars,  but  also   ^l"".  Hamil- 

r  '  r^  J  '  ton  s  repo;  t 

the  state  dcl)ts,   estimated  at   twenty-five   millions  ;    and    of  on  fundin- 
making  permanent  provision  for  the  payment  of  the   interest,  the  nationjU 
by  imposing  taxes  on  certain  articles  of  luxury,  and  on  spirits 
distilled  within  the  United  States. 

The  debates  on  this  report  produced  an  irritation  of  feel- 
ing, which,  in  the  event,  shook  the  foundation  of  the  govern-   H^^^^^  <^«* 
ment,  as  they  may  fairly  be  said,  to  be  the  origin  of  that  vio-   der  danger- 
lent  party-spirit,  which,  under  the  names  of  federalists  and    <>"s  party 
republicans,  for  thirty  years  arrayed  one  part  of  the  American   ^"^'"^^^^y 
community  against  the  other.     There  were  in  the  funding  sys- 
tem two  grand  points  of  difference  between  the  opposing  par- 
ties.    That   concerning  the   assumption  of   the  state  debts, 
which  was  last  debated,   caused  the  most  serious   collision. 
The  northern  members,  who  were  mostly  federalists,  advoca- 
ted the  measure  ;  while  the  majority  of  those  from  the  south, 
belonged  to  the  other  party,  and  opposed  it. 

The  other  point  of  difference   was,  whether  in  the  case  of 
funding  the  domestic  debt,  there  should  be  any  discrimination 
between  the  present  holders  of  public  securities,  and  those  to 
whom  the  debt   was  originally  due.     The  federalists,    who 
looked  with  great  confidence  to  the  talents  and  integrity  of  j^^g  support' 
Mr.  Hamilton,   were,  with  him,  in  favor  of  making  no  differ-    the  treas- 
encc  between  the  present  and  the  original  holder  of  the  conti-       ^^^'*-   .. 
nental  bills,   maintaining  that  government  ought  not  to  inter-  cans  oppose 
fere  in  transfers.     The   republican  party  advocated  the   dis-        him. 
crimination  ;  contending,  that  it  was  unjust  to  the  veterans  of 
the  revolution,  who  had  been  obliged  to  receive  this  paper  in 
lieu  of  gold  and  silver,  and  were  afterwards  compelled  to  part 
with  it  at  a  small  part  of  its  nominal  value,   now  to  be  con- 
demned to  poverty ;  while  the  speculator  was   receiving  the 
reward  of  their  blood  and  services. 

After  much  debate,  Mr.  Madison  proposed,  that  the  present 
holder  of  assignable  paper  should  receive  the  highest  price 
such  paper  had  borne  in  market,  and  the  original  holder  the    ^^f-  ^*a.^* 
residue.    These  propositions  were  finally  rejected  ;  the  friends  ^i"meets\ 
of  the  secretary  contending  that  they  could  not  be  carried  into    grand  diffi 
effect,  so  as  to  prevent  the  results  apprehended;  as  many  of      culty. 
the  original  certificates  were  issued  to  persons,  who,  in  fact, 
had  no  interest  in  them,  as  they  were  for  the  benefit  of  others, 
to  whom  it  was  understood  they  were  to  be  transferred.     They 
had  depreciated  gradually,  thus  probably  dividing  among  many 
individuals  the  loss  sustained  by  each. 

The  subject  of  assuming  the  state   debts,  recalled  former 
points  of  animosity,  and  brought  forward  new  matter  of  dissen- 


274  THE    FCNDiyG    SYSTEM    IS    CARRIED. 

PART  IV  sion.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  suspected  of  monarchical  views 
Having  been  in  a  situation  to  observe  the  evils  arising  from  9 
want  of  power  in  the  continental  congress,  he  had  in  the  con- 
vention, been  an  advocate  for  strength  in  the  new  constitution, 
and  was  at  the  time,  accused  of  wishing  so  to  arrange  it,  that 
in  its  operations,  it  would  break  down,  and  subject  to  itself, 
the  state  governments.  Those  whose  suspicions  were  thus 
excited,  now  believed  that  the  funding  system,  in  its  essential 
features,  and  especially  the  assumption  of  the  state  debts,  wavS 
but  a  part  of  the  same  plan.  They  contended  that  its  design 
was  to  strengthen  the  general  government,  by  making  the  state 
creditors,  and  other  capitalists,  dependent  upon  it ;  and  thus- 
eno-aging  the  great  moneyed  interests  of  the  country  to  defend 
Us  measures,  whether  right  or  wrong. 

Those  in  favor  of  the  assumption,  contended,  that  the  debts 
Strong  argu-  incurred  by  the  states  were  not  for  their  own  beneiit,  but  foi 
"*Toi  of  ihe^' ^^^  promotion  of  the  common  cause;  and  that,  therefore,  it 
assumption,  was  right  the  whole  nation  should  be  responsible.     I'he  debts 
of  the  states  most  active  in  the  war  were  greatest ;  those  of 
Massachusetts  and  Carolina  amounting  to  ten  millions  and  a 
half,  while  those  of  all  the  other  states  were  not  more  than 
fifteen  millions.     Should  each  be  left  to  provide  for  the  pay- 
ment of  its  own  debts,  these  states  must,  in  some  way,  lay 
unusual  burdens  upon  their  inhabitants  ;  thus  obliging  them 
a  second  time  to  be  the  greatest  sufferers  in  the    common 
It      e'ect-  ^^use.     On  taking  the  vote  in  the  house  of  representatives, 
ed.         the  plans  of  the  secretary  were  rejected  by  a  majority  ol 
two. 

In  the  meantime,  disputes  had  taken  place  with  respect  to 

The  location  i}iq  temporary,  as  well  as  the  permanent  seat  of  government, 

of  govern-   ^^  ^^^^  understood  that  should  it  be  fixed  for  ten  years  at  Phi- 

ment  a      ladelphia,  and  afterwards  at  a  place  to  be  selected  on  the  Po- 

make-weight  joj^^c,  that  some  of  the  members  of  the  house  of  representa- 

to  carry  the    .  '  i  i        •  i   i  i     •  •  • 

treasurer's    tives,   irom  that  quarter,  would  withdraw  tneir  opposition  to 

plans.       ^Y.  Hamilton.     This  was  accordingly  done,   and  his  plans 

were  adopted.     The  debt  funded  amounted  to  a  little  more 

than  seventy-five  millions  of  dollars,  upon  a  part  of  which  an 

interest  of  three  per  cent,  was  paid,  and  on  the  remainder,  six 

per  cent. 

Rhode  In  May,  1790,  Rhode  Island  acceded  to  the  new  constitu- 

isiandadopts  tion  ;  thus  completino'  the  union  of  the  Thirteen  United  States, 

t};fi  constitu-         i  ^  ^. 

tion.        under  one  government. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  third  session  of  con- 
gress, a  bill  was  introduced  for  laying  the  taxes  which  the 
Duties  are    secretary  had  proposed  for  the  payment  of  the  interest  on  the 
American     ^^sumed  debt  of  the  states.     That  for  laying  duties  on  distilled 
distilled     Spirits,  was  urged  on  the  ground,  that  the  inhabitants  beyond 
spirits.      t^e   Alleghany  mountains,  where  no  other  were   consumed, 
would  not  otherwise  bear  an  equal  burden  with  those  on  the 
sea-coast,  who  consumed  most  of  the  articles  on  vhich  a/ 


Washington's  cabinet  divided.  275 

impost  duly  was  laid.    The  bill,  after  much  debate,  was  carried.  ^^^?^L1L 

An  act  was  passed,  accepting  the   cession  of  the  claims  of   i'eriod  i. 
North  Carolina  to  a  district,  west  of  that  state,  and  a   territo-     chap.  i. 
rial  government   was  established  by  congress,  under  the  title  ^-^-v^^-- 
of  "  The  Territory  of  the  United  States,  south   of  the  Ohio."  ^ 
In  17S0,  James  Robertson,  with  forty  families  travelled  through  'f'ennessee 
a  wilderness  of  300  miles  and  founded  Nashville.    Many  of  the     1790. 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  revolutionary  war  settled  on  Cum-      ^^s-  7. 
berland  river ;  a  tract  having  been  there  laid  off,  for  the  dis-  |he  a-e^'? 
charge  of  military  bounties. 

A  treaty  was  concluded  between  the  United  States  and  the 
Creek  Indians  ;  thus  putting  a  period  to  the  fears  of  a  Creek  war. 

A  national  bank  was,  during  this  session,  recommended  by 
Mr.  Hamilton.     It  met  with  a  violent  opposition  from  the  re- 
publican party.     They  considered  all  banking  institutions  as 
useless,  the  present  bill  defective,  and  the  power  of  establish- 
ing a  bank  not  granted  to  congress.     The  supporters  of  the 
bill  maintained  that   a  national  bank  was  not  only  constitu- 
tional and  useful,  but  necessary  for  the  operations  of  govern- 
ment.    The  president  required  the  opinions  of  the  cabinet  in     i^ni 
writing.     Mr.  Jefferson  and  Mr.  Randolph  opposed,  while  Mr.    a  natiotml 
Hamilton  and  General  Knox    advocated  the  bill.     After  de-  bank  estab- 
liberate  investigation,  the  president  was  convinced  of  its  con-      ^^^^^*^- 
stitutionality  and  utility,  and  gave  it  his  signature.     The  bank 
was  established  at  Philadelphia,  with  a  capital  of  ten  millions 
of  dollars. 

The  dissensions  on  the  subject  of  the  funding  and  banking   Party  dis- 
systems,  thus  originating  in  the  heart  of  the  republic,  spread     tensions 
themselves  to    its    extremities,   and  were  every  where   the  the^'llJfumJj 
signal  for  the  people  to  range  themselves,  each  under  one    f*"^  in  the 
of  the  two  parties.     The  secretary  of  state  was  active  and     '^^''"^^^ 
determined  in  his  opposition  to  the  measures  of  Mr.  Hamilton. 
He  doubtless  believed  them  prejudicial  to  the  interests  of  his 
country ;  but  it  appears  problematical,  whether,  as  a  member 
of  the  cabinet,   it  was  right  for  him   to  spread  through  the 
country,  a  spirit  of  disaffection*  to  measures  taken  by  another 
member  of  the  same  cabinet,  acting  in  the  legitimate  exercise 
of  his  proper  functions.    As  an  individual  patriot,  Mr.  Jefferson 
would  certainly  have  been  correct  in  persuading  his  country- 
men to  oppose  what  he  believed  would  tend  to  subvert  their 
liberties  ;  but  it  would  seem  that,  by  the  resignation  of  his 
office,  he  should  have  become  merely  an  actor  in  an  individ- 

*  Mr.  Jefferson,  it  is  said,  patronized  a  paper  which  vilified  the  conduct  and 
measures  of  the  secretary  of  tlio  treasuiy.  Of  this,  Marshall  gives  the  following 
account ;— "Other  papers  enlisted  themselves  under  the  banners  of  the  opposi- 
tion. Conspicuous  among  these,  was  the  National  Gazette,  a  paper  edited  by 
a  clerk  in  the  department  of  state.  The  avowed  purpose  for  which  the  secre- 
tary patronized  this  paper,  was  to  present  to  the  eye  of  the  American  jjeople, 
European  intelligence  derived  from  the  Leyden  Gazette,  instead  of  the  English 
papers;  but  it  soon  Ijecame  the  vehicle  of  calumny  against  the  funding  and 
lianking  systems  ;  against  the  duty  on  home  spirits,  which  was  denominated  an 
excise,  and  against  the  men  who  had  proposed  and  supported  those  measures," 


76 


THE    MORAVIANS    AND    INDIANS. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  I. 
OHAP.    II. 


1791. 

Feb.  IS. 
Vermont  ad- 
naitted  to  the 

Union. 


Octobet. 
f  he  second 

congress. 
Number  of 
representa- 
tives, 1  to 

33,000. 


ual  capacity,  before  he  took  any  measures  of  hostility  against 
Mr.  Hamilton.  As  it  was,  the  venerable  Washington  had  the 
unhappiness  to  witness  his  two  principal  secretaries,  both 
men  of  vast  abilities,  in  determined  hostility  to  each  other,- 
and  the  mortification  to  find  his  affectionate  remonstrances  and 
exhortations,  ineffectual  to  their  reconcilement. 

New  York  having  relinquished  its  claims  to  jurisdiction  in 
Vermont,  and  this  state  agreeing  to  the  federal  constitution,  it 
was,  on  the  application  of  its  principal  citizens,  this  year  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union. 

In  1791,  the  first  census  of  the  United  States  was  comple- 
ted. The  number  of  inhabitants  was  3,929,000,  of  whom, 
695,000  were  slaves.  The  revenue  amounted  to  4,771,000 
dollars,  the  exports  to  19,000,000,  and  the  imports  to  about 
20,000,000. 

In  October,  the  second  congress  commenced  its  first  session. 
One  of  its  earliest  acts  was  that  of  apportioning  the  number  of 
representatives  according  to  the  census.  After  much  disa- 
greement a  bill  passed  fixing  the  ratio  at  one  for  every  thirty- 
three  thousand  inhabitants. 

While  congress  was  thus  agitated  by  party  strife,  an  Indian 
war  was  opening  on  the  northwestern  frontier. 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Moravians. — The  Indians  of  the  North  West. 


ngmes. 


The  aborigines  of  America,  are  regarded  with  great  and 
increasing  interest.     Of  all  the  sources  of  information  con- 
cerning their  character  and  internal  arrangements,  perhaps  the 
History  of  most  valuable,  are  those  derived  from  the  Moravians.     Elliot, 
the  Mora-    although   long  engaged  in  their  conversion,  yet  had  his  home 
tight  on  that  and  family  among  the  people  of  Roxbury.     David  Brainerd 
©ftheabo-   from    1 742  to  1746,   was  wholly  devoted  to  the  same  object 
among  the  Mohicanni  west  of  the  Hudson,  and  the  Delawares, 
in   New  Jersey  and   eastern  Pennsylvania.     But  his  career, 
though  successful,  was  short.     The  Moravian  brethren   lived 
for  forty  years  among  the  Indians.     Their  society  had  many 
intelligent  men,  (and  women  also,)  scattered  widely  among  them. 
They  adopted  their  converts  as  brothers  and  sisters,  some- 
times intermarrying  among  them.     Their  observations  were 
written  down ;  and  they  remain  in  the  pages  of  Heckewelder, 
and  in  the  letters  of  Zeisberger,  arranged  into  narrative  by 
Loskiel.      For   the   sake    of   this  information,   no  less  than 
on   their   own    account,    the    history  of  the    Moravian    mis- 
sions should  be  studied.     To  give  a  connected  view  of  the 


THE    BRETHREN    AMONG    THE    DELAWARES.  2T) 

revolution,  we  have  suspended  it  from  its  proper  chronological  PART  IV. 
place. 

After  Ponliac's  treacheries,  the  Moravian  converts,  in  dan- 
ger of  perishing  from  the  indiscriminate  fury  of  the  whites, 
went  in  a  body  to  Philadelphia,  and  were  sheltered  by  the 
governor  in  a  prison  ;  yet,  even  here,  some  of  them  were  mur- 
dered. 

Soon  after  this,  Zeisberger  was  the  leader  of  a  party  of  the     1767. 
missionaries,  who   emigrated  with  a  portion  of  their  Indian  A  mission  on 
brethren,  and  fixed,  for  a  time,  on  the  Alleghany  river,  near  ^  nynvS.^ 
the  mouth  of  French  creek.     Here  the  Indians  came  in  throngs 
to  attend  their  preaching ;  and   the   chapel   which  they  had 
erected,  was  filled  with  warriors,  whose  faces  were  painted 
with  black  and  vermilion,  and  their  heads   decorated   with 
clusters  of  feathers  and  fox-tails.     Some  of  them  became  pen- 
itent believers,  and  joined  the  brethren. 

At  this  time  a  war  occurred  between  the  Senecas  and  Cher-     1770. 
okees.     Some  provocation  had  been  given  by  the  former,  when     ^^';»r  be- 
a  small  party  of  their  braves  were   taken  by  the  latter,  who,  senecas  and 
having  cut  off  their  fingers,  told  them  to  go  home  and  show  Clierokees. 
the  Senecas  how  the  Cherokees  treated  those  "  who  would  not 
hold  on  to  the  chain  of  friendship." 

The  war  v/hich  ensued,  made  the  location  of  the  Moravians      May  3. 
uncomfortable.      Chiefs  in  the  neighborhood  proved  treache- '^'^^  *^<'''*^*' 
reus  ;  and,  Zeisberger  again  leading  the  way,  the  brethren  re-  Friedenstadt 
moved  to  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  near  the  mouth  of  Beaver  creek,  at  the  mouth 
Here  they  founded  Friedenstadt,  "  The  Town  of  Peace."    The   ''^cfe^r' 
settlements  on  the  great  bend  of  the  Susquehannah,  were  about 
this  time  broken  up,   and  a  part  of  the  inhabitants,  led  by 
Heckewelder,  joined  this  settlement. 

Zeisberger    soon   removed,    having   been  invited   by   the     1771 
Delaware  chiefs,  and  presented  by  them  Vvdth  a  beautiful  tract     March  5. 
of  land  on  the  Muskingiun,  near  the  confluence  of  the  Tusca- 
rawas with  Whiteworaan's  creek.     Here,  with  a  party  of  five 
families — twenty-eight  persons,  from  Friedenstadt,  he  fixed     ITTSJ. 
and  built  Schoonbrun,  "  the  Beautiful  Spring."     They  were  stt^tlem^t 
soon  joined  by  241  persons  from  the  Susquehannah.     Several  begun  oq  the 
new  towns  were  founded,  the  most  considerable  of  which  were  Musking-jm. 
called  Lichtenau,  Friedenheuten,  and  Salem. 

Feuds  arose  among  the  Indians,  by  which  the  missionaries 
were  in  continual  danger.     The  jealousy  of  the  chiefs  also  op- 
erated now,  as  in  the  time  of  Elliot,  against  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel.      But  the  most  powerful  man  of  the  Delawares,     ?7''?' 
Captain  White-Eyes,  a  person  of  great  and  good  qualities,  was    f  he^excel- 
convinced  of  the  importance   of  civilization.     He  saw  how   lent  chief, 
much  better  off  were  the   Europeans,  and  even  the  christian  T^[jes  f^Jo^ 
Indians,  than  were  his  own  people.     Christianity,  he  regarded    bie  stand, 
as  the  principal  cause  of  the  great  difference.     And  when  the 
aged  chief  Netawatwees,  with  Captain  Pipe,  a  noted  war-chief, 
and  others,  joined  in  determining  to  expel  the  religious  teachers 


278 


BRIGHT    PROSPECTS    OVERCAST. 


PART  IV. 


April. 
Zeisberger's 
Delaware 
spelling- 
book  com- 
pleted. 

Revolution- 
ary war 
changes 

their  pros- 
pects. 

August. 
The  Half- 
king  visits. 

The  Indian 
tribes  deter- 
mine to  root 
out  the  Mo- 
ravians. 

August. 
17§1. 

Oblige  them 
to  break  at 
the  Mus- 
kingum. 

October. 

Oiicl  hanl- 

sliips  on  the 

Sandus>.y. 


1782. 

March  14. 

Hear  sad 

news. 


whom  they  had  invited,  White-Eyes  addressed  the  council, 
even  with  tears,  in  their  behalf.  But  unable  to  move  them,  he 
withdrev/  in  silent  offended  dignity.  The  nation  could  not 
dispense  with  his  talents  and  services,  and  were  forced  to 
come  into  his  measures.  At  length  Netawatwees  was  con- 
verted. Glikkikan,  one  of  their  most  eloquent  and  warlike 
captains,  had  before  become  a  sincere  and  consistent  christian. 
He  received  baptism  under  the  name  of  Isaac,  and  assisted 
the  brethren  as  a  teacher,  and  finally  sealed  his  faith  with  his 
blood.  The  chiefs  now  solemnly  determined  in  council,  and 
promulgated  the  decree,  that  the  Delawares,  as  a  nation,  would 
receive  the  word  of  God.  "  Let  us,"  said  Netawatwees  to 
Pakanke,  another  aged  chief,  "  do  a  good  work  before  we  de- 
part, and  leave  a  testimony  to  our  children." 

Great  prosperity  followed.  Zeisberger  had  made  a  spelling- 
book  of  the  Delaware  tongue,  and  was  gathering  the  children 
into  schools.  The  war  of  the  revolution  came  on,  and  the 
afflicted  bretheren  were  now  placed  between  three  fires.  The 
English  and  Americans  each  sent  to  them  to  be  quiet,  but 
each  sought  to  draw  them  into  such  correspondencies  as  would 
have  made  them  suspected  by  the  other  ;  while  the  Indian  tribes 
around,  wished  to  take  part  in  the  fray.  '  Still,  the  Delawares, 
under  White-Eyes,  acted  in  their  character  of  peacemakers, 
and  called  on  the  tribes  to  maintain  a  neutrality. 

About  this  time,  the  Half-king  came  with  200  of  his  Hu- 
rons,  or  W^yandots,  bent  on  the  destruction  of  the  Moravians ; 
but  they  prepared  a  feast,  and  received  him  in  such  a  manner, 
that  he  relented  and  promised  them  his  friendship. 

At  length  the  two  belligerents  called  on  the  Indians  to  take  up 
arms,  and  they  could  no  longer  be  restrained.  But  the  young 
men  among  their  converts  refused.  Their  refusal  was  at- 
tributed to  their  teachers,  and  the  fierce  Iroquois  employed  the 
Chippewas  and  Ottawas,  to  take  the  lives  of  the  missiona- 
ries, or  cause  their  removal.  Their  friend  White-Eyes  was 
now  dead.  They  were  plundered,  and  their  cattle  shot  ip 
such  numbers,  that  the  air  became  insupportable ;  and  while 
their  corn  was  yet  unharvested,  they  were  obliged  to  break 
up  their  beautiful  settlements  on  the  Muskingum. 

Some  of  their  converts  forsook  them,  while  hundreds  fol- 
lowed them  to  a  barren  spot  on  the  Sandusky  river.  Winter 
came  on,  and  they  suffered  from  hunger  and  cold.  Notwith- 
standing the  missionaries  had  thus  sacrificed  every  thing, 
rather  than  to  abandon  their  converts,  who  loved  them  as  fa- 
thers, they  were  now  seized,  by  British  authority,  and  carried 
to  Detroit.  The  very  day  they  were  torn  from  their  families 
and  converts,  they  learned  the  dreadful  fate  of  a  party  of  their 
Indian  brethren  and  sisters,  Avho  had  gone  back  to  the  Musk- 
ingum, to  gather  the  corn  from  their  deserted  fields. 

This  party  consisted  of  ninety-eight  persons.  They  were 
at  Lichtenau  and  Salem,  expecting  soon  to  carry  the  gathered 


A    DARK    PAGE. 


279 


corn  to  their  famishing  friends,  when  an  armed  party  of  Ameri- 
can marauders,  possessed  with  the  superstitious  behef,  that  the 
Indians,  Hke  the  Canaanites  of  old,  were  all  to  be  destroyed 
by  the  chosen  race,  which,  in  their  opinion,  were  themselves, 
hearing  of  this  party,  came  upon  them  unawares  ;  and,  by 
fraud  and  false  pretenses,  disarmed  and  made  them  pris- 
oners. They  then  informed  them  that  they  must  die.  Reli- 
gion had  taught  them  how  Christians  should  die,  and  all  they 
asked  was  a  little  time  to  prepare.  The  wretches  gave  them 
till  the  next  day,  and  then  confined  the  men  in  one  house, 
the  women  and  children  in  another.  All  night  did  these  de- 
voted innocents  send  up  to  heaven  the  voice  of  prayer,  with 
hymns  of  praise.  In  the  morning,  they  were  led  forth  by  two 
and  two,  and  in  separate  houses  set  apart  for  the  men  and 
women,  they  were  scalped  and  murdered  ;  meeting  their  death 
with  christian  composure.  Thus  ninety-six  converted  Indians 
were  foully  slaughtered  in  cool-blood,  l3y  white  men  pretend- 
ing to  be  christians.  Two  lads  alone  escaped  to  give  these 
particulars.  Colonel  Gibson,  the  American  commandant  at 
Pittsburg,  had  sent  to  apprise  the  Moravian  Indians  of  the 
danger  they  were  in,  from  these  human  fiends  ;  but  too  late. 

The  missionaries,  who  were  carried  to  Detroit,  had  already 
been  there  before  on  the  accusation  of  Captain  Pipe,  that  they 
had  been  in  correspondence  with  the  Americans.  They  denied 
the  fact,  and  demanded  of  the  governor  a  trial.  When  con- 
fronted with  their  accuser,  the  governor  asked  him  if  his 
charge  was  true.  Captain  Pipe  shuffled  and  evaded,  and 
whispered  with  his  counsellors,  who  hung  their  heads.  At 
length  he  raised  himself,  like  a  man  who  suddenly  makes  a 
great  and  good  resolve.  "  I  will,"  said  he,  "  tell  the  plain 
truth.  The  missionaries  are  good  men."  Then  striking 
his  breast,  he  exclaimed,  "  it  is  I  who  am  to  blame  :  they  did 
nothing  but  what  the  Delaware  chiefs  obliged  them  to  do." 
On  this  declaration  they  were  acquitted. 

On  their  second  visit,  the  governor,  who  was  a  worthy  man, 
told  them  that  he  had  them  brought  to  Detroit  to  save  their 
lives,  which  the  savages  were  determined  to  take.  Encou- 
raged by  him,  the  missionaries  again  gathered  th3ir  scattered 
flock,  for  a  time,  on  the  Huron  river.  At  length  the  news  of 
peace  between  England  and  America  arriv^ed,  and  they  re- 
turned to  the  United  States.  The  savage  tribes  remaining 
hostile,  they  went  towards  their  settlements  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  their  society  was  incorporated,  and  was  flourishing. 
From  the  beginning  of  the  Moravian  mission  to  the  year  1782, 
the  brethren  had  baptized  720  of  the  Indians. 

After  the  treaty  with  Great  Britain,  that  nation  refused  to  de- 
liver up  Detroit  and  other  posts  in  the  western  country,  wiihin 
the  ceded  limits  of  the  United  States ;  alledging  that  the  Ameri- 
cans had  not  fulfilled  certain  stipulations  of  the  treaty.  These 
posts  became  tlie  rallying  points  of  the  now  hostile  savages. 


PART  IV. 


March  &. 
Americans 
make  thern 
prisoners. 

March  7 

Inhumanly 

murder 

them 


1T81. 

November 
The  mis- 
sionaries al 
Detroit  are 
tried  b}^  de 
Peyster,  the 
British  go- 
vernor. 

Captain 

Pipe's  avow 

al. 


March  14. 

1T§2. 

Mission  oa 

the  Huroa 

river. 


They  return 
to  the  United 

States 

1T86. 


280 


THE    MASSACRE    OF    THE    INDIAN    CONVERTS    AVENGED 


TheMiamis, 

The  Little 
Turtle. 


General 
Harmar. 


Hfis  lefeat. 


1792. 

October. 
St.  Clair 
Buffers  the 
Little  Turtle 
to  surj^iise 
his  force, 
which  is 
wholly  de- 
feated. 


Congress  re- 
solve to  car- 
ry on  the 
war,  but 
ijoldiers  are 
wanting. 


A  flag  of 
truce  vio- 
lated. 

1793. 

Parthxl   ces- 
sation of 
hostilities. 


The  Miamies  were  at  this  time  the  most  prominent  of  the 
western  tribes.  Their  chief,  Michikiniqua,  (the  Little  Turtle,) 
possessed  more  talents  than  any  savage  warrior  of  his  time. 
Like  Pontiac,  he  appears  to  have  thought  that  a  juncture,  when 
the  country  was  to  change  its  white  masters,  might  be  made  fa- 
vorable to  their  utter  expulsion,  and  the  re-establisment  of  the 
Indian  power.  By  the  force  of  native  abilities  and  great  ex 
ertions,  he  raised  himself  to  be  the  military  leader  of  the  con- 
federated Wyandots,  Delawares,  Pottawatamies,  Shawanese, 
Chippewas,  Ottawas,  and  other  tribes.  With  purposes  of 
extermination,  they  now  ravaged  the  frontiers  of  the  United 
States,  committing  their  usual  midnight  atrocities. 

Pacific  arrangements  were  attempted  by  the  president,  but 
without  effect.  On  their  failure.  General  Harmar  was  sent 
from  Fort  Washington  on  the  site  of  Cincinnati,  with  a  force 
amounting  to  1 ,400  men,  to  reduce  them  to  terms.  He  was 
successful  in  destroying  Indian  villages,  and  the  produce  of 
their  fields  ;  but  in  an  engagement  near  Chillicothe,  he  was  de- 
feated with  considerable  loss. 

Upon  the  failure  of  General  Harmar,  Major  General  St. 
Clair,  governor  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  was  appointed  to 
succeed  him.  He  hastened,  with  an  army  of  2,000,  to  pro- 
tect the  suffering  inhabitants. 

In  October  of  the  following  year,  he  marched  into  the  wil- 
derness to  seek  his  foe,  and  encamped  with  1,400  men,  near 
the  Miami  villages.  Regardless  of  the  rules  of  savage  war- 
fare, and  of  the  well  known  talent  and  subtilty  of  the  Little 
Turtle,  he  and  his  officers  were  asleep,  while  at  dead  of  night 
the  savage  chieftians  assembled  in  council.  At  dawn,  the 
terrified  Americans  were  roused  with  the  war-whoop  sounding 
in  their  ears,  from  every  quarter.  The  carnage  was  indescri- 
bable. Not  more  than  one -fourth  of  the  Americans  escaped, 
and  their  whole  camp  and  artillery,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
savages. 

On  receiving  information  of  this  horrible  disaster,  congress 
resolved  to  prosecute  the  v/ar  with  increased  vigor ;  to  aug- 
ment the  army,  and  to  place  the  frontiers  in  a  state  of  defense. 
In  pursuance  of  these  resolutions,  Washington  endeavored  to 
organize  a  force  sufficient  for  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the 
war ;  but  the  defeats  of  Harmar  and  St.  Clair  produced  such 
a  dread  of  the  Indians,  that  a  sufficient  number  of  recruits 
could  not  be  enlisted  to  authorize  another  expedition,  A 
clamor  was  raised  against  the  war,  and  the  president,  once 
more  attempting  to  negotiate,  sent  Colonel  Harden  and  Major 
Trueman  with  a  flag  of  truce.  They  were  both  murdered  by 
the  savages,  though  against  the  will  of  the  chief. 

The  Six  Nations,  at  the  instigation  of  Washington,  now  in- 
terfered, and  persuaded  the  tribes  on  the  Wabash  to  withdraw 
from  the  alliance,  and  make  peace  with  the  United  States. 


FOREBODINGS    OF    THE    TWO    PARTIES.  281 

The  Miamies  consented  to  something  like  a  truce,  agreeing  PART  IV. 
to  hold  a  conference  the  ensuing  spring.  peuiud  i. 

ill  1792,  a  mint  was  established,  by  order  of  congress,  and     ^"^p-  "■ 
k>rate(i  at  Philadelphia;    and   the  division  and   value  of  the  ^-^"v"^^ 
money,  to  be  used  ihrouirhout  the  country,  was  regulated  by 
statute  and  it  was  called  ""Federal  money."  i^yQ*! 

General   Washington  was  again  elected  president,  and  in    Washin-- 
March,  1793,  was  hiaugurated.    John  Adams  was  also  re-elect-  ton's  second 
ed  vice-president.  '"Tio'^' 

About  this  time,  the  French  revolution,  wdiich  had  commen- 
ced in  1789,  began  seriously  to  aflcct  the  politics  of  the  Uni-     1789. 
ted  States.      A  new  government  was   at  first  established  in  The  French 
France,  which  had  for  its  fundamental  principle,  the  universal    ^^ca^i^s. 
equality  of  man.     Hopes  were  entertained,  that  France  would 
now  enjoy  the  blessings  of  a  free  government ;  but  the  leaders 
of  the  revolution  were  selfish  and  unprincipled,  and  their  san- 
guinary measures  soon  blasted  these  hopes.     Louis  XVI.  was 
executed,  his   family  murdered  or  imprisoned,  and  all  who     ITOS. 
were  suspected  of  hostility  to  the  revolutionists,  suffered  de-  Lou^s'^I 
capitation  by  the  guillotine.  guillotined.* 

The  party-spirit  which  had  already  agitated  the  whole  Union, 

raged  with  incceased  violence.     The  democratic  or  republi-  Effect  of  the 

can  party,  viewing  France  as  in  the  same  situation  with  Ame-  lut^ononThe 

rica,  when   contending  for  her  rights  against  the  tyranny  of      United 

Great  Britain,  beheld  with  pleasure  the  downfall  of  kings,  and      States 

the  dissemination  of  their  own  princiijles  ;  and  thouorh  they,..         r^, 
T  1    1       r  1  1  1  ■,  •      1  1  Views  of  the 

disapproved  the  lerocity  and  cruelty  exhibited,  yet  they  trust-  democratic 

ed  that  good  order  would  eventually  be  restored,  and  a  repub-       party- 

lie  of  the  most  perfect  kind  established. 

The  federalists,  regarding  their  country  as  connected  with 
Britain  by  identity  of  origin,  b}^  the  various  ties  of  commercial 
interest,  by  resemblance  of  institutions,  and  by  similarity  of 
language,  literature,  and  religion ;  shocked  with  the  crimes  ^gjeTahstB^" 
of  the  French  rulers,  and  alarmed  at  the  system  of  disorgani- 
zation which  they  had  introduced,  were  led  to  doubt  whether, 
amidst  such  a  state  of  things,  a  republican  form  of  government 
could  permanently  be  maintained.  They  charged  the  demo- 
cratic party  with  espousing  the  cause  of  France,  and  thus 
fostering  a  spirit  of  disorganization.  Their  public  prints 
teemed  with  the  most  terrific  visions  of  the  future  condition 
of  the  country,  should  the  republican  party  gain  the  ascen- 
dency. Law,  religion,  and  good  order,  they  foretold,  would 
all  be  subverted  ;  the  churches  sacrilegiously  demolished,  and 
the  written  word  of  God  committed  to  the  flames.  The  re- 
publican prints  retorted  with  equal  asperity,  charging  their 
political  opponents  with  hostility  to  republican  institutions,  and 
mean  subserviency  to  Great  Britain.  April  22. 

In  April,  1793,  information  was  received  of  the  declaration  Washington 
of  war  by  France,  against  Great  Britain  and  Holland.      Wash-  proclamaiioB 
ington  was  an  American,  and  he  did  not  choose  to  involve  his  of  neutrality. 
20 


282 


PRESUMPTION    OF    THE    FRENCH    MINISTER 


PART  IV. 


1793 

April. 

Arrival  of 

Genet. 


His  pre- 

omptuous 

behavicr. 


sustain  the 


Feb  1. 
1^94. 

Mr.  Fauchet 

supersedes 

him. 

11^92. 

Kentucky 

tdmitted   as 

a  state 

Col.   Boone 
fcegins  a  set- 
tlement. 

1*780. 

The  settlers 
in  distress. 
They  are 
relieved. 


country  in  the  contests  of  Europe  He  accordinoly,  with  the 
unanimous  advice  of  his  cabinet,  issued  a  proclamation  of 
neutrality  This  measure  contributed,  in  a  great  degree,  to 
the  prosperity  of  America.  Its  adoption  was  the  more  hono- 
rable to  the  president,  as  the  general  sympathy  was  in  favor 
of  the  sister  republic,  against  whom,  it  was  said,  Great  Bri- 
tain had  commenced  a  war  for  the  sole  purpose  of  imposing 
upon  her  a  monarchical  form  of  government ;  but  he  preferred 
the  welfare  of  his  couniry  to  the  breath  of  popular  applause. 

The  French  minister,  who  had  been  sent  over  by  the  king, 
was  about  this  time  recalled  ;  and  in  April,  Mr.  Genet,  who 
was  appointed  by  the  repubhc,  arrived  in  Charleston,  S.  C 
The  flattering  receptioii  he  met  with,  induced  him  to  believe, 
that  he  could  easily  persuade  the  American  people  to  embark 
in  the  cause  of  France,  whatever  might  be  the  determination 
of  theij  government.  This  opinion  was  followed  by  the  pre- 
sumptuous procedure  of  iitting  out  privateers  from  the  port  of 
Charleston,  to  cruise  against  the  vessels  of  the  enemies  of 
France,  nations  at  peace  with  the  United  States.  Nor  was 
this  the  only  act  of  sovereignty  which  he  attempted.  He 
projected  hostile  expeditions  against  Florida,  from  South  Car- 
oUna  and  Georgia  ,  and  against  New  Orleans  and  Louisiana, 
from  the  state  of  Kentucky,  put  them  in  a  train  of  execution 
and  did  not  finally  relinquish  them  until  disavowed  by  the 
minister  who  succeeded  him. 

Notwithstanding  these  illegal  assumptions,  he  was  welcomed 
at  Philadelphia  by  the  most  extravagant  marks  of  joy.  Mr. 
Hammond,  the  British  minister  justly  complained.  The  cab- 
met  disapproved  his  course,  and  deternnned  to  enforce  the 
iaws.  Genet  went  so  far  as  to  accuse  the  executive,  and 
threaten  an  appeal  from  the  government  to  the  people.  This 
measure  turned  many  against  him;  and  rendered  the  cause  of 
France  less  popular  in  America.  Congress  approved  the  con- 
duct of  the  administration  towards  Mr.  Genet,  and  France 
annulled  his  powers.     He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Fauchet 

Kentucky  was  separated  from  Virginia,  in  1790,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  union,  as  a  separate  state,  in  1792.  The  first 
English  settlement  was  made  by  Col.  Daniel  Boone.  He,  with 
his  family  and  forty  men,  settled,  in  1775,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Kentucky.  Boone  had  himself,  visited  the  region,  four 
years  earlier.  Admiring  the  beauty  and  grandeur  of  the 
scenery,  and  the  wild  fertility  of  the  soil,  he  remained  upon 
it;  a  solitary  dweller  in  the  woods.  The  Indians  were  fierce 
and  dangerous;  and  the  wild  beasts  threatened  his  lonely 
habitation.  But  Boone  delighted  in  such  scenes.  He  trapped 
the  bears,  and  eluded,  or  made  friends  of  the  Indians. 

Subsequently,  the  legislature  of  Virginia,  granted  400  acres 
of  land,  to  any  man  who  would  make  a  clearing,  build  a  cabin, 
and  raise  a  crop  of  corn.  This  attracted  settlers  The  In- 
dians were  hostile,  and  severe  winters  brought  famine.  But 
fresh  bodies  of  emigrants  furnished  supplies ;  and  Kentucky 
became  prosperous 


THE  WHISKEY  INSURRECTION.  283 

CHAPTER  III. 

Consequences  of  war. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1794,  Mr.  JeiTeison  resigned  his  PART  IV 
office  of  secretary  of  state,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Ran-  period  i. 
dolph.  The  office  of  attorney-general  was  filled  by  Mr.  Wil-  chap.  in. 
liam  Bradford.  v-^-><"x^ 

The  duties  which  had  been  laid  by  congress  on  distilled  Mr.  Jeffer- 

spirits,  created  great  dissatisfaction.     In  the  western  coun-  son  resigns 

ties   of  Pennsylvania,  it  soon  assumed  the  appearance  of  a    '"^  oflice. 

regularlypro»rcssive  system  of  resistance.   Combinations  were  ^  I'VM. 

formed  to  prevent  the  operation  of  the  laws,  by  excitino-  the  '^'^^.^"V^j 

^  ,,  1  1  •      .    1  ]   •     .1     •  on  distilled 

resentment  ot  the  people  against  those  concerned  in  their  ex-  gpi-ijs  occa- 

ecution  ;  and  for  this  purpose,  in  1791,  a  general  meeting  of  siondisturb- 
the   malcontents  was  held  at  Pittsburg,  and  correspondencies  p^^^^  ^" 
established  among  them.     This  state  of  things  called  for  vig-         ^i^^ 
orous   measures   on  the  part  of  government.     Officers  of  in- 
spection  were  appointed,   and  a  proclamation   issued  by  the 
president,  exhorting  and  admonishing  all  persons  to  desist 
from  any  combinations  to  resist  the  execution  of  the  laws. 

The  insurgents,  not  checked,  proceeded  to  violent  outrages,  ^.-^'''.p'*". 
The  marshal  of  the  district,  while  serving  processes  against  lieyinsurrec- 
offenders,  was  seized  by  a  body  of  armed  men,  and  compelled      tion." 
to  enter  into  an  engagement  to  refrain  from  executing  the  du- 
ties of  his  office.     The  inspector,  apprehensive  of  danger,  af- 
ter applying  in  vain  for  protection  from  the  civil   authority, 
procured  a  small  number  of  soldiers,  to  guard  his  house.     It 
was  attacked  by  five  hundred  of  the  rioters,  who,  by  setting- 
fire  to  the  surrounding  buildings,   compelled  those  wdthin  to 
surrender   themselves,   and   deliver  up  the  papers  of  the  in- 
spector, and  both  this  officer   and  the  marshal   were  obliged 
to  withdraw. 

The  avow^ed  motives  of  these  outrages,  w^ere  to  compel  the 
resignation  of  the  officers,  and  to  procure  a  repeal  of  the  of- 
fensive laws.  The  number  of  the  insurgents  was  calculated 
at  seven  thousand. 

Washington,  having  vainly  attempted  persuasive  measures 
now  found  himself  compelled  to  resort  to  force.     A  requisi- 
tion was  made  on  the  governors  of  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland,  and  Virginia,  for  fifteen  thousand  militia.     These    Q^vgrnot 
were  placed  under  the  command  of  Governor  Lee,  of  \ir-     Lee  sent 
ginia,  w^ho  marched  at  their  head  into  the  revolted  district,  against  the 
This  had  the  intended  effect.     Such  salutary  terror  was  in-  ^^^^^^  * 
spired,  that  no  farther  opposition  was  attempted.     Several  of 
the  most  active  leaders  were  detahied  for  legal  prosecution, 
but  afterwards  pardoned ;    as  were  also  two,  who  were  tried 
and  convicted  of  treason.      In  the  management  of  this  ditli- 
cult  affdir,  the  energy  and  wisdom  of  Washington  were  again 
conspicuous,    at   once    awing   the   disaffected  'jy  force,   and 
sootluiig  them  by  lenity. 
20* 


294 


WAYNE  S    WAR. 


PART  IV. 


1704. 

The  mutual 
complaints 
of  the  Brit- 
ish and 
Americans. 


Congress  ap- 
prehend war. 

April. 
Mr.  Jay  ap- 
pointed en- 
voy to  Eng- 
land. 


The  Little 
Turtle's 

opinion  of 
Wayne. 


Wayne 

Biarches  into 

the  Miami 

rounlry. 


Auk.  20. 
IJr  defeats 
tlie  Indians, 


At  this  session  of  congress,  an  act  Avas  passed  to  raise  a 
naval  force,  consisting  of  six  frigates,  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
tecting the  American  commerce  against  the  Algerines  ;  eleven 
merchant  vessels,  and  upwards  of  one  hundred  citizens,  ttaving 
been  captured  by  these  barbarians. 

A  war  with  England  was,  at  this  time  apprehended.  Siace 
the  peace  of  1783,  mutual  complaints  were  made  by  liie  Uni- 
ted States  and  Great  Britain  for  violating  the  stipulations  of 
the  treaty.  The  former  were  accused  of  preventing  the  loy- 
alists from  regaining  possession  of  their  estates,  and  British 
subjects  from  recovering  debts,  contracted  before  the  com- 
mencement of  hostilities.  The  Americans  complained,  that 
the  military  posts,  of  the  western  wilderness,  were  still  re- 
tained ;  that  the  Indians  were  incited  to  make  incursions  up- 
on the  frontier  settlements  ;  and  that  injurious  commercial  re- 
strictions had  been  imposed,  by  which  American  vessels, 
trading  to  the  ports  of  France,  might  be  seized  by  English 
cruisers,  carried  into  England  and  there  condemned. 

In  this  situation  of  affairs,  congress  assembled.  A  bill 
passed,  laying  an  embargo  for  thirty  days,  one  for  erecting 
fortifications,  one  for  raising  a  provisional  army,  and  another 
for  organizing  the  militia.  To  avert,  however,  if  possible, 
the  calamity  of  another  war,  Mr.  Jay  was  sent  to  England,  to 
negotiate  with  the  British  government. 

The  Indians  of  Ohio  had  continued  hostile  and  refused  to 
negotiate,  although  several  of  the  associated  tribes  had  with- 
drawn. General  St.  Clair,  after  his  defeat,  resigned  his  com- 
mand, and  was  succeeded  by  General  Wayne,  to  whom  the 
Indians  gave  the  name  of  the  Black-Snake.  So  many  had  for- 
saken the  alliance,  that  the  Little  Turtle  now  believing  that 
the  Indians  would  be  defeated,  sought  to  persuade  them  to 
peace.  "  We  shall  not  surprise  them,"  said  he,  "  for  they 
have  now  a  chief  who  never  sleeps."  But  the  council  over- 
ruled his  opinion,  and  the  Indians  prepared  for  war. 

Wayne  marched  into  their  country,  and  encamped  for 
the  winter,  at  Greenville.  He  occupied  the  ground  where 
the  battle  had  been  fought  in  1791  ;  and  there  erected  fort 
Recovery.  Early  in  August,  he  reached  the  confluence  oi 
the  Au  Glaize  and  Miami  rivers,  about  thirty  miles  from  a 
British  post,  where  the  whole  strength  of  the  enemy,  estima- 
ted at  2,000,  was  collected.  His  own  force  amounted  to 
three  thousand.  After  sending  a  messenger,  wdth  the  A'ain 
endeavor  of  negotiating  a  peace,  on  the  15th  of  August,  he 
proceeded  against  the  Indians,  and  found  them  advantageously 
posted,  behind  the  British  fort.  On  the  morning  of  the  20th, 
the  Americans  advanced  in  columns,  and  at  the  first  charge, 
broke  the  enemy's  lines.  The  Indians  retreated,  and  for  two 
hours  were  pursued  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

Two  companies  of  British  soldiers  were  in  the  fight ;  but 
when  the  Indians  lleeino-  in  their  distress,  apolied  for  sheltei 


JAV  S    TREATY.  286 

to  the  commandant  of  the  fort,  they  were  refused  admission.  /*ART  IV 
This  tre^iiinent,  after  tliey  had  been  incited  to  the  war,  was  periodT 
never  forgotten  or  forgiven.     The  principal  chief  of  the  Del-  chap.  in. 
awares,  Buckongahelas,  immediately  made   peace  with    the  ^.^^v^"**-' 
Americans.     The  r3ritish  })ower  over  the  savages  was  bro- 
ken, and  the  confederacy  dissolved.     Their  whole  country 
had    been    laid  waste,  and   American   forts    erected   in  the 
conquered  territory.     These  decisive  measures  disposed   to 
peace,  all  the   tribes    northwest   of  Ohio,   and  also  the  Six 
Nations. 

January  1st,  Mr.  Hamilton  resigned  his  office  of  secretary     i,^q«^ 
of  the  treasury,  and  was  succeeded  by  Oliver  Wolcott  of  Con-  Qv^.^^le  of 
necticut.     At  the  close  of  this  session,  General  Knox  also  secretaries, 
resigned  his  office  of  secretary  of  war,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Timothy  Pickering  of  Massachusetts. 

Mr.  Jay,  having  negotiated  a  treaty  with  Great  Britian,  re-    -^^^^  ^y 
turned  in  the  spring  of  1795.     His  treaty,  having  been  laid     1794. 
before  the   senate,  was,  after  much  debate,  ratified  by  that  Jay's  treaty 
body.     It  provided  that  the  posts,  which  the  British  had  re-  '^^ith  Great 
tained,  should  be  given  up  to  the  Americans,  and  compensa- 
tion made  for  illegal  captures  ;  and  that  the  American  govern-     1795, 
ment  should  hold  £600,000,  in  trust  for  the  subjects  of  Great     popular 
Britain  to  whom  American   citizens   were  indebted.     But  it      clamor 
did    not    prohibit  the    right  of   searching  merchant  vessels,  ^s^'"^*^  ^  ■ 
claimed  by  the  British ;  and  was  thus  an  abandonment  of  the 
favorite   principle  of  the  Americans,  that  "  free  ships  make 
free   goods."      While  the  senate  were  debating  it  with  closed 
doors,  a  member  had  given  an  incorrect  copy  to  a  printer, 
This  was  circulated  with  rapidity,  and  produced  much  irrita- 
tion.    The  president  received  addresses  from  every  part  of  the  p.^j,j^gg  ^^g 
Union,  praying  him  to  withhold  his  signature  ;  but  Washington,  senate,  and 
believing  the  conditions  to  be  the  best  which,  under  existing  is  signed  by 
circumstances,  could  be  obtained,  signed  it  in  defiance  of  pop-     ^^  mg  ov- 
ular clamor. 

At  the   next  session  of  congress,  an  attempt  was  made  by 
the  republican  party,  to  hinder  the  treaty  from  going  into  ef-  debates  on 
feet,  by  refusing  to   vote  for  the  necessary  funds.     After  a  the  provis- 
lono-  debate,  in   which  several  members,  particularly  Fisher  ^°".^  ^"''  'r^^ 

o  '  '    I  J  rvin"'  into 

Ames,  of  Massachusetts,  displayed  nnich  eloquence,  and  the  offect  Jay's 
parties  generally  much  heat  and  irritation,  the  appopriation  treaty, 
was  carried  by  a  majority  of  three,  and  the  treaty  went  into 
effect.  The  republican  party,  although,  in  general,  confiding 
in  their  beloved  president,  considered  that,  his  sanction  to  this 
instrument  was  a  proof  that  his  judgment  partook  in  some 
small  degree  of  human  fallibility.  They  believed  the  peace 
which  it  purchased,  while  the  odious  right  of  search  was 
granted  to  England,  would  be  short-lived  and  inglorious. 
Washington  knew  that  it  was  better  than  war ;  and  that  should 
war  ultimately  arise  from  the  insulting  and  injurious  exercise 
of  that  power,  it  were  better  deferred,  until  the  state  had 


286  FRENCH    DIPLOMACy 

gained  the   strength  and  vigor  of  a  few  more  years'   con- 
solidation, k 

A  treaty  was  alsr  made  this  season  with  Algiers  ;  the  com- 
merce of  the  Mediterranean  was  opened,  and  the   American 
1795.     captives  were  restored.     A  treaty  was  also  concluded  with 
Treaty  with  <^^q  Indians  in  the  west;  thus  securino-the  frontiers  from  sav- 

Algxers.  .  .  '  ° 

age  invasion. 
Oct.  27.  A  treaty  with  Spain  soon  after  followed.     That  power  had 

'^S^painT^^  endeavored  to  cause  the*  western  boundary  of  the  new  repub- 
lic to  be  fixed  three  hundred  miles  east  of  the  Mississippi 
She  denied  the  inhabitants  beyond  the  Alleghany  mountains, 
access  to  the  ocean  through  that  river,  the  mouth  of  which 
was  in  her  province  of  Louisiana.  To  adjust  these  difl'eren- 
ces,  Thomas  Pinkney  was  appointed  envoy  extraordinary  to 
the  court  of  Madrid.  In  October,  a  treaty  was  signed,  allow- 
ing the  claims  of  the  republic,  as  to  the  western  boundary ; 
securing  to  the  United  States  free  navigation  from  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  ocean,  and  the  privilege  of  landing  and  depositing 
cargoes  at  New  Orleans. 

In  1796,  Tennessee  was  admitted  to  the  Union. 

The  treaties  of  the  last  year  met  with  no  opposition  in  con- 

1T96.     gross.     The  conduct  of  France  had  continued  to  be  a  source 

Mr.  Fau-     of  disquiet.     Mr.  Fauchet,  believing  himself  supported  by  a 

chefs  inso-  jiumerous  party  in  America,  gradually  assumed  an  authorita- 

lent  DrOCGGQ-      .  JT  •/  /     o  J 

ings.  tive  manner.  He  insulted  the  administration  by  accusing 
them  of  partiality  to  their  former  foes,  enmity  to  their  friends, 
and  indifference  to  the  cause  of  liberty. 

Mr.  Morris,  who  had  been  sent  minister  to  France,  failing 
to   secure  the  confidence  of  those  in  power,  was,  at  their  re- 
American    ^uest,  recalled,  in  1794.     He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Monroe, 
ministers  to  a  gentleman  who  possessed  the  ardor  for  liberty  and  the  rights 
MorWs'and   ^^  i^i^i^^   commou  to  the  republican  party ;  and  who,  with  them, 
Mr  Monroe,  hoped  that  the  French  revolution  would  eventually  lead  to  the 
establishment  of  a  free   government,  on  the  ruins  of  the  an- 
cient despotism.      He  was  received  in  the   most  flattering 
manner ;  and  the  flags  of  the  two  republics  were  entwined  and 
suspended  in  the  legislative  hall,  as  a  symbol  of  friendship 
and  union. 
Mr.  Fauchet       Mr,  Adet  soon  after  succeeded  Mr.  Fauchet,  and  brought 
bv^MrAdet  ^^^  ^™  ^^  colors  of  France,  which,  with  much  ceremony, 
*  were  deposited  with  the  archives   of  the  United   States,  as 
an  honorable  testimony  of  the  existing  sympathies  and  affec- 
tions  of  the  sister  republics.     These  flatteries  on  the  part  ol 
Cnjust  pro-  Fr-'^nt^f"-,   proved  to  be  nothing  but  tricks  to  cajole  America  to 
ceedings  of  take  part  in  her  European  wars;   but  finding  a  steady  system 
lance.      of  neutrality  maintained,  she   adopted  measures  injurious  to 
American  commerce.     Her  cruisers  were  allowed,  in  certain 
cases,  to  capture  vessels  of  the    United   States  ;    and  while 
prosecuting  a  lawful  trade,  many  hundreds  of  A.merican  ves- 
sels were  taken  and  confiscated. 


WASHINGTON  S    FAREWELL    ADDRESS. 


a87 


Mr.  ^[onroe  aUtliis  time,  was  suspected,  by  the  president, 
3f  not  asserting  and  vindicating  the  rights  of  the  nation  with 
proper  energy.  These  snspicions  were  attributed,  by  the  re- 
publican party,  to  the  false  insinuations  of  his  poUtical  oppo- 
nents. Washington,  however,  recalled  him,  and  appointed 
Charles  C.  Pinkney,  of  South  CaroUna,  in  his  stead. 

As  the  period  for  a  new  election  of  the  president  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  approached.  General  Washington  publicly  signified 
his  unalterable  determination  to  retire  to  the  shades  of  private 
life.  On  this  occasion  he  received  addresses  from  various 
quarters  of  the  Union,  which,  while  they  deplored  the  loss  of 
his  great  public  services,  contained  many  subjects  of  congrat- 
ulation. He  was  reminded  that  during  the  short  period  of  his 
admmistration,  the  prosperity  of  the  country  had  increased  be- 
yond example.  In  regard  to  foreign  attairs,  he  had  witnessed 
the  peaceful  termination  of  all  disputes  with  other  nations,  ex- 
cepting France  :  while  with  respect  to  domestic,  he  had  be- 
held the  restoration  of  public  credit,  and  provision  of  ample 
security  for  the  ultimate  payment  of  the  public  debt.  The 
prosperity  of  American  commerce  had  exceeded  the  most 
sanguine  expectations,  tonnage  having  nearly  doubled.  The 
productions  of  the  soil  had  found  a  ready  market  ;  the  exports 
had  increased  from  nineteen  millions  to  more  than  ^fty-six 
millions  of  dollars  ;  the  imports  in  about  the  same  proportion  ; 
and  the  amount  of  revenue,  from  import  duties,  had  exceeded 
all  calculation. 

In  1796,  the  Father  of  his  Country  published  his  farewell  ad- 
dress to  the  people  of  America.  Lx  the  most  earnest  and  af- 
fectionate manner  he  called  upon  them  to  cherish  an  immova- 
ble attachment  to  the  national  union,  to  watch  for  its  preser- 
vation with  jealous  anxiety,  to  discountenance  even  the  sug- 
gestion that  it  could,  in  any  event,  be  abandoned  ;  and  "  in- 
dignantly frown  upon  the  first  dawnings  of  an  attempt  to 
alienate  any  portion  of  our  country  from  the  rest."  Overgrown 
military  establishments  he  represented  as  particularly  hostile 
to  republican  liberty.  WTiile  he  recommended  the  most  im- 
plicit obedience  to  the  acts  of  the  established  government,  and 
reprobated  all  obstructions  to  the  execution  of  the  laws,  all 
combinations  and  associations,  under  whatsoever  plausible 
character,  with  the  real  design  to  direct,  control,  counteract, 
or  overawe  the  general  deliberations  and  actions  of  the  consti- 
tuted authorities  ; — he  wished  also  to  guard  against  the  spirit 
of  innovation  upon  the  principles  of  the  constitution.  Aware 
that  the  energy  of  the  system  might  be  enfeebled  by  altera- 
tions, he  thought  no  change  should  be  made  without  an  evi- 
dent necessity ;  and  that  in  so  extensive  a  country,  as  much 
vigor  as  is  consistent  with  liberty,  is  indispensable.  On  the 
other  hand,  he  pointed  out  the  dangers  of  real  despotism,  by 
breaking  down  the  partitions  between  the  several  departments 


From 
1789. 

1796. 

Growing 

prosperity 

of  "the 

country. 


1796. 

Washing- 
ton's fare- 
well address 

He 

warns  his 
countrymen 
against  dis- 
union ; 

Great  mili- 
tary estab- 
lishments, 

A  lawless 
spirit  of  dis- 
regard to  au- 
thorities : 
against  un 
necessary 
changes 


288 


JOHN    ADAMS    MADE    PRESIDENT. 


He  remon- 
strates 
against  par- 
ty spirit, 
foreign  influ- 
ence, dis- 
honesty, and 
extra  va- 
gan  ;e. 


of  government,  by  destroying  the  reciprocal-cliecks,  and  con- 
solidating the  different  powers. 

Against  the  spirit  of  party,  so  particularly  baneful  in  an  elec- 
tive government,  he  uttered  his  solemn  remonstrance,  as  well 
as  against  inveterate  antipathies,  or  passionate  attachments, 
in  respect  to  foreign  nations.  While  he  thought  that  the 
jealousy  of  a  free  people  ought  to  be  constantly  awake,  against 
the  insidious  wiles  of  foreign  influence,  he  wished  that  good 
faith  and  equal  justice  should  be  observed  towards  all  nations, 
and  peace  and  harmony  cultivated.  In  his  opinion,  honesty, 
no  less  in  public  than  in  private  affairs,  is  the  best  policy. 
Other  subjects  to  which  he  alluded,  were  the  importance  of 
credit,  of  economy,  of  a  reduction  of  the  public  debt,  and  of 
literary  institutions  ;  above  all,  he  recommended  religion  and 
morality  as  indispensably  necessary  to  political  prosperity. 
"  In  vain,"  says  he,  "  would  that  man  claim  the  tribute  of 
patriotism,  who  would  labor  to  subvert  these  great  pillars  of 
human  happiness,  these  firmest  props  of  the  duties  of  men  and 
citizens." 


CHAPTER    IV. 


America  resents  liie  inditrnities  of  France. 


Adams  and 
Jefferson  op- 
posing can- 
didates. 

1797. 

M  arch  4. 
Mr.  Adams, 
president ; 
Mr.  Jeffer- 
son, vice- 
president. 

A  war  with 
France. 


Congress 
convened. 


Put  80,000 

/nilitia  at  the 

call  of  the 

president. 


To  fill  the  station  w^hich  Washington  had  so  eminently  dig- 
nified, the  two  great  political  parties  presented  their  leaders. 
The  federalists,  claiming  to  be  the  sole  adherents  of  the  policy 
of  Washington,  and  charging  the  opposite  party  with  acting 
under  French  influence,  and  having  imbibed  French  principles, 
zealously  endeavored  to  elect  John  Adams.  The  republicans, 
setting  themselves  up  as  the  exclusive  friends  of  liberty,  and 
accusing  their  opponents  with  undue  attachment  to  Britain  and 
its  institutions,  exerted  their  influence  for  Thomas  Jefferson. 
On  opening  the  votes  it  was  found  that  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  president,  and  Mr.  Jefferson  vice-president. 

Immediately  on  succeeding  to  the  presidency,  Mr.  Adams 
received  intelligence  of  an  open  indio-nity  on  the  part  of  the 
French  government  now  in  the  hands  of  the  directory.  They 
had  refused  to  accept  Mr.  Pinkney  in  exchange  for  Mr.  Mon- 
roe, and  directing  him  to  quit  France,  determined  not  to  re- 
ceive another  minister,  until  the  United  States  had  complied 
with  their  demands.  Congress  was  immediately  convened, 
and  the  dispatches  containing  this  intelligence,  submitted  to 
their  consideration.  They  passed  laws  increasing  the  navy, 
augmenting  the  revenue,  and  authorizing  the  president  to  de- 
tach, at  his  discretion,  eighty  thousand  men  from  the  militia. 

To  manifest,  at  the  same  time,  his  sincere  desire  of  peace, 


IREATY    WITH    FRANCE. 


289 


Mr.  Adams  appointed  three  envoys  extraordinary  to  the  French 
republic,  Mr.  Pinkney,  then  at  Amsterdam,  whither  he  had 
retired  on  leaving  France,  Mr.  Marshall,  and  Mr.  Gerry. 
These,  also,  the  directory  refused  to  receive  ;  but  an  indirect 
intercourse  was  held  with  them,  through  the  medium  of  unof- 
ficial persons,  who  were  instructed  by  M.  Talleyrand,  the 
minister  of  foreign  relations,  to  make  them  proposals.  These 
persons  demanded,  before  any  negotiation  could  be  opened 
with  the  directory,  that  a  considerable  amount  of  money  should 
be  given  to  Talleyrand.  This  insulting  proposal  was  indig- 
nantly rejected.  It  was,  however,  repeated,  and  letters  were 
received  upon  the  subject,  signed  X  Y  &  Z.  Hence  this  has 
been  called  the  X  Y  &  Z  mission.  The  envoys  at  length 
succeeded  in  putting  an  end  to  so  degrading  an  intercourse. 
After  spending  several  months  at  Paris,  Mr.  Marshall  and  Mr. 
Pinkney  were  ordered  to  leave  France,  while  Mr.  Gerry  was 
permitted  to  remain,  and  repeatedly  importuned  singly  to  enter 
into  a  negotiation.  This  he  declined,  and  was  soon  after 
recalled  by  his  government.  This  treatment  of  the  envoys 
induced  Mr.  Adams  to  declare,  "  that  he  would  make  no  fur- 
ther overtures,  until  assured  that  American  ministers  would  be 
received  in  a  manner  suited  to  the  dignity  of  a  great  and  in- 
dependent nation." 

These  events  were  followed  by  such  French  depredations, 
on  the  American  commerce,  as  excited  universal  indignation  ; 
and  the  general  motto  was,  "  Millions  for  defense,  not  a  cent 
for  tribute."  A  regular  provisional  army  was  established  by 
congress,  taxes  were  raised,  and  additional  internal  duties  laid. 
General  Washington,  at  the  call  of  congress,  left  his  peaceful 
abode  once  more,  to  command  the  armies  of  his  country. 
General  Hamilton  was  made  second  in  command.  The  navy 
was  increased,  and  reprisals  were  made  at  sea.  The  French 
frigate  L'Insurgente,  of  forty  guns,  was  captured,  after  a  des- 
perate action,  by  the  frigate  Constellation,  of  thirty-eight  guns, 
commanded  by  Commodore  Truxton;  a  victory  which  gave 
great  satisfaction  to  botn  political  parties  in  America. 

The  French  government  now  became  convinced  that,  al- 
though the  Americans  might  choose  to  quarrel  among  them- 
selves, yet  they  would  not  suffer  foreign  interference  ;  and 
they  made  indirect  overtures  for  a  renewal  of  negotiations. 
Mr.  Adams  promptly  met  them  by  appointing  Oliver  Ellsworth 
chief-justice  of  the  United  States,  Patrick  Henry  late  governor 
of  Virginia,  and  William  Van  Murray  minister  at  the  Hague, 
envoys  to  Paris,  for  concluding  an  honorable  peace.  They 
found  the  directory  overthrown,  and  the  government  in  the 
hands  of  Napoleoi^  Buonaparte,  who  had  not  partaken  of  the 
transactions  which  had  embroiled  the  two  countries.  With 
him  they  amicably  adjusted  all  disputes,  by  a  treaty,  concluded 
at  Paris,  on  the  30th  of  September.  The  provisional  army 
was  soon  after  disbanded  by  order  of  congress. 


1797. 

X  Y&Z 

mission. 


Washington 
once  more 
commands 
tiie  army. 

179«. 

Feb.  10. 
The   French 
frigate  L'In- 
surgente 
captured. 


1800. 

Buonaparte 
at  the  head 
of  the  French 
government. 

American 

commission 

ers. 

Sept.  30. 

Conclude  a 

treaty. 


290 


THE    DEATH    OF    WASHINGTON. 


P^^TIV. 


1799. 

Dec.  14. 

Death  of 

Washington. 

The  people 
inourr. 


The  govern- 
ment devise 
honors  to  his 
memory. 


His  great 

example  an 

invaluable 

legacy. 


America  was  now  called  to  mourn  the  death  of  Wash- 
ington. He  calmly  and  peacefully  expired  at  Mount  Vernon, 
after  an  illness  of  twenty-four  hours.  The  newspaper,  in  its 
blackened  columns  announced  to  the  people,  "  the  Father  of 
his  Country  is  no  more  !"  The  bells  of  the  nation  tolled  forth 
his  requiem,  and  one  general  burst  of  grief  broke  from  the 
filial  hearts  of  the  American  people.  Clad  in  black,  they  as- 
sembled in  their  churches,  to  hear  his  funeral  praises  from 
the  orator,  and  from  the  minister  of  God.  The  poet  wrote 
his  elegy,  and  the  choir  sung  the  solemn  and  pathetic  dirge. 
The  government  mourned,  with  more  of  the  parade  of  grie^ 
but  with  an  equal  share  of  its  sincerity. 

In  the  house  of  representatives,  the  speaker's  chair  was 
shrouded  in  black  ;  and  the  members  were  clad  in  the  vest- 
ments of  sorrow.  A  joint  committee  of  both  houses  were  ap- 
pointed, who  devised  in  what  manner  they  should  pay  honor 
to  the  memory  of  "  the  man  first  in  war,  first  in  peace,  and 
first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen." 

Washington  died  in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age.  His 
history  is  that  of  his  country,  during  the  period  of  his  public 
services.  Commanding  her  armies,  and  presiding  in  her 
councils,  during  the  most  interesting  period  of  her  existence, 
her  story  can  never  be  delineated,  but  he  must  stand  the  most 
prominent  figure  on  the  foreground.  What  may  be  said  of 
many  of  the  worthies  of  the  revolution,  may  be  eminently  said 
of  him.  In  no  instance  has  he  rendered  his  country  a  more 
important  service,  than  in  leaving  to  her  future  sons,  his  great 
and  good  example.  Other  heroes  have  been  praised  for  their 
love  of  glory.  Washington  soared  in  the  pure  atmosphere  of 
virtue,  above  its  reach.  Never  did  he  rashly  adventure  the 
cause  of  his  country,  lest  he  should  suflfer  in  his  personal 
reputation.  He  was  above  all  other  approbation  and  fear,  but 
that  of  God. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Operations  of  the  two  political  parties. 


1800.  During  the  year  1800,  the  seat  of  government,  agreeably 

Seat  of  go-  to  the  law  passed  by  congress  in  1790,  was  transferred  from 
yemment  is  Philadelphia  to  the  city  of  Washington.     A  territory,  ten  miles 
to  Washing-  square,  in  which  it  was  to  be  permanently  located,  had  been 
ton.        ceded  to  the  general  government,  by  the  states  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland  ;  and  received  the  name  of   "  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia."    Public  buildings  had   been  erected  ;  and,  in  No- 
vember of  this  year,  congress,  for  the  first  time,  held  tht-ir 
session  in  that  place. 


MR.    ADAMs'    ADMINISTRATION.  2^1 

Mississippi,  and  a  part  of  the  northwest  territory,  caJlod  In-  P^^T  rv"^ 
diana,  were  this  year  made  territories  with  separate  govern-  i'eriod  t 
ments.  chap.  v. 

The  time  had  now  arrived  for  electing  a  president.     It  was  ^-«*^v^^^ 
about  this  period,  that  the  feuds  and  animosities  of  the  federal     1800. 
and  republican  parties  were  at  their  greatest  height.     When  ^''''Offress  of 
Mr.  Adams  was  lirst  made  the  opposing  candidate  to  Mr.  Jef-   opimon'^m 
ftrson,  he  was,  by  no  means,  obnoxious  to  the  great  body  of  ^egardtoMi 
the  republican  party,  who  voted  against   him.     They  recog-     '^"^™*' 
nized  in  him  a  patriot  of  the  revolution,   and  they  liked   him 
well,  although  they  liked  Mr.  Jefferson  better.     It  was  Mr. 
Hamilton,  not  xMr.  Adams,  who  was  the  chief  object  of  party 
aversion ;  and  although  a  clamor  was  raised,  to  serve  party 
purposes,  accusing  him  of  being  too  much  in  favor  of  the  Bri- 
tish form  of  government,  yet  the  real  cause  of  dissatisfaction 
was,  that  he  was  supported  by  those,  who,  they  were  persua- 
ded, had  monarchical  views.     After  the  lapse  of  four  years, 
when  Mr.  Adams  was  again  a  candidate  for  the  presidency, 
he  was  opposed  with  far  more  bitterness. 

In  some  of  his  measures  he  had  been  unfortunate,  and  the 

vigilant  spirit  of  party  was  awake,  to  make  the  most  of  the 

real,  or  supposed  errors  of  the  nominal  head  of  their  oppo-  ,r    .  ,      , 

'         T        1  1  r  1  •        1     •    •  1  ^1       Mr.  Adams' 

nents.     In  the  early  part  of  his  administration,  the  acts,  by  administra 

\vhich  the  army  and  navy  were  strengthened,  and  eighty  thou-        tion. 

sand  of  the  militia  subjected  to  his  order,  were  represented, 

by  the  democratic  party,  as  proofs  that,  however  he   might 

have  been  a  friend  to  the  constitution  of  his  country,  he  now 

either  wished  to  subvert  it,  or  was  led  blindfold  into  the  views  ^pponrms^' 

of  those  who  did.     The  republicans  scrupled  the  policy  of  a 

war  with  France,  and  denied  the  necessity,  even  in  case  of 

such  a  war,  of  a  great  land  force  against  an  enemy,   totally 

unassailable,  except  by  water.     They  believed  that  spirits 

were  at  work  to  produce  this  war,  or  to  make  the  most  of  the 

prospect  of  a  disturbance,  in  order  to  lull  the  people;  while 

vhey  raised  an  army,  which  they  intended  as  the  instrument 

'.'t'  subverting  the  republican,  and  establishing  a  monarchical 

government. 

Mr.  Adams  was  stung  by  such  unreasonable  clamors.  At- 
tributing the  evil  to  French  emissaries,  and  moreover  ascribing 
to  too  much  liberty,  the  horrible  excesses  of  the  French  revo- 
lution, he  gave  his  signature  to  two  acts,  which  were  consid- 
ered by  the  body  of  the  people  as  dangerous  to  the  constitu-  Sediticnand 
tional  liberty  of  America.  One  of  these,  called  the  Alien  alien  law?. 
Law,  authorized  the  president  to  order  any  alien,  whom  he 
should  judge  dangerous  to  the  peace  and  liberty  of  the  couii- 
tr}^,  to  depart  from  the  United  States,  on  pain  of  imprisonment. 
The  other,  called  the  Sedition  Law,  imposed  a  heavy  fine, 
and  imprisonment  for  years,  upon  such  as  should  "  combine, 
or  conspire  together  to  oppose  any  measure  of  the  govern- 
ment ;"  and  "  write,  print,  utter,  publish,  &c   any  false,  scan- 


292 


PARTY    SPIRIT    DESTITUTE    OF    PATRIOTISM 


PART  IV. 


1§00. 

Their  great 
unpopulari- 
ty. 


The  mid- 
night ju- 
diciary. 


1§01. 

Mr.  Jeffer- 
son and  Mr, 

Burr  re- 
ceive, from 
the  electors, 
an  equal 
number  of 
votes. 


They  re- 
ceive an 

equal  vote  in 
house  of 

representa- 
tives. 


Evil  conse- 
quences 
ever  to  be 
apprehended 
from    violent 
party  spirit. 


dalous,  and  malicious  writing  against  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  or  either  house  of  the  congress  of  the  United 
States,  or  the  president,  &c."  Under  the  sedition  law,  seve- 
ral persons  were  actually  imprisoned.  The  sympathies  of  the 
people  were  awakened  in  their  behalf,  and  their  indignation 
roused  against  those,  by  whose  means  they  were  confined. 
These  were  the  principal  causes  why  Mr.  Adams  v/as,  at  this 
period,  unpopular,  and  that  the  federal  party,  as  appeared  by 
the  election,  had  become  the  minority. 

Immediately  preceding  his  retirement  from  office,  Mr.  Ad- 
ams appointed,  in  pursuance  of  a  law  made  by  congress, 
twelve  new  judges.  These  were  called  his  midnight  judi- 
ciary, from  the  alleged  fact  that  they  were  appointed  at  twelve 
o'clock  on  the  last  night  of  his  presidential  authority. 

By  the  constitution,  as  it  then  existed,  each  elector  voted 
for  two  men,  without  designating  which  was  to  be  president ; 
and  he  who  was  found  to  have  the  greatest  number  of  votes, 
was  to  be  president;  and  the  second  on  the  list,  vice-presi- 
dent An  unlooked  for  case  now  occurred.  The  republican 
electors,  who  had  a  very  considerable  majority  over  the  fede- 
ral, gave  their  votes,  to  a  man,  for  Thomas  Jefferson  and  Aaron 
Burr  ;  intending,  that  .Tefl'erson,  the  leader  of  the  party,  should 
be  president,  and  Burr,  vice  president.  These  two  men  had 
thus  an  equal  number  of  votes  ;  and  the  election  must,  aocor- 
aing  to  the  constitution,  be  decided  by  the  house  of  re^)re- 
sentatives. 

The  federal  party  were  defeated,  but  they  considered  that 
they  might  yet  defeat  their  opponents  ;  and  probably  believing 
that  they  might  find  a  grateful  friend  in  Colonel  Burr,  while 
they  knew  that  they  had  nothing  to  expect  from  Mr.  Jefferson, 
they  determined,  if  possible,  to  raise  him  to  the  presidential 
chair.  On  counting  the  votes  in  the  house,  another  singular 
event  occurred ;  Mr.  Jefferson  and  Mr.  Burr  had  an  equal 
number  of  votes.  Again  and  again  the  voting  went  round, 
and  the  votes  remained  the  same  ;  until  the  time  had  nearly 
arrived  when,  by  the  constitution,  the  president  must  be  elect- 
ed, or  otherwise,  the  machine  of  government  would  be  run 
down  ;  and  the  constitution  contained  no  machinery  by  which 
it  could  be  wound  up.  At  length,  after  the  members  had  voted 
thirty-five  times,  it  was  found  on  the  thirty-sixth  balloting,  that 
Mr.  Jefferson  had  a  majority  of  one  state. 

This  transaction  must  go  down  to  posterity  as  a  dark  pas 
sage  in  American  history.  Whether  or  not  the  republi 
cans  would  have  continued  to  vote  until  the  constitution  was 
destroyed,  rather  than  yield  to  their  opponents  a  short  lived 
triumph,  and  take  for  four  years  as  president,  the  man  them- 
selves had  selected  as  vice  president,  can  never  be  known; 
but  if  such  had  been  the  fact,  posterity  would  have  had  cause 
to  execrate  their  memories.  Had  such  a  catastrophe  ensued, 
etill  less  would  America  have  had  3ccasion  of  crratitudc  to  th« 


TRIPOLITAN    WAR.  293 

Other  party.     The  republicans  might  alledge,  that  they  voted  PART  IV. 
in  obedience  to  the  will  of  the  people  ;  but  no  one  pretended,  period  l. 
that  any  freeman,  in  voting  ibr  an  elector,  or  any  elector  in    chap.  v. 
noting  for   Mr.   Burr,  expected  or  wished  that  he  should  be  <^^^^'^*>^ 
president.    To  guard  the  future,  the  constitution  was  amended.* 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1801,  Mr.  Jeflerson  was  inauguated.     1§01. 
On  his  accession  to  ofHce,  he  departed  from  the  example  of,  ^^I'^r'^'i  4. 

,  .  1  1      •  1       n  TIT  11       Inauffuration 

lus  predecessors,  and,   instead   or  a  speech    delivered   to  the  ofMr.  Jeffer- 
two  houses  of  congress  in  person,  he  sent  to  them  a  written        son. 
message,  which  was  iirst  read  in  the  senate,  and  then  trans- 
mitted  to   the  house   of  representatives.     The   practice  has 
oeen  followed, and  sanctioned  by  his  successors. 

The  principal  offices  of  the  government  were  now  transfer-   Mr.  Madi 
red  to  the  republican  party.     Kir.  ?^Iadison  was  appointed  to  tai^"orstS«. 
die  department  of  state. 

A  bill  was  passed  by  congress,  in  accordance  with  the  re- 
commendation of  the  president,  reorganizing  the  judiciary 
department,  by  means  of  which  the  twelve  judges,  appointed 
during  the  last  days  of  Mr.  Adams'  administration,  were  de- 
prived of  their  offices.  Another  bill  was  passed,  enlarging  the 
rights  of  naturalization. 

A  second  census  of  the  United  States  was  also  completed ;  Second  cen 
gi\'ing  a  population  of  5,319,762,  an  increase  of  one  million        ^^^" 
four  hundred  thousand  in  ten  years.     In  the  same  time,  the  Exports  and 
exports  increased  from  nineteen  to  ninety-four  millions,  and    revenue 
tlie  revenue,  from  4,771,000  to  12,945,000  dollars.     This  ra- 
pid advance  in  the  career  of  prosperity,  is  unparalleled  in  the 
history  of  nations  ;  and  it  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  industrious 
and  enterprising  habits  of  the  people,  and  their  excellent  laws 
and  political  institutions. 

During  this  year,  congress  declared  war  against  Tripoli. 

In  1802,  Ohio  was  admitted  as  an  independent  state  into     1803. 
the  Union.     The  territory  of  this  state  was  originally  claimed     ^i^t^'^he 
by  Virginia  and   Connecticut,  and  was  ceded  by  them  to  the      Union. 
United  States,  at  different  times,  after  the  year  1781.  From  this 
extensive  and  fertile  tract  of  country,   slavery   was,  by  enact- 
ment of  the  Continental  Congress,  in  1787,  entirely  excluded. 

In  1 802,  the  port  of  New  Orleans  Avas   closed  against  the    Louishna 
United  States.      The  kin^  of  Spain  having  ceded  Louisiana     ^^"^^^  J^v 
to  the  French,  the  Spanish  intendant  was  commanded  to  make     Franco, 
arrangements   to  deliver  the  country  to  the   French  commis- 
sioners.    In   consequence   of  this   order,   the    intendant   an- 
nounced thai  die  citizens  of  the  United  States  could  no  Ion-     P'*'^^")^^ 
ger  be  permitted  to  deposit  their  merchandise  and  effects  in   ^^  '    ^"^* 
the  port  of  New  Orleans.      By  this  prohibition,  the  westCirn 
states  were  in  danger  of  suffering  the  ruin  of  their  commerce  ; 
and  great  agitation  was  excited  in  the  public  mind.     Congress 
caused  friendly  and  reasonable  representations  of  the  griev- 
ances  sustained,  to  be   made  to  the   court  of  Spain,  and  the 
right  of  deposit  was  restored. 

*  See  Article  XII.  of  the  Amendments,  p.  407. 


294 


PURCHASE    OF    LOUISIANA. 


PART  IV. 


1§03. 
Louisiana 
^urrhased. 


Aware  of  the  difficulties  and  danger  to  which  the  United 
States  would  be  exposed,  while  Louisiana  remained  in  the 
possession  of  a  foreign  power,  propositions  had  been  made  for 
procuring  it  by  purchase.  This  was  a  subject  of  much  dis- 
cussion and  feeling.  But,  by  a  treaty  concluded  at  Paris,  in 
1803,  Louisiana,  comprising  all  that  immense  region  of  coun- 
try, extending  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Pacific  ocean,  was 
acquired  by  the  United  States,  as  well  as  the  free  and  exclu 
sive  navigation  of  the  river.  The  sum  of  fifteen  millions  of 
dollars  was  the  sole  price  given  for  these  newly  acquired 
rights,  which  thus  in  a  peaceful  manner,  nearly  doubled  the 
geographical  importance  of  the  nation,  and  therefore  forms  an 
important  era  in  our  history. 


PERIOD    II. 


THK    PURCHASE     |l^0{{|     OF    LOUISIANA 


THE   CESSION         1$20.   1     OF    FLORIDA. 


CHAPTER    1. 

£uropean  iffairs. — War  with  Tripoli. — Troubles  with  England  and  France. 


The  semi-barbarous  nations,  which  inhabit  the  southern 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  had  made  depredations  on  the 
American  commerce,  and  had  taken  and  held  in  bondage, 
American  citizens.  On  remonstrance,  Tripoli  intimated  to 
the  government,  that  their  only  method  of  securing  themselves, 
was  the  payment  of  tribute. 

In  prosecution  of  the  war  Avhich  ensued.  Commodore  Dale, 
with  a  squadron  of  two  frigates  and  a  sloop  of  war,  was  sent 
to  the  Mediterranean,  where,  blockading  the  harbor  of  Tripoli, 
he  prevented  the  piratical  cruisers  from  leaving  it,  and  thus 
afforded  protection  to  the  American  commerce. 

Early  in  the  year  1803,  congress  sent  out  Commodore 
Preble,  with  a  squadron  of  seven  sail.  In  October,  one  of  his 
ships,  the  Philadelphia,  Captain  Bainbridge,  was  sent  into  the 
harbor  of  Tripoli,  to  reconnoitre  ;  and  while  in  pursuit  of  a 
small  vessel,  he  unfortunately  proceeded  so  far,  that  the  frigate 
grounded,  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  officers 
were  imprisoned,  and  the  crew  treated  as  slaves. 

Stephen  Decatur,  a  lieutenant  under  Preble,  conceived  the 
bold  design  of  re-capturing,  or  destroying  the  Philadelphia. 
Arming  a  small  ketch,  the  Intrepid,  he  sailed  from  Syracuse, 
with  seventy-six  men,  entered  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  and  ad- 
vancing secretly,  took  a  station  alongside  of  the  frigate,  which 
was  moored  within  gunshot  of  the  bashaw's  castle,  and  of  the 
principal  battery.  Some  of  the  enemy's  cruisers  lay  within 
two  cable's  length,  and  all  the  gims  of  the  frigate  were  mount- 
ed and  loaded.  Decatur  sprang  on  board.  His  crew  fol- 
lowed, and  rushing,  sword  in  hand,  upon  the  astonished  and 
terrified  Tripolitans,  killed  and  d^rove  them  into  the  sea,  and 
•  were  soon  masters  of  the  frigate.  The  guns  of  the  battery 
opened  upon  them,  and  the  corsairs  in  the  harbor  were  ap- 
proaching. They  set  fire  to  the  Philadelphia,  left  her,  and 
were  soon  out  of  the  roach  of  their  pursuers;  having  ac- 
complished this  daring  enterprise  without  the  loss  of  a  single 


PART  lY 
PERIOD  IL 

CHAP.  I. 


1801. 

War  with 
TripolL 


1803. 

Frigate  Phil- 
adelphia 
captured 


1801. 

February. 
Decatur  re- 
captures and 
burns  the 
Philadel 
phia. 


296 


GEN.  Eaton's  expedition  against  de/^ne. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.     I. 


1§04. 

Commodore 
Prel)le   at- 
tempts to 
destroy  the 

fortifications 
at  Tripoli. 


Eaton  ob- 
tains permis- 
sion to  un- 
dertake a 
bold  enter- 
prise. 


1§05. 

April  27. 

He  captures 

Oerne. 


Victorious 

o^er  the  Tri- 

politans. 


June  3. 

Peace  with 

Tripoli. 


1804. 

Hamilton 

killed  in  a 

duol  with 

Burr. 


In  the  month  of  August,  Commodore  Preble  went  three 
times  into  the  harbor  of  TripoH,  and  opened  tho  broadssidei 
of  his  fleet.  Although  some  of  the  Tripolitan  snipping  was 
thus  destroyed,  yet  no  material  impression  was  made  upon 
the  fortifications.  Meantime,  the  barbarians  treated  the  Ame- 
rican prisoners,  among  whom  were  Captain  Bainbridge  anc 
his  crew,  with  such  cruel  indignities,  that  their  country  deeply 
commisserating  their  distresses,  was  ready  to  adopt  any  meas 
ure,  which  afforded  a  reasonable  prospect  of  relief. 

In  1«03,  Captain  William  Eaton,  on  his  return  from  Tunis, 
where  he  had  been  as  consul,  requested  the  government  to 
permit  his  union  with  Hamet  an  elder  and  expelled  i^rjthei 
of  the  reigning  bashaw  of  Tripoli.  Permission  was  given, 
such  supplies  granted  him  as  could  be  afford^^d,  and  the  co- 
operation of  the  fleet  recommended.  After  reaching  Malta 
he  left  the  American  fleet,  and  proceeded  to  Cairo  and  Alex 
andria,  where  he  formed  a  convention  with  [Timet  who  hoped 
by  attacking  the  usurper  in  his  dominions,  to  legain  his  throne. 
For  this  purpose,  an  army  was  to  be  raised  m  Egypt,  where 
Hamet  had  been  kindly  received,  and  presented  with  a  mili- 
tary command  by  the  Mameluke  Bey. 

Early  in  1805,  Eaton  was  appointed  general  of  Hamet's 
forces.  From  Egypt,  he  marched  with  a  few  hundred  troops, 
principally  Arabs,  across  a  desert,  one  thousand  miles  in  ex- 
tent, to  Derne,  a  Tripolitan  city,  on  the  Mediterranean.  In 
this  harbor  he  found  the  part  of  the  American  fleet  destined 
to  assist  him.  The  next  morning,  he  summoned  the  governor 
of  Derne  to  surrender,  who  returned  the  bold  answer,  "  My 
head  or  yours."  He  then  assaulted  the  city,  which,  after  a 
contest  of  two  hours  and  a  half,  surrendered.  Eaton  was 
wounded,  and  his  army  had  suffered  severely,  yet  immediate 
exertions  were  made  to  fortify  the  city. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  it  was  attacked  by  a  Tripolitan  army, 
much  more  numerous  than  Eaton's,  which  after  a  severe  con- 
test of  four  hours,  was  compelled  to  retire.  On  the  10th  of 
June,  another  battle  was  fought,  in  which  Eaton  was  again 
victorious.  The  next  day,  the  American  frigate  Constitution 
arrived  in  the  harbor,  and  the  Tripolitans  fled  to  the  desert. 

The  bashaw  now  offered  terms  of  peace,  which  were  ac- 
ceded to  by  Colonel  Lear,  the  American  consul  at  Tripoh. 
It  was  stipulated  that  an  exchange  of  prisoners  should  take 
place  ;  and,  as  the  bashaw  had  a  balance  of  more  than  200 
in  his  favor,  he  was  to  receive  sixty  thousand  dollars.  All 
support  from  Hamet  was  to  be  withdrawn  ;  but  on  his  retiring 
from  tho  territory,  his  wife  and  children,  then  in  the  power  of 
the  reigning  bashaw,  were  to  be  given  up  to  him.  Thus  ended 
the  war  in  the  Mediterranean. 

In  July,  1804,  occurred  the  death  of  General  Alexander 
Hamilton.  He  died  in  a  duel  fought  with  Aaron  Burr,  vice 
president  of  the  United  States.     Colonel  Burr  had  addressed 


SERIOUS  DIFFERENCES  BETWEEN  ENGLAND  AND  AMERICA.  297 

a  letter  to  General  Hamilton,  requiring  his  denial  or  acknow-  PART  IV. 
ledgmcnit  of  certain  oHcnsive  expressions  contained  in  a  pub- 
lic journal.  Hamilton  declining  to  give  either,  Colonel  i3urr 
sent  him  a  challenge.  They  met,  and  Hamilton  fell  at  the 
first  fire.  His  death  caused  a  deep  sensation  throughout  the 
country. 

In  the  meantime,   Mr.  Jeflerson  received  his  second  presi-     1§05. 
dential  election;  and  such  was  his  popularity,  that  out  of  176  a^ain*^ei°ct. 
vote«,  he  received  1G2.     George  Clinton,  of  New  York,  was  ed  president. 
chosen  vice-president. 

The  wise  policy  of  America  had  been  eminently  conspic-    Neutrality 
uous  in  maintaining  a  steady  system  of  neutrality,  during  the  ^lurin.f'the 
whole  of  those  wars  which  broke  out  in  consequence  of  the  wars  of  the 
French  revolution.     This  neutrality  enabled  her  to  profit  by  ^"^^iJJt^^^^ 
the  colonial  commerce  of  France  and  Spain,  as  also  by  the 
whole   of  that  branch  of  European  tra  le,  which,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  general  war,  could  not  be  transported  in  native 
ships.     France,  in  the   meantime,  had  bocome  a  nation  of    Neutrals 
soldiers.     She  had  repelled  her  invaders,  and  placed  at  the     unjustly 
head  of  her  republic  a  man  whose  vast  mental  powers  and  re-  i^e'^i^eUi^'e- 
sources  had  acquired  control  over  most  of  the  European  king-       rents." 
doms.        Napoleon  had   made  a  stand  against  the  maritime 
tyranny  of  Britain,  while  that  nation,  with  equal  vigor,  re- 
sisted his  usurpations  on  land.     Each  party  was  intent  on  re- 
paying blow  for  blow ;    and  each  was  regardless  how  great  a 
part  of  the   shock  might  fall  on  unoffending  neutrals,  so  that 
any  part  of  it  should  reach  his  antagonist.     Nor  was  this  all ; 
each  belligerent,  resolutely  bent  that  other  nations  should  make 
common  cause,   made   it  understsood,  that  whatever   nation 
should  fail  of  resenting  the  injuries  of  his  enemy,  should  be 
injured  by  him. 

On  two  subjects  Britain  and  x\merica  were  at  issue.     One  Disputes  be 
was  respecting  what  the  former  power  denominated  "  the  right  ^JJ*".^"  ^^^^ 
of  search  ;"  by  which  on  various  pretences,  she  had  so  long     America. 
haughtily  assumed,  and  exercised  an  authority  to  search  the  The  "ri<^bt 
vessels  of  other  nations.     Another  subject  in  dispute  was,  that  of  search." 
of  expatriation.     England  maintained,  that  a  man,  once  a  sub- 
ject, was   always   a  subject;  and  that  no  act  of  his  could 
change  his  allegiance  to  the  government  under  which  he  was 
born.     America,   with  a  more  liberal  policy,  held  that  man  ^^ 

was  born  free  ;  and  if,  when  he  arrived  at  years  of  reflection,  ijon. 
he  preferred  some  other  government  to  that  of  his  native  land, 
he  had  a  right  to  ^^  ithdraw  himself,  and  break  the  bonds  im- 
posed by  his  birth.  In  pursuance  of  these  diff'erent  princi- 
ples, America  received  and  adopted  as  her  sons,  all  who,  in 
compliance  with  the  forms  of  her  laws,  sought  her  hospita- 
ble protection.  Hence,  there  were  those,  who  being  born 
m  Great  Britain,  were  claimed  by  that  government  as  her 
subjects  ;  w^hile  at  the  same  time,  having  resided  in  America, 
and  become  naturalized,  they  w^ere  as  much  regarded  as 
21 


298 


ENGLISH    AND    FRENCH    ORDERS    AND    DECREES. 


PART  IV. 


PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.    I. 


1§06. 

Impressment 

of  American 

seamen. 


French  and 
English  de- 
crees. 


Suspicious 

enterprise  of 

Colonel 

Burr. 


1807. 

Burr  is  ap- 
prehended, 
tried  and  ac- 
quitted. 


her  citizens,  as  if  they  had  drawn  their  first  breath  upon 
her  soil. 

These  opinions  were  convenient  to  the  British  statesmen 
in  defending  the  impressment  of  American  seamen.  Officers 
of  British  ships,  in  the  exercise  of  the  pretended  right  of 
search,  entered  American  vessels,  and  impressed  from  thence 
certain  seamen,  whom  they  claimed  as  subjects,  because  they 
were  born  in  Great  Britain ;  while  the  same  men,  having  be- 
come naturalized  in  America,  were  there  regarded  as  citizens. 
The  practice  of  impressment,  thus  begun,  did  not  however 
end  here,  but  proceeded  to  extremes  that  were  unjustifiable 
on  any  principles.  The  native  citizens  of  America  were 
wantonly  confounded  with  her  adopted  ones,  by  the  domineer- 
ing officers  of  the  British  navy  ;  and  a  cry  was  heard  through 
out  the  land,  of  American  families  who  mourned  for  their  rel- 
atives, thus  forcibly  seized  and  detained  in  the  worst  of  bond- 
age. 

America,  thus  harassed,  was  meditating  measures  for  the 
defense  of  her  commerce,  when  she  received,  from  both  the 
belligerents,  fresh  cause  of  provocation.  Great  Britain,  un- 
der the  administration  of  Charles  Fox,  issued  a  proclamation, 
May,  1806,  blockading  the  coast  of  the  continent,  from  Elbe 
to  Brest.  The  French  government,  exasperated  at  this  meas- 
ure, retaliated  by  the  decree  issued  at  Berlin,  November,  21st^ 
declaring  the  British  Isles,  in  a  state  of  blockade.  Thus 
each  nation  declared,  in  efiect,  that  no  neutral  should  trade 
with  the  other. 

In  1807,  the  public  attention  was  again  directed  to  Colonel 
Burr.  He  had  lost  the  confidence  of  the  republican  party,  by 
his  supposed  intrigues  against  Mr.  Jefferson,  for  the  office  of 
president ;  and  he  had  excited  the  indignation  of  the  Avhole 
federal  party,  by  his  encounter  with  Hamilton.  Thus  situa- 
ted, he  had  retired  as  a  private  citizen  into  the  western 
states.  It  was  at  length,  understood,  that  he  was  at  the 
head  of  a  great  number  of  individuals,  who  were  arming 
and  organizing  themselves  ;  purchasing  and  building  boats 
on  the  Ohio. 

Their  ostensible  object,  peaceful  and  agricultural,  was  to 
form  a  settlement  on  the  banks  of  the  Washita,  in  Louisiana. 
But  their  movements  indicated  other  designs.  At  length,  Burr 
was  apprehended  on  the  Tombigbee  river,  in  February,  1807, 
brought  to  Richmond,  under  military  escort,  and  committed, 
in  order  to  take  his  trial  upon  two  charges  exhibited  against 
him,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States.  First,  for  a  high  mis- 
demeanor, in  setting  on  foot,  witliin  the  United  States,  a  mili- 
tary expedition  against  the  king  of  Spain,  with  whom  the 
republic  was  at  peace  ;  second,  for  treason  in  assembling  an 
armed  force,  with  a  design  to  seize  the  city  of  New  Orleans 
to  revolutionize  the  territory  attached  to  it,  and  to  separate  the 
Atlantic  states  from  the  western.     In  August,  after  a  trial  be- 


AFFAIR    OF    THE    CHESAPEAKE.  299 

fore  Judge  iMarshall,  the  chief-justice  of  the  United  States,  .^ART  IV. 
SAifRcient   evidence   of  his  guilt  not  being  presented,  he  was  period  ii 

CH  AP     II 

acquitted  by  tho  jury. 


CHAPTER   II. 

War  with  England. 


The  frigate  Chesapeake,  commanded  by  Com.  Barron,  hav-     1807. 
ing  been  ordered  on  a  cruise,  sailed  from  Hampton  Roads  on     ^"n^^ 
the22d  of  June.     She  had  proceeded  but  a  few  leagues  from  Chesapeake 
the  coast,  when  she  was  overtaken  by  the  British  ship-of-war, 
Leopard.     A  British  officer  came  on  board,  with  an  order 
from  Vice-Admiral  Berkely,  to  take  from  the   Chesapeake 
three  men,  alledged  to  be  deserters  from  the  Melampus  frigate. 
These  men,  were  American  citizens,  who  had  been  impressed 
by  the  British,  but  had  deserted,  and  enlisted  in  the  Service  of 
their  country.     Commodore  Barron  replied  in  terms  of  polite- 
ness, but  refused  to  have  his  crew  mustered  for  examination. 

The  American  commodore  was  not  prepared  for  an  at- 
tack so  near  the  Capes  ;  but,  during  this  interview,  he  noticed 
hostile  movements  on  board  the  Leopard,  and  gave  imme- 
diate orders  to  prepare  for  action.  But  before  efficient  pre-  June  22. 
paration  could  be  made,  the  Leopard  opened  her  broadside.  Commodore 
After  receiving  her  fire  about  thirty  minutes,  during  which,  strikesTcTtbe 
the  Americans  had  three  men  killed,  and  eighteen  wound-  Leopard, 
ed,  Commodore  Barron  ordered  his  colors  to  be  struck.  An 
officer  from  the  Leopard  came  on  board,  and  took  four  men,  the 
three  who  had  been  previously  demanded,  and  another,  who 
they  affirmed,  had  deserted  from  a  merchant  vessel.  Com- 
modore Barron  observed,  that  he  considered  the  Chesapeake 
a  prize  to  the  Leopard.  The  officer  replied  "  No,"  he  had 
obeyed  his  orders  in  taking  out  the  men,  and  had  nothing  fur- 
ther to  do  with  her.  Tliis  event  produced  great  excitement. 
That  rancor  of  party  which  had  so  long  embittered  all  the 
intercourse  of  social  life,  was  lost  in  the  general  desire  to 
avenge  a  common  wrong.  The  president,  by  proclamation, 
commanded  all  British  armed  vessels  within  the  harbors  or 
waters  of  the  United  States,  to  depart  from  the  same  without 
delay,  and  prohibited  others  from  entering.  Mr.  Monroe,  the 
American  minister  in  London,  was  instructed  to  demand  rep- 
aration ;  and  a  special  congress  was  called. 

In  November,  Great  Britain  issued  her  orders  in  council,  a     Nov.  II. 
measure  declared  to  be  in  retaliation  of  the  French  decree  of   council  is. 
November,  1806.     These  prohibited  all  neutral  nations  from       sued. 
trading  with   France,  or  her  allies,  except  upon  the  condition 
21* 


:K)0 


THE    EMBARGO. MADISON  S    ADMINISTRATION. 


PART  lY. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.     II. 


1§07. 

Dec.  22. 

Embargo 
laid 


Mr.  Can- 
ning. 

Mr.  Rose. 


1809. 

Mr.  Madison 
is  elected 
president. 


March. 
Embargo  re- 
pealed. 

Non-inter- 
course sub- 
stituted. 


March  23. 

Decree   of 

Rambouillet. 


Arrange- 
ment with 
Mr.  Erskine. 


of  paying  tribute  to  England.  This  was  immediately  follow- 
ed by  a  decree  of  Napoleon,  at  Milan,  whicri  declared  thai 
every  vessel  which  should  submit  to  be  searched,  or  pay  trib- 
ute to  the  English,  should  be  confiscated  if  found  within  his 
ports. 

Thus  was  the  commerce  of  America  subjected  to  utter  ruin, 
as  almost  all  her  vessels  were,  on  some  of  these  pretences, 
liable  to  capture.  Congress  after  warm  debates,  resorted  to 
an  embargo  on  their  own  vessels,  as  a  measure  best  fitted  to 
the  crisis.  It  would  effectually  secure  the  mercantile  prop- 
erty, and  the  mariners  now  at  home,  and  also  those  who  were 
daily  arriving  ;  and  at  the  same  time  it  would  not  be  a  meas- 
ure of  war,  or  a  just  cause  of  hostility. 

Mr.  Monroe  was  instructed  not  only  to  demand  satisfaction 
for  the  Chesapeake,  but  to  obtain  security  against  future  im- 
pressments from  American  ships.  Mr.  Canning,  the  British 
minister,  objected  to  uniting  these  subjects,  and  Mr.  Monroe 
was  not  authorized  to  treat  them  separately.  Mr.  Rose  was 
sent  out  envoy-extraordinary  to  the  United  States,  to  adjust 
the  difficulty  which  had  arisen  on  account  of  the  Chesapeake. 
In  1808,  Commodore  Barron  was  tried  for  prematurely  sur- 
rendering that  frigate,  and  suspended  for  five  years. 

In  1809,  Mr.  Jelferson's  second  term  of  office  having  ex- 
pired, he  declared  his  wish  to  retire  from  public  life.  Mr. 
Madison,  was  elected  president,  and  Mr.  George  Clinton  of 
New  York  was  re-elected  vice-president. 

In  the  meantime  the  embargo  met  the  most  violent  opposi- 
tion, throughout  the  country.  The  commercial  states  inveigh- 
ed against  it  as  ruinous ;  bringing  in  its  train  poverty  and 
distress.  Opportunities  of  infringing  it  were  seized  ;  and  its 
restrictions  could  not  be  enforced,  in  the  eastern  states,  with- 
out the  aid  of  a  military  force.  Thus  circumstanced,  the 
government  repealed  the  embargo  law,  and  sustituted  another, 
prohibiting  for  one  year  all  intercourse  with  France  or  Great 
Britain,  with  a  proviso,  that  should  either  of  the  hostile  na- 
tions revoke  her  edicts,  so  that  the  neutral  commerce  of  the 
United  States  should  be  no  longer  violated,  the  president 
should  immediately  make  it  known  by  proclamation,  and  from 
that  time  the  non-intercourse  law  should  cease  to  be  enforced, 
as  it  regarded  that  nation. 

On  pretence  of  retaliating  upon  America  for  submitting  to 
the  outrages  of  England,  Napoleon  issued  his  decree  ol 
Rambouillet,  which  authorized  the  seizure  and  confiscation  ol 
American  vessels  which  were  then  in  the  ports  of  France,  oi 
might  afterwards  enter,  excepting  those  charged  with  des- 
patches to  the  government. 

In  April,  a  treaty  was  concluded  with  Mr.  Erskine,  the 
British  minister  at  Washington,  which  engaged  on  the  part  Oi 
Great  Britain,  that  the  orders  in  council,  so  far  as  they  affected 
the  United  States,   should  be  withdrawn.     The  British  min- 


THE    TWIN    BROTHERS. 


301 


istrv  refused  their  sanction,  alledging  that  their  minister,(\vhom  PART  IV. 
they  recalled,) had  exceeded  his  powers.     His  successor,  Mr.  period  IL 
Jackson,  insinuated  in  a  correspondence  with  the  secretary  of    ^"ap-  ^^ 
state,  that  the  American  government  knew  that  Mr.  Erskine  ^-^^v'^^ 
was  not  authorized  to  make  the  arrangement.     This  was  dis- 
tinctly denied   by  the   secretary,   but  being  repeated  by  Mr. 
Jackson,  the  president  declined  further  intercourse. 

In  May,  1810,  the  non-intercourse  law  expired,  and  gov- 
ernme  •.-  made  proposals  to  both  the  belligerents,  that,  if  either 
woulc    revoke  its  hostile   edicts,  this  law  should  only  be  re-     1§10. 
vivcd  and  enforced  against  the  other  nation.     France  repealed  Jg^^^^^^pg^ 
her  decrees,  and  the  president  issued  a  proclamation  on  the        ed. 
2d  of  November,  in  which  he  declared  that  all  the   restric- 
lions  imposed  by  the  non-intercourse  law  should  cease  in  re- 
lation to  France  and  her  dependencies. 

The  population  of  the  United  States,  by  the  census  of  1810, 
was  7,239,903. 

Among  the  occurrences  produced  at  that  period  of  excite-     ]§li. 
ment  by  British  ships  hovering  on  our  coasts,  was  an  encoun-     /^^"^  ^^• 
ter  oil'  Cape  Charles,  between  the  xA.merican  frigate  President,   the  United 
commanded   by  Commodore  Rogers,  and  the  British  sloop  of      States 
war,   Little  Belt,  commanded  by  Captain  Bingham.     The  at-  ^"fj^gj^'^ 
tack   was  commei-.ced  by  the   Little  Belt,  but  she  was  soon 
disabled,  and  thirty-two  of  her  men  either  killed  or  wounded. 

The  appearance  of  a  hostile  confederacy  and  menacing  ]ndianscon> 
preparations  had  been  discovered  among  the  Indians  on  the   "^^^l^^gg***" 
western  frontier.     At  its  head  was  the  great  chief  Tecumseh 
and  his  twin  brother  Elskwatawa.     It  seems  probable  that  in 
boyhood  these  two  remarkable  savages  laid  a  scheme  for  di- 
viding between  them,  not  only  the  sovereignty  of  their  own 
warlike  nation  the  Shawanese,but  that  of  all  the  border  con- 
federacies.      Tecumseh,  who  appears  to  have  been  the  mas-   Tecumseh 
ter-spirit,  took  upon  himself  the  departments  of  war  and  elo-  ''^"^i^yj'^ 
quence,  success   in   these  being  the  road  to   eminence  and 
chieftainship  ;  but  in  order  to  hold  enslaved  the  minds  of  his 
countrymen  by  their  strong  bent  to  superstition,  Elskwatawa 
was  to  invest  himself  with  the  sacred  and  mysterious  charac- 
ter, and  to  bear  the  name  of  "  the  Prophet."     Pretending  to 
be  favored  with  direct  and  frequent  communications  from  the 
Great  Spirit,  he  by  tricks  and  austerities,  gained  belief,  and 
drew  around  him  the  aw^e-struck  Indians  from  great  distan- 
ces.    He  then  began  a  species  of  drill,  whose  object  seems 
to  have  been  to  discipline  them  to  obedience  and  union.     He 
ordered  them  to  kill  their  dogs,  and  these  faithful  animals    Specimen 
were  instantly  sacrificed.     They  must  not,  he  said,  permit    °  craft.^  ' 
theii  iires  to  go  out ;  and  at  on(;e  the  fire  of  every  wigwam 
was  watched  as  by  vestals.     Then,  to  make  them  independent 
of  the  whiles,  the  Prophet  commanded,  that  even  the  blanket 
should  be  laid  aside,  and  the  Indians  dress  only  in  skins. 
While  the   Prophet   thus  manifested,  that  priestcraft  in  its 


302  HARRISON    AT    TIPPECANOE. 

PART  IV^  worst  form,  may  inhabit  the  desert  as  well  as  the  city,  Te- 

PERIOD  II.  cumseh  was  going  from  one  Indian  confederacy  to  another, 
CHAP.  II.    and  by  his  eloquence  inflaming  their  minds  against  the  whites, 

^-^^v^*'-'  They  were  intruders,  he  said,  upon  a  soil,  which  as  it  had 
formerly  belonged  to  their  fathers,  (not  to  any  one  tribe  oi  in- 
dividual, but  to  all,  therefore  none  had  a  right  to  alienate  it,) 
so  it  still  belonged  to  the  descendants  by  right  of  inheritance. 
He  did  not,  like  Philip,  believe  it  possible  to  exterminate  the 
entire  white  population,  but  he  thought  the  combined  Indian 

_,  . ,    power  might  suffice  to  set  them  their  bounds.     He  wished 

X  BCurnsGn  s   a  o 

arguments    the  principle  to  be  acknowledged  by  all  the  Indians,  that  their 
and  exer-    collective   right  to  the  soil  was  unalienable,  and  that  as  such 
ap"the°Indi-  ^^  ^'^^  ^^  ^®  defended  to  the  last  extremity.     So  bold  a  plan 
ans.        could  not  but  meet  opposition,  and  especially  from  some  of  the 
more  independent  and  virtuous  of  the   chiefs,  who   rebelled 
against  the  double  tyranny  to  M^hich  these  two  brothers  were 
gradually  subjugating  their  tribes.     To  be  rid  of  these  trouble, 
some  men,  Elskwatawa  pretended  a  gift  from  the  Great  Spirit 
of  discerning  wizards  ;    and  immediately  some  of  the  oldest 
and  best  of  the  surrounding  chiefs  were  denounced  and  mur- 
dered by  order  of  the  brothers. 

Thus  was  taken  off  Tetaboxti,  a  Delaware  chief  of  eighty, 
and  Tahre  "  The  Crane,"  the  oldest  Indian  in  the  western  coun- 
try.    But  none  of  these  executions  is  more  Striking  than  that 
of  the   exemplary  Wyandot  chief,  called  the  Leather-Lips, 
Theouel-  aged  sixty-three.     The  Prophet  had  declared  him  a  wizard, 
ties  exer-    and   forthwith  sent  a  neighboring  chief  with  four  warriors  to 
*p^^  .^^  ^jj^  dispatch  him.     They  found  him  at  his  home,  and  announced 
the  chiefs,   their  bloody  errand.     He  expostulated  and  entreated,  but  in 
vain.     His  grave  is  dug  by  the  side  of  his  wigwam,  and  be- 
fore his  eyes.     He  is  allowed  time   to  attire  himself  as  be- 
came a  chieftain  about  to  depart  on  his  last  journey.     Then 
the  two  chiefs  kneeling  beside  the  open  grave,  the  messen- 
ger offers  up  a  prayer  to  the  Great  Spirit.     The  victim  then 
bent  over  his  grave,  and  was  tomahawked  by  the  young  war- 
riors behind  him. 
Indian  war-       The  brothers  watching  the  attitude  of  Great  Britain  and  the 
"wabTh*^**  United  States,  and  believing  that  an  opportunity   for  them  to 
attack  would  soon  occur,  were  collecting  their  followers  on 
-  „  the  Wabash. 

Governor         Governor  Harrison,  of  the  Indiana  territory,  was  directed  to 
Harrison     march  against  them  with  a  military  force,  consisting  of  regu- 
**'uiem^'^^^  lars,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Boyd,  united  with  the 
militia  of  the  territory.     On  the  7th  of  November,  he  met  a 
number  of  the  Prophet's  messengers  at  Tippecanoe,  and  a  sus- 
pension of  hostilities  was  agreed  upon  until  the  next  day, 
Nov.  7.     when  an  interview  was  to  be* had  with  him  and  his  chiefs. 
Battle  of    Warned    by   the    sad    fate   of   so    many    American    armies, 
'''Tndkns"^'  G^en^^al  Harrison  formed  his  men  in  order  of  battle  ;  and  they 
defeated,    thus  reposed  upon  their  arms.     Just  before  day,  the  faithless 


INSIDIOUS    ATTEMPT    TO    DIVIDE    THE    UNION.  308 

sav^dges  rushed  upon  them.  But  the  war-whoop  was  not  un-  PART  IV. 
expected.  The  Americans  stood,  repelled  the  shock,  and  re-  period  il 
pulsed  the  assailants.  ciixp.  n. 

Their  loss  was,  however,  severe,  being  about  180  in  killed  '— *'>''"^--' 

and  wounded.  That  of  the  Indians  was  170  killed,  and  100 
wounded.  Tecumseh  was  not  in  this  battle,  but  was  still 
among  distant  tribes  inciting  them  to  war.  He  had  not  ex- 
pected tliat  the  whites  would  strike  the  first  blow.  Ft 

Mr.  Foster,  succeeded  Mr.  Jackson,  and  during  the  sum-  made  for  the 
nier,  the  controversy  respecting  the  Chesapeake  was  adjusted  ;  |ittackon  the 
the  British  government  agreeing  to  make  provision  for  those      '^^^^^    ^ 
seamen  who  were  disabled  in  the  engagement,  and  for  the 
families  of  those  who  were  killed.     The  two  surviving  sailors, 
who  were  taken  from  the  Chesapeake,  were   to  be  restored. 
But  the  British  right  to  search  American  vessels  and  to  impress 
American  seamen,  if  native-born  Britons,  was  still  maintained; 
and  the  orders  in  council  were  enforced  with  the  greatest  rigor 
British  vessels  were,  for  this  purpose,  stationed  before  many 
of  the  principal  harbors  in  the  United  States. 

The  French  decrees  being  annulled,  commerce  had  begun 
with  France,  and  American  vessels,  richly  laden,  were  cap-    American 
tured  by  the  British.     Not  less  than  nine  hundred  had  thus      lossea. 
fallen  into  their  hi^nds,  since  the  year  1803, 

Further  forbearance,  under  such  great  and  repeated  inju- 
ries, seemed  but  to  invite  further  insult  and  aggression,  and 
when  congress  assembled  in  November,  the  president,  in 
laying  before  them  the  state  of  foreign  relations,  recommended 
that  the  United  States  should  be  placed  in  an  attitude  of  de-  ^  ^P^^^^jj^ 
fense.  The  representatives  acted  in  accordance  with  these 
views.  Provision  was  made  for  the  increase  of  the  regular 
army  to  35,000  men,  and  for  the  enlargement  of  the  navy 
A  law  was  enacted,  empowering  the  president  to  borrow  eleven 
millions  of  dollars  ;  the  duties  on  imported  goods  were  doubled, 
and  taxes  Avere  subsequently  laid  on  domestic  manufactures, 
and  nearly  all  descriptions  of  property. 

On  the  25th  of  February,  Mr.  Madison  laid  before  congress,     i§i2. 
copies  of  certain  documents,  which  proved,  that  on  the  6th  of     Feb.  25. 
February,   1809,  the  British  government,  by  its  agent.    Sir   "^"g^^j^S^ 
James  Craig,  governor  of  Canada,  had  sent  John  Henry  as  an       sure, 
emissary  to  the  United  States,  for  the  express  purpose  of  in- 
sidiously destroying  its  government,  by  effecting,  if  possible, 
the  disunion  of  its  parts.     The  service  for  which  Henry  was 
employed,  was  to  intrigue  with  the  leading  members  of  the 
federal  ])arty,   draw  them  into  direct  communication  with  the 
governor  of  Canada,  and  lead  them,  if  possible,  to  form  the 
eastern  part  of  the  union  into  a  nation,  or  province,  dependent 
on  Great  Britain. 

Henry  proceeded  through  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire  to  Henry's  ne- 
Boston,  which  was  his  ultimate  destination ;  but  he  returned  ^^^^  "ussicai 
without  effecting,  in  any  degree,  his  purpose.     This  failure  he 


304 


DECLARATION    OF    WAR. 


FART  IV.  attributed  solely  to  the  readirjess  which  Mr.  Madison  had 
manifested  to  meet  the  conciliatory  propositions  of  Mr.  Ers- 
kine,  which  took  from  its  opponents  the  power  of  making  him 
and  his  administration  odious  to  the  people,  by  representing 
to  them  that  he  was  in  the  interest  of  France.  Henry  having 
vainly  sought  from  Great  Britain,  remuneration  for  this  dis- 
honorable service,  disclosed  the  whole  transaction  to  the 
American  government,  for  which  he  was  paid  fifty  thousand 

ft *ir  wholly  dollars,  out  of  the  contingent  fund    for   foreign   intercourse. 

onsucccss-  This  treacherous  attempt,  made  by  England  in  time  of  peace, 
was  regarded  with  abhorrence,  by  the  virtuous  of  both  parties, 
and  was  among  the  causes  which  led  to  the  war,  which  soon 
ensued. 


PERIOD  II 

CHAP.  III. 


1§11 


ful. 


"    CHAPTER  III 


1812. 

April. 

Embargo 

laid. 


June  18. 
War  de- 
clared 
against 
Great  Brit- 


The  presi- 
dent's mani- 
festo de- 
clares and 
shows  jiist 
reasons  for 
war. 


Altered  con 
dition  of 
America 
since  the 

revolution. 


War  of  1812.— Condition  of  the  Country. 

In  April,  congress  laid  an  embargo  for  ninety  days  upon  all 
vessels  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States.  Although 
preparations  were  making  for  war,  a  hope  vvtis  yet  cherished, 
that  some  change  of  policy  in  the  British  cabinet  would  render 
them  unnecessary;  but  no  such  occurring,  on  the  18th  of 
June,  1812,  war  with  Great  Britain  was  formally  declared. 

The  reasons  of  the  war  were  stated  by  the  president,  in  an 
able  manifesto.  They  were,  British  excesses,  in  violating  the 
American  flag  on  the  great  highway  of  nations, — the  impress- 
ment of  American  seamen  ;— harassing  American  vessels  as 
they  were  entering  their  own  harbors,  or  departing  from  them, 
and  wantonly  spilling  the  blood  of  the  citizens  of  America, 
within  the  limits  of  her  territorial  jurisdiction  ; — issuing  or- 
ders, by  which  the  ports  of  the  enemies  of  Great  Britain  were 
blockaded,  and  not  supporting  these  blockades  by  the  ade- 
quate application  of  fleets  to  render  them  legal,  and  enforcing 
them  from  the  date  of  their  proclamation  ;  in  consequence  of 
which  American  commerce  had  been  plundered  on  every  sea, 
and  her  products  cut  off  from  their  legitimate  markets  ; — em- 
ploying secret  agents  to  subvert  the  government,  and  dismem- 
ber the  union  ; — and  finally  encoliraging  the  Indian  tribes  to 
hostility.  Against  this  declaration,  the  representatives  of  tho 
federal  party,  constituting  a  small  minority  in  congress,  en- 
tered their  solemn  protest. 

The  circumstances  of  the  country  at  the  beginning  of  this 
war,  were,  however,  far  difl!erent  from  those  which  attended 
that  of  the  revolution.  A  government  had  been  established, 
which,  unlike  the  congress  of  that  period,  could  not  only  re- 
commend, but  enforce.     The  number  of  inhabitants  had  in- 


THE    NATION    NOT    PREPARED    FOR    WAR.  305 

creased  from  about  three  millions  to  nearly  eight,  and  the  pe-  PART  lY. 
cuniary  resources  of  the  republic  had  advanced  in  a  ratio  yet  period  n 
greater.  chap.  m. 

But  there  were  points,  in  which  our  fathers  of  the  revolu-  '— •-v-'^^ 
tion  were  in  a  more  advantageous  situation  for  war,  than  that 
-^f  their  descendants,  thirty-seven  years  afterwards.     In  1775,     ie|o 
the  Americans  were  comparatively  a  warlike  people.     They  providential 
had  been  obliged  to  be  constantly  on  the  alert,  to  defend  them-  circumstan 
selves  from  savage  foes;  and  they  had  just  emerged   from  a  ^|J-f. ^^^?u** 
contest,  which  had  given  practical  experience  of  the  difficul-    American 
ties  and  hardships  of  war,  and  the  consequent  ability  to  face  revolution- 
its  dangers,  and  endure  its  fatigues.     That  war  had  moreover 
been  eminently  calculated,  both  by  its  misfortunes  and  suc- 
cesses, to  impart  sound  maxims  in  the  military  art  ;  both  by 
the  shameful  inertness  and  disasters  of  its  first  campaigns,  and 
the  energy  and  brilliant  successes  of  the  last.     The  disgrace 
of  Braddock,  and  the  glory  of  Wolfe,  were  still  fresh  and  in- 
spiring ;  and  it  was  amidst  the  scenes  of  that  war  that  the 
military  character  of  the  leader  of  the  revolutionary  army,  and 
that  of  many  of  his  officers,  were  formed. 

On  the  contrary,  in  1812,  a  season  of  thirty  years  of  peace      A  mis 
and  prosperity  had  enervated  the  nation.     Most  of  the  officers    ^^^^. '"  '•^® 
of  the  revolution  slept  in  honored  graves;  and  that  a  few  re-    of  old  men 
mained,  (not  of  those  most  distinguished)  proved  a  source  of  to  take  the 
misfortune ;  for  they  had  their  pretensions,  and  were  prefer-  ^^^^^j^  i'^n'tha 
red  to  younger  and  abler  men.  army. 

During  Mr.  Jefferson's  administration,  economy  was  the 
order  of  the  day.  Every  possible  retrenchment  of  national 
expenditure  was  adopted  ;  and  among  other  measures  of  this 
nature,  was  the  curtailing  of  the  army  and  navy.  Although  a 
spirit  of  prudence  in  money  affairs  is  highly  commendable, 
and  though  it  was  at  that  period  popular,  and  in  many  respects  penny-wis 
useful  to  the  country,  yet  it  may  now  be  doubted,  whether,  in  dom  and 
this  instance,  it  did  not  degenerate  into  that  penny-wisdom  P9und-fool 
and  pound-foolishness,  which  is  as  little  consistent  with  the 
best  interests  of  a  nation,  as  with  those  of  an  individual.  The 
national  debt,  it  is  true,  was  by  these  measures  reduced  from 
$75,000,000  to  $36,000,000  ;  but  by  the  increased  expendi- 
tures of  the  war  of  1812,  '13,  and  '14,  it  amounted,  in  1816, 
to  $123,000,000  ;  a  sum  exceeding  by  $47,000,000,  its  ori- 
ginal amount.  It  is  probable,  that  many  of  the  misfortunes  of 
the  country  might  have  been  spared,  by  maintaining,  during 
peace,  a  better  state  of  preparation  for  war,  and  a  sum  of 
money  eventually  saved,  far  greater  than  the  amount  of  the 
retrenchment. 

In   1 808,  the   regular  army  consisted  of  only  3,000  men  ;     Military 
but  during  that  year,  the  government,  alarmed  by  the  increas-  force  of  the 
ing  aggressions  of  the  European  powers,  increased  it  to  nine      stat«? 
thousand.     The  act  to  raise   an  additional   force  of  25,000, 
was  passed  so  short  a  time  previous  to  the  declaration  of  war. 


306  WEAK    STATE    OF    THE    ARMY    AND    NAVY. 

PART  IV.  that  not  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  number  were  enlisted  at 
PERIOD  II.  that  time  ;  and  those  were,  of  course,  raw  and  undisciplined. 

CHAP.  III.  jjj  addition  to  the  regular  army,  the  president  was  authorized 
'^^^''^'>^^'*'^  to  call  on  the  governors  of  the  states  for  detachments  of  mili- 

1§12.  tia,  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  100,000,  and  to  accept  the 
Condition  of  gpi-yi^es  of  any  number  of  volunteers,  not  exceeding  50,000. 

the  army,     t^,  -^  ^    ^  i  ^i^'. 

But   the    actual  force,  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  in 
1812,  was  small,  and  the  troops  were  wholly  inexperienced. 
This  army  had  not  that  high  tone  of  public  feeling,  which 
made  the  soldiers  of  the  revolution  a  band  of  heroes.     The 
occasion,  though  important,  was  not   so  awfully  momentous. 
The  admin-  Indeed,  the  administration,  reluctant  to  change  its  pacific  and 
losMheTbest  economical  policy,  had  unwisely  suffered  the  highest  state  of 
moment  for  public  excitement  for  the  injuries  of  Britain  to  pass  away,  be- 
declaring    J^j.^.  the    declaration   of   war.      The   nation  felt   so    keenly 
wounded  by  the  outrage  upon  the  Chesapeake,  that  it  would 
on  that  occasion  have  moved  in  its  united  majesty,  to  the 
vindication  of  its  rights;     But  while  they  temporized,  Eng- 
land  had    shrewdly   allayed   that    feeling ;  and  the    money- 
loving  spirit,  which  the  administration  had  formerly  too  much 
courted,  was  now  offended  by  the  operation  of  its  restrictive 
system.     Its  political  enemies  took  advantage  of  every  subject 
of  discontent 3  and  such  opposition  to  its  measures  was  excited^ 
as,  in  a  degree,  paralized  its  exertions. 
State  of  the      The  state  of  the  revenue  in  1812,  was  extremely  unfavora- 
r«venue.     ble  to  the  prosecution  of  an  expensive  war.     Derived  almost 
solely  from  duties  on  merchandise  imported,  it  was  abundam 
in  a  state  of  commercial  prosperity ;  but  in   time  of  war  and 
trouble,  the  aggressions  of  foreign  powers,  while  they  produ- 
ced an  increase  of  public  expenditure,  almost  destroyed  the 
means  of  defraying  it. 
The  navy  in      The  condition  of  the  navy  was  better  than  that  of  the  army, 
a  better  con-  The  situation  of  the  United  States,  as  a  maritime  and  com- 
^^e'army'^   mercial  nation,  had  kept  it  provided  with  seamen,   who,  in 
time  of  war,  being  transferred  from  merchant  to  warlike  ves- 
sels, were  already  disciplined  to  naval  operations.     The   re- 
cent contest  with  the  Barbary  states,  had  given  to  the  officers 
and  men,  some   experience  in  war ;  and  their  successes  had 
inspired  them  with  confidence  in  themselves.     The  navy  was, 
however,  very  small.     Many  enterprising  individuals  of  the 
republic,  did,   in  the   course  of  the   war,  convert  their  mer- 
chant ships  into  privateers  ;  but,  at  its  beginning,  ten  frigates, 
ten  sloops,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  gunboats,  was  all  the 
public  naval   force  which  America  could  oppose  to  the  thou- 
sand ships  of  the  mistress  of  the  ocean. 
General  Among  the  few  surviving  officers  of  the  revolutionary  war, 

Dearborn,    ^as   Henry  Dearborn,  of  Massachusetts,  who  was  appointed 
in-chief.  "  major-general  and  commander-in-chief  of  the  American  army. 
His  head-quarters  were  at  Greenbush,  on  the  Hudson  river 
opposite  Albany. 


MISTAKES    IN    THE    CHOICE    OF    OFFICERS.  307 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Hull's  unfortunate  invasion  and  surrender. 

The  plan  of  the  campaign,  which  was  formed  at  Washing-  PART  IV. 
ton,  had,  for  its  ultimate  object,  the  invasion  of  Montreal.     It  period  n. 
was  intended  to   invade,  simultaneously,  at  Detroit  and   Ni-    chap.  iv. 
agara,  and  that  the  armies  from  these  places  should  be  joined,  v^-»~v-^^ 
on  the  way,  by  a  force  stationed  at  Platlsburg'. 

The  army  destined  for  Detroit,  was  collected  at  Dayton,  in 
Ohio,  some  time  before  the  declaration  of  war.     The  presi-  ^*^    ^f  j^e 
dent  of  the   United   States  had  made  a  requisition  for  1,200  north-west, 
men  on  the  governor  of  that  state.     The  number  was  imme-   tlicir  num- 
diately  filled  by  volunteers,  who  were  divided  into  three  regi-  commanded 
ments,  commanded  by  colonels  M'Arthur,  Cass,  and  Findlay.     by  Hull. 
These  troops  were  joined  by  300   regulars  under  Colonel 
Miller. 

The  command  of  this  army  was  given  to  General  Hull,  a 

captain  during  the  revolution,  now  governor  of  Michigan.    He, 

proceeding  to  Detroit  to  await  further  orders,  moved  his  forces 

from  Dayton  about  the  middle  of  June.     Traversing  an  unculti-  TT^f^^''^l 

•'  .  ,  11-1  1  •  1  ■    li'Jii  reaches 

vated  region,  they  were  obliged  to  remove  obstructions,  and  it    Maumee, 

was  not  till  the   30th,  that  they  reached  the  rapids  of  the     June  30. 

Maumee.     Four  days  previous,  Hull  had  received,  by  express, 

a  letter  from   Mr.   Eustis,  secretary  of  war,  written   on  the     nary^fact 

morning  of  the   18th,  the   day  on  which  war  was  declared,    not  yet  ac- 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  this  letter  merely  reiterated  former  counted  for. 

orders,  and   contained  expressions  which  indicated  that  the 

declaration  would  soon  be  made. 

Expecting  to  be  informed,  by  express,  whenever  this  should 
actually  occur,  and  not  dreaming  that  the  British  could  be  in 
possession  of  such  important  intelligence,  from  the  American 
government,  earlier  than  himself;  Hull,  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
encumbering his  army,  and  facilitating  their  march,  hired  a 
vessel  to  convey  to  Detroit  his  sick,  his  hospital  stores,  and  a 
considerable  part  of  his  baggage.  This  vessel,  which  sailed 
on  the  1st  of  July,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British,  who 
had  been  two  or  three  days  in  possession  of  the  information 
that  war  was  declared.  With  Hull's  private  baggage,  had 
b^en  placed  on  board  the  vessel,  what  he  should  have  better  nes"brin« 
guarded,  his  trunk  of  papers  ;  by  means  of  which  the  enemy  trouble 
became  possessed  of  his  confidential  correspondence  with  the 
government,  and  the  returns  of  his  officers,  showing  the  num-t 
ber  and  condition  of  his  troops. 

The  intelligence  of  the  declaration  of  war,  General  Hull  re-      July  2. 
ceived  on  the  2d  of  July,  in  a  second  letter  from  Mr.  Eustis,  ^^^Tisde'** 
of  June  18th,  which  was  not  sent  by  express,  but  by  mail.  clared 


SOS  hull's  invasion. 

PART  IV.        The  fortress   of  Maiden,  or  Amherstburg,  on  the  British 
PERIOD  iF  side  of  Detroit  river  near  its  entrance  into  lake  Erie,  was  gar* 
CHAP.  IV.    risoned  by  six  hundred  men,  and  commanded  by  Colonel  St 
v^.-^'-N^-'^w-y  George.     It  was  the  strong  hold  of  the  British,  and  their  In 
1§12.     dian  allies,  for  the  province  of  Upper  Canada.     On  the  oppo- 
Hull  ad-     site   American    shore,  the    road   through   which   Hull   must 
^leaves'  The    ^^^ceive  his   supplies,   passed  through  the   Indian  village  of 
enemy's  for-  Brownstown.     But  they  would  be  liable  to  be  cut  off,  as  the 
tress  of  Mai-  British,  having  command  of  the  waters,  could,  at  any  time 
^^ear.""    l^^^tl  detachments  from  Maiden,  on  the  opposite  side.     Thus, 
for  Hull  to  proceed  from  the  Rapids  to  Detroit,  was  to  advance 
and  leave  an  enemy's  fortress  in  his  rear.     The  orders  of  the 
secretary  of  war,  that  he  should  proceed,  were,  however,  ex- 
plicit ;  and,   pursuant  thereto,   he  continued  his   march,  and 
reached  Detroit  on  the  5th  of  July. 

On  the  9th,  General  Hull  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Eustis, 
Hull  re-     saying  that  "  ^should  the  force  under  your  command  be  equal 
eeives  dis-    to  the  enterprise,  and  consistent  with  the  safety  of  your  own 
wders°toTn.  P^sts,  you  will  take  possession   of  Maiden,  and  extend  your 
vade.        conquests  as  circumstances  will  allow."     The  general  replied 
that  he  did  not  think  his  force  equal  to  the  reduction  of  Mai- 
den ;  that  the  British  commanded  the  water  and  the  savages  ; 
yet  he  said  he  should  pass  the  river  in  a  few  days. 
July  12.  General  Hull  crossed  into  Canada  on  the  12th  of  July,  and 

Hull  invades  Jij-ecting  his  march  southerly,  took  post  at  Sandwich,   from 
and  Issues  a  whence  he   issued  a  bold  and  imposing  proclamation,  which 
proclama-    backed  by  the  presence  of  an  army,  had   the  desired  effect, 
tinn.        '£Yie  Indians  were   awed  into  neutrality,  and  the   Canadians 
generally  favorable  to  the   American  cause,  either  remained 
quietly  at  home,  or  joined  their  ranks. 

The  troops  continued  inactive  at  Sandwich,  awaiting  some 
heavy  artillery,  which  was  in  preparation  at  Detroit.     On  the 
July  15.      15th,  Colonel  Cass,  with  colonels   Miller  and  M' Arthur,  and 
Cas^slTthe   ^  detachment  of  280  men,  attacked  and  defeated  a  British 
river  aux     guard  at  the  river  aux  -  Canards,  four  miles  from  Maiden,  and 
Canards,     obtained  possession  of  a  bridge,  highly  important  to  the  Ame- 
ricans, as  securing  their  access  to  the  enemy's  fortress.     But 
no  persuasion  would  induce  the  general  to  sanction  their  guar- 
ding and  retaining  it. 

Governor  Meigs   apprised   General  Hull  that  he  had  sent 
Captain  Brush,  by  the  way  of  the   river  Raisin,  with  provis- 
Van  Home's  ions  for  the  army.     The  general  detached  Major  Van  Home, 
party  de-     with  200   men,  to  hold  in   check  a  party  of  British  and  In- 
^^^^  ■      dians,  which  had  been  sent  from  Maiden,  to  intercept  the  sup- 
plies.    Tecumseh,  at  the  head  of  his  Indians,  ambushed  his 
path,  and  fell  upon   the  Americans  with  such  violence,  that 
July  17.     thirty  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  and  the  remainder  fled 
Mackinaw    to  Detroit, 
taken  by         ^p]^^  important  fortress  of  Mackinaw  had  been  left  unheed- 

Bnti.sh  and       ■,  ,        t  ■  ■,  ■  n       ■,      .-n 

Indiana,     ed  by  the  government,  with  a  garrison  of  only  lifty-seven  men. 


HULLS    INDECISION. 


309 


Lieutenant  Hanks,  its  commander,  yet  uninformed  ol  the  de- 
claration of  war,  was,  on  the  17th,  summoned,  by  a  party  of 
one  thousand  British  and  Indians,  to  surrender :  and  he  con- 
sidered himself  fortunate,  while  he  gave  up  the  fort,  to  obtain 
for  his  little  corps  the  honors  of  war, 

Hull  received  intelligence  of  this  disaster,  and  beUeved 
that  hordes  of  savages,  stirred  up  by  Tecumsch,  and  by  other 
British  agents,  were  coming  down  upon  him.  Unexpected 
news  of  the  American  cabinet,  yet  not  from  it,  filled  him  with 
entire  dismay.  A  partial  armistice  had  been  made,  which 
aflected  the  north-eastern  frontier,  but  in  which  his  army  was 
not  included  ;  and  now,  instead  of  the  promised  diversion  in  his 
favor  by  an  attack  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  the  whole  Britisli 
force  in  Lower  Canada  would  doubtless  be  concentrated 
against  him,  with  those  in  the  upper  province. 

The  artillery  was  ready  for  the  attack  of  Maiden,  but  the 
heart  of  the  general  had  failed.  The  eyes  of  the  patriot  and 
soldier,  were  closed,  while  those  of  the  father,  and  the  pater- 
nal governor,  saw  in  fancied  vision,  his  beloved  daughter  and 
grandchildren  at  Detroit,  already  bleeding,  the  victims  of  sav- 
age barbarity.  With  deep  chagrin,  and  even  mutinous  dis- 
satisfaction, his  officers  and  soldiers  received  his  peremp- 
tory order  to  retreat  from  Maiden,  and  return  to  Detroit ;  where 
on  the  8th  of  August,  the  army  arrived. 

General  Hull,  on  the  same  day,  sent  600  of  his  best  troops, 
under  Colonel  iMiller,  to  meet  and  escort  Captain  Brush,  with 
his  provisions.  In  the  woods  of  Maguaga,  a  British,  united 
with  an  Indian  force,  both  under  Tecumseh,  was  drawn  up  to 
meet  him.  The  fight  was  severe.  The  British  fled,  while 
Tecumseh,  with  his  Indians,  still  kept  the  ground,  but  at  length 
the  whole  force  was  routed.  The  enemy  returned  in  their 
vessels  to  IMalden  ;  and  Miller,  having  lost  eighty  men,  was 
recalled  by  Hull  to  Detroit,  he  having  learned  that  Captain 
Brush  had  taken  a  different  route. 

Hull  now  proposed  to  retreat  with  his  army,  to  some  place 
near  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee,  but  to  this  his  officers,  already 
80  much  dissatisfied  with  his  ill-timed  retreat,  as  to  be  on  the 
eve  of  a  mutiny,  utterly  dissented. 

To  insure  the  safe  arrival  of  the  provisions,  another  party 
of  350,  unrier  colonels  Cass  and  M'Arthur,  were  sent  out. 

Fearing  for  the  safety  of  his  fort,  General  Hull  had,  on  the 
9th,  sent  orders  to  Captain  Heald,  the  commander  at  Chicago, 
to  evacuate  that  place,  and  conduct  the  garrison  to  Detroit. 
Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  he  set  out  with  about 
seventy  Americans,  and  fifty  friendly  Indians,  escorting  seve- 
ral women  and  children.  At  a  small  distance  from  the  fort, 
they  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  between  four  and  five  hun- 
dred savages  The  little  band  made  a  desperate  resistance, 
but  they  were  overpowered  by  numbers,  and  thirty-six  of  the 
mea,  two  women,  and  twelve  children  were  slain  during  the 
22 


Hull  is 

1,1  armed  not 
without 
cause. 


1812. 

Aug.  8. 

Hull  returns 

to  Detroit 


Aug,  9. 
Miller  de- 
feats Te- 
cumseh  at 
INIaguaga. 


Hull  pro- 
poses to  re- 
treat. 

Aug.  13. 
Cass  and 
M'Arthur 
sent  out. 


Aug.  15. 
Chicago  suh- 

rendered, 

and  the  gar- 

rison  defeat 

ed  by  the 

Indiann 


310 


DISGRACEFUL    SURRENDER    OF    DETROIT. 


PART  IV. 


J§ld. 

A\ig.  13. 
Brook,  ar- 
rives at  the 
Rritish 
cainp. 


He  summons 
Hull  to  sur- 
render. 


Perplexity, 
vaccillation, 
and  timiditj- 


Aujr.  16. 

Hull  surren- 
ders Detroit. 


engagement.  The  remainder  surrendered,  under  promise  of 
protection  from  "  Blackbird,"  an  Indian  chief  of  the  Potta- 
wattamie nation.  Captain  Heald,  witli  his  wife  and  child,  after- 
wards escaped  from  the  savages,  and  were  protected  by  the 
English. 

On  the  13th,  five  days  after  the  armistice  on  the  Niagara 
frontier  was  to  take  effect,  General  Brock,  the  most  active  and 
able  of  the  British  commanders  in  Canada,  arrived  at  Maiden 
to  take  command  of  the  British  forces.  Previous  to  his  arri- 
val, a  party  under  Colonel  Proctor,  who  had  succeeded  Colonei 
St.  George,  in  the  command  at  Maiden,  had  taken  a  position 
on  the  river  opposite  Detroit,  and  proceeded  to  fortify  the  bank, 
without  interruption'fr9m  the  Americans.  On  the  14th,  Gen- 
eral Brock  arrived  at  Sandwich,  and  on  the  15th,  he  sent  a 
flag,  bearing  a  summons  to  the  American  general  to  surren- 
der ;  in  which  he  says,  "  it  is  far  from  my  intention  to  join  in 
a  war  of  extermination,  but  you  must  be  aware  that  the  nu- 
merous body  of  Indians,  who  have  attached  themselves  to  my 
troops,  will  be  beyond  my  control,  the  moment  the  contest 
commences."  To  this  General  Hull  answered,  '•  I  have  no 
other  reply  to  make,  than  that  I  am  prepared  to  meet  any  force 
which  may  be  at  your  disposal."  General  Brock  immedi- 
ately opened  his  batteries  upon  the  town  and  fort,  and  several 
persons  within  were  killed.  The  fire  was  returned  with 
some  effect  by  the  Americans.  Their  general  greatly  alarm- 
ed, now  sent  out  an  express,  commanding  the  immediate  re- 
turn of  the  detachment  under  M'Arthur  and  Cass. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  16th,  the  British  crossed  the 
river,  landed  at  Spring  Wells,  three  miles  below  Detroit,  and 
immediately  marched  towards  the  fort.  Hull  was  perplexed 
and  agitated.  He  believed  that  resistance  would  be  vain,  and 
ultimately  lead  to  the  barbarities  of  an  Indian  massacre.  Yet 
he  was  not  insensible  to  the  disgrace  of  surrendering  without  an 
effort,  and  even  at  this  critical  moment,  he  was  wavering  and 
indecisive  in  his  operations.  At  first  his  troops  were  drawn 
up  in  order  of  battle  without  the  fort,  his  artillery  was  advan- 
tageously planted,  and  his  army  waited  the  approach  of  the 
enemy,  full  of  the  confidence  of  victory.  The  British  were 
within  five  hundred  yards  of  their  lines,  when  suddenly  Hull 
gave  the  order  to  retire  immediately  to  the  fort.  The  indigna 
tion  of  the  army  broke  forth,  and  all  subordination  ceased. 
They  crowded  in,  and  without  any  order  from  the  general, 
stacked  their  arms,  some  dashing  them  with  violence  upon  the 
ground.  Many  of  the  soldiers  wept.  Even  the  spirit  of  the 
women  rose  indignant,  and  they  declared,  in  impotent  wrath 
that  the  fort  should  not  be  surrendered.  Hull,  perceiving  that 
he  had  no  longer  any  authority,  and  believing  that  the  Indians 
were  ready  to  fall  upon  the  inhabitants,  was  anxious  to  put 
the  place  under  the  protection  of  the  British.  A  white  flag 
was  hung  out  upon  the  walls  of  the  fort.     Two  British  offi- 


THE    CONSTITUTION    CAPTURES    A    BRITISH    FRIGATE. 

cers  rode  up,  and  a  capitulation  was  concluded  by  Hull  with 
the  must  unbecoming  haste.  His  officers  were  not  consulted  ; 
he  made  no  stipulations  for  the  honors  of  war  for  his  army' 
nor  any  provision  for  the  safety  of  his  Canadian  aUies.  All 
the  public  property  was  given  up ;  the  regular  troops  were 
surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war ;  the  militia  were  to  return 
to  their  homes,  and  not  to  serve  again  during  the  war,  unless 
exchanged. 

Cass  and  M'Arthur  arrived  immediately  after  the  capitula- 
tion, and  surrendered  agreeably  to  its  conditions.  Captain 
Brush  took  the  resolution  not  to  regard  the  stipulation  which 
had  included  him,  and  inarched  his  party  back  to  Ohio. 

The  number  of  effective  men  at  Detroit,  at  the  time  of  its 
surrender,  is  stated  by  General  Hull  in  his  official  report,  not 
to  have  exceeded  800 ;  while  the  force  of  the  enemy  is  said 
to  have  been  at  least  double  the  number.  General  Brock,  in 
his  report  to  Sir  George  Prevost,  states  his  force  to  have  been 
1,300,  oi  whom  700  were  Indians. 

General  Hull  being  exchanged,  was  prosecuted  by  the  go- 
vernment of  the  United  States,  and  arraigned  before  a  tribunal, 
of  which  General  Dearborn  was  president.  He  was  acquit- 
ted oi  treason,  but  sentenced  to  death  for  cowardice  and 
unofficer-hke  conduct.  The  criminal  under  sentence  of  death 
was  not,  however,  imprisoned,  but  sent  without  a  guard  from 
Albany,  where  the  court-martial  assembled,  to  his  residence 
m  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  to  await  there  the  decision  of  the 
president  of  the  United  States  ;  to  whose  mercy  the  court,  in 
consequence  of  his  revolutionary  services,  recommended  him. 
The  president  remitted  the  punishment  of  death,  but  deprived 
mm  of  all  military  command. 


311 

PART  IV 


1§12. 

Hull  re- 
ceives sen- 
tence of 
death,  but  i 
pardoned. 


CHAPTER   V 


Aug.  19. 
Constituticm 


Naval  successes. 

On  the  19th  of  August,  three  days  after  the  disgraceful  sur- 
render of  Detroit,  an  event  occurred,  which,  in  a  measure    - - 

healed  the  wounded  pride  of  the  Americans.  This  was  the  "^^i'^"''^.^  * 
capture  of  the  British  frigate  Guerriere,  under  the  command  '"''" 
of  Capam  Dacres,  by  the  American  frigate  Constitution,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Hull,  which  took  place  off"  the  Grand 
Bank  of  Newfoundland.  The  captain  of  the  British  frigate 
previous  to  the  rencounter,  had  challenged  any  American  ves' 
sel  of  her  class,  and  the  officers,  in  various  ways,  manifested 
their  contempt  of  -the  Yankees."  On  the  approach  of  the 
buemere,  Captain  Hull  gave  orders  to  receive  her  occasional 
broadsides  without  returning  the   fire,   and  liis  crew  calmly 


312 


BATTLE    OF    QUEENSTOWN. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.     V. 


1§12. 

Sept.  7. 


Amny  of  the 
centre  at 
Lewiston. 


A.  J  art  of  the 
anny  cross 
from  Lewis- 
ton  to 
Queens- 
town. 

Oct.  13. 

Are  exposed 

to  a  galling 

fire. 


The  battery 
at  Queens- 
town  taken 
by  a  party 
under  Cap- 
tain Wool. 


British  at- 
tack under 
Brock. 


obeyed  his  orders,  although  some  of  their  companions  were 
falling  at  their  guns.  Having  his  enemy  near,  and  his  posi- 
tion favorable,  Hull  commanded  his  men  to  fire  .broadside  after 
broadside,  in  quick  succession.  This  was  done,  and  with 
such  precision  and  effect,  that  in  thirty  minutes,  the  Guerri(;re 
had  her  masts  and  rigging  shot  away,  and  her  hulk  so  injured 
that  she  was  in  danger  of  sinking.  Sixty-five  of  her  men 
were  killed,  and  sixty-three  wounded,  when  Captain  Dacres 
struck  his  colors.  The  Constitution  had  but  seven  killed,  and 
seven  wounded.  The  captured  vessel  was  so  much  injured, 
that  she  could  not  be  got  into  port,  and  was  burned.  Several 
of  the  officers  were  promoted  by  congress,  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  were  distributed  among  the  crew,  as  a  recompense  fox 
the  loss  of  their  prize. 

Captain  Porter,  of  the  United  States  frigate  Essex,  captured 
off  the  Grand  Bank  of  Newfoundland,  the  British  sloop  of 
war  Alert,  after  an  action  of  only  eight  minutes. 

The  militia  of  the  state  of  New  York  now  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  amounted  to  about  5,000,  and  were 
mostly  stationed  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  under  the  command 
of  C^eneral  Van  Rensselaer  whose  head-quarters  were  at 
Lewiston.  Here  operations,  which  had  they  been  earlier  set 
on  foot  might  have  saved  the  army  of  Hull,  were  at  this  time, 
without  any  good  reason,  attempted.  The  militia  being  flat- 
tered into  self-consequence  by  demagogues,  and  valiant  in 
words,  beset  their  general  for  permission  to  perform  the  bold 
deed  of  crossing  over  the  Niagara  and  invading  Canada. 

Accordingly,  on  the  11th  of  October,  General  Van  Rens- 
selaer gave  orders  for  a  detachment  to  cross,  but  the  weather 
being  tempestuous,  the  attempt  was  defeated.  In  the  evening 
of  the  12th,  the  army  was  reinforced  by  300  regidars,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Christie.  On  the  13th,  a  party 
crossed  over,  headed  by  Colonel  Solomon  Van  Rensselaer. 
The  troops  were  formed  upon  the  shore.  The  enemy  at- 
tacked them  from  a  position  which  enfiladed  their  rardvs,  cut 
down  many,  especially  officers,  and  threatened  entire  destruc- 
tion.    Colonel  Van  Rensselaer  was  wounded  severely. 

Captain  Wool,  on  whom,  as  then  senior  officer  of  the  regular 
troops,  the  command  devolved,  was  also  bleeding  with  his 
wounds.  Seeking  Van  Rensselaer,  he  represented  the  criti- 
cal situation  of  the  troops  ;  and  volunteered  for  any  service 
which  might  relieve  them.  Col.  Van  Rensselaer  directed 
the  measure  of  storming  the  British  battery  upon  the  heights. 
Wool  conducted  his  force  silently  and  circuitously,  leaving 
the  battery  to  his  right,  until  he  had  passed  it,  and  attained  an 
eminence  which  commanded  it.  The  British  abandoned 
their  position  and  retreated  down  the  heights  to  Queenstown. 

Elated  with  their  success,  the  Americans  had  fallen  into 
disorder,  when  they  again  beheld  300  of  their  foe,  advancing 
under  the  intrepid  Brock.     An  officer  raised  a  white  flag  iii 


HARRISON    COMMANDS    THE    WESTERN    ARMY.  313 

token  of  surrender ;  Wool  indignantly  pulled  it  down.     The   PART  IV. 
British  now  drove  the  Americans  to  the  brink  of  the  precipice,   period  il 
One  soldier  was  about  to  descend.      Wool  ordered  him  to  be     •^'"^p.  v. 
sliot ;  but  as  the  musket  was  leveled,  he  returned.     Thus  pro-  ^— *-n'^**->' 
bibitiug   either  surrenderor  retreat,  and  being  ably  seconded     1812. 
by  his  odicers,  he  rallied  and  led  on  his  troops  to  the  attack,  '^^^'■y  ^^  "j' 
The  British  in  their  turn,  gave  way,  and  retreated  down  the  Brock  killed 
hill.     Brock,   attempting  to  rally  them   amidst  a  galling  fire, 
was  mortally  wounded.      His  part}^  no  longer  attempted  re- 
sistance, but  fled   in  disorder.      Soon   a   scattering  fire    was 
heard  from  the  southern  side  of  the  heights.     Some  militia,     gcott^e 
attacked  by  Indians,  were  ileeirig  before  them,  and  communi-    pulses  the 
eating  their  own  panic.     Colonel  Scott,  now  in  the  field,  with      savages. 
a  few   troops,  met  and  repulsed  the  savages.     But  another 
and  more  formidable  foe  was  approaching.     General  Sheaffe,   sheaffe\p 
at  the  head  of  1 ,000  British  and  Indians  had  followed  Brock  at  pears  with  » 
a  slow  pace  from  fort  George.     The  number  of  the  Americans   ''^'^^  ^'^'^^^' 
on  the    British  shore   Avas  not  such  as  to  warrant  their  enga- 
ging these  fresh  troops  without  aid,  and  urgent  entreaties  w^ere 
sent  over  for  the  militia  yet  on  the  American  side,  to  come  to  rpj^^  militia, 
their   assistance  ;   but  they  now  declared  that  constitutional    refusing  to 
scruples  had  arisen  in  their  mnids  about  crossing  the  national  ^^^f-'^K^^^' 
boundary.      With  this  excuse  for  cowardice,  they  absolutely     tachment* 
refused  to  go  to  the  aid  of  their  brethren,  although  it  was  are  in  great 
at  their  request  that  the  invasion  was  made.  danger. 

General  Van  Rensselaer  sent  discretionary  orders  to  the 
officer  in  command  to  retreat  and  recross  the  river.  This  or- 
der it  was  impossible  to  obey,  so  deadly  was  the  fire  which 
was  opened  upon  them.  In  this  emergency,  Colonel  Scott  render^as" 
and  Captain  Totten  at  eminent  risk,  bore  a  flag  to  General  prisoners. 
Sheafle,  and  saved  the  remainder  of  the  invading  troops,  by 
surrenderhig  as  prisoners  of  war,  themselves  and  all  the 
Americans  remaining  on  the  Canada  side.  Sixty  of  the 
Americans  were  killed,  100  wounded,  and  700  made  prisoners. 

Ohio  and  Kentucky,  had  aroused  at  the  call  of  Hull  for  as-    Exertions 
sistance,   and   an   army  on   its  march  for  Detroit  was  in  the  '  troops, 
southern  part  of  Ohio,  when  the  news  met  them  of  the  sur- 
render of  that  post.     This  rather  stimulated  than  repressed  the 
ardor  of  the  brave  and  patriotic  inhabitants  of  the  west.     Ken- 
nicky  put  on  foot  7,000  volunteers,  Ohio  nearly  half  that  number. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  William  Henry  Harrison,  gov-     Sept.  24. 
ernor  of  the   Indiana  territory,   and  brigadier-general  in  the  takesTom- 
army,  wdio  possessed  more   than  any  other  man,  the  confi-  mand  of  tha 
dence  of  the  western  citizens,  was  appointed  by  congress,  to   "°^^^^^* 
the  command  of  the  whole  of  these  forces.     They  advanced 
to  the  northwestern  part  of  Ohio,  to  protect  the  country  against 
the  incursions  of  the  hostile  savages,  and  to  regain  the  ground 
lost  by  Hull's  surrender.  Sept.  4. 

In  the   meantime.  Fort  Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  was   at- 
tacked by  several  hundred  Indians.     Captain  Taylor,   with      River 
22 


em  army. 


Massacre   sU 
White 


314 


freeman's  meeting  in  camp. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.V. 


1813. 

October  2. 
Hopkins' 

expedition 
against  the 
Kickapoos. 


It  ends  with- 
out use  or 
honor;  owing 
to  insubordi- 
nation. 


Nov.  19. 

Hopkins' 
second  expe- 
dition more 
successful. 


Colonel 
Kussel. 

Colonel 

Campbell. 

Nov.  17. 


The  north- 
ern army. 


Oct.  2. 
British  at- 
tack Ogdens 
burg. 


only  fifteen  effective  men,  bravely  repelled  the  assailants 
I'he  savages,  irritated  at  their  defeat,  surprised  and  murdered 
twenty-one  persons  at  the  mouth  of  White  River. 

Governor  Shelby,  of  Kentucky,  issued  an  address,  calling 
for  an  additional  number  of  mounted  volunteers,  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  territories  of  Indiana  and  Illinois.  On  the  sec- 
ond of  October,  more  than  2,000  had  assembled  at  Vincennes, 
where  they  were  placed  under  the  command  of  General  Hop- 
kins. On  the  10th,  they  arrived  at  fort  Harrison.  Here  the 
destruction  of  the  Kickapoo  and  Peoria  towns  was  proposed. 
The  troops  approving  the  plan,  set  forward  for  its  execution. 

On  the  fourth  day,  the  army  perceived  alarming  vollies  of 
smoke  and  flame  advancing  with  the  wind.  The  Indians  had 
set  fire  to  the  long  thick  grass  of  the  prairie  over  which  they 
were  travelling.  They,  however,  saved  themselves  in  the  or- 
dinary manner  of  setting  a  back  fire. 

But  the  militia  became  mutinous,  and  a  major,  named  Sin- 
gleton, rode  up  to  the  general,  as  the  troops  were  resting,  and 
ordered  him  in  a  peremptory  manner,  to  take  up  his  line  of 
march,  and  return;  or  his  battalion  would  instantly  leave  him. 
Hopkins  called  a  council  of  his  officers,  who  agreed  to  take 
the  sense  of  the  army  as  to  the  propriety  of  returning.  The 
majority  were  in  favor  of  that  measure  ;  but  Hopkins,  who 
entirely  disapproved  the  vote,  commanded  the  troops  to  follow 
him,  promising  to  lead  them  in  one  day  more,  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  their  object.  But  they  turned  their  horses'  heads 
in  the  opposite  direction,  and  rode  towards  home,  the  general 
following  in  the  rear. 

Another  expedition,  conducted  by  the  same  officer,  was  at- 
tended with  better  success.  With  a  force  of  one  thousand 
men,  regulars  and  militia,  he  marched  from  fort  Harrison,  and, 
on  the  19th  of  November,  destroyed  the  Prophet's  town,  and 
a  Kickapoo  village,  four  miles  distant.  A  skirmish  took  place 
between  a  party  of  the  militia  and  an  ambuscade  of  Indians, 
in  which  eighteen  of  the  militia  were  killed. 

Colonel  Russel,  in  a  similar  incursion,  with  three  hundred 
regulars,  surprised  and  destroyed  a  town  called  the  Pimer- 
tams.  He  drove  the  savages  into  a  swamp,  and  killed  twenty 
of  them.  About  the  same  time.  Colonel  Campbell,  of  the 
regular  army,  with  600  men,  marched  against  the  towns  of 
the  Mississineway,  destroyed  them,  and  overawed  the  Indians. 

No  operations  of  importance  were  undertaken  by  the  north- 
ern army,  during  this  campaign.  In  September,  a  detachment 
of  militia  from  Ogdensburg,  attacked  a  party  of  the  British, 
who  were  moving  down  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  defeated  them. 
They  were  reinforced,  and.  in  their  turn,  compelled  the  militia 
to  retire.  In  retaliation,  the  British  attempted  the  destruction 
of  Ogdensburg,  but  were  repulsed  by  General  Brown,  the  en- 
ergetic commander  at  that  station. 

Major  Young,  who  commanded  a  detachment  of  the  New 


DISGRACE    ON    LAND,    HONOR    AT    SEA. 


315 


1812. 

Nov.  J 6. 
Northern  at 
my  at  Cham 

plain. 


Dec.  23. 


General 
Smyth  and 
his  abortive 

attempt. 

Gallant 

conduct  of 

Captain 

King. 


Oct.  18. 


York  Militia,  at  French  Mills,  made  an  attack  upon  the  British  PART  IV 
at  the  Iiuliaii  villarje  of  vSt.  Regis,  and  without  loss,  killed  five  period  ii. 
of  the  British,  and  took  forty  prisoners.  chap.  v. 

The  army  at  Plattshurgh  moved  towards  the  Canada  fron- 
tier, and  encamped  at  Champlain.  On  the  18th,  General 
Dearborn  took  the  command.  Soon  after.  Colonel  Pike,  with 
his  regiment,  made  an  incursion  into  the  territory  of  the  enemy 
surprised  a  party  of  British  and  Indians,  and  destroyed  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  public  stores. 

The  army  went  into  winter-quarters  at  Plattsburg  on  the 
23d  of  December. 

General  Smyth  succeeded  General  Van  Rensselaer  in  the 
command  of  the  central  army.  His  operations  added  nothing 
to  the  advantage  or  glory  of  the  American  arms.  They  con- 
sisted of  another  abortive  attempt  to  invade  Canada  after  an 
inflated  address  to  the  Canadians,  with  a  scene  of  dangerous 
riot  and  confusion  in  his  own  camp.  Captain  King,  in  the 
course  of  this  affair,  performed  a  gallant  and  successful  action, 
in  storming  a  battery  opposite  Black  Rock,  by  which  the  way 
was  opened  for  the  enterprise  in  hand,  but  there  was  not  valor 
enough  in  the  remaining  force  even  to  sustain  him,  and  having 
sent  back  part  of  his  corps,  he,  with  the  remainder,  surren- 
dered as  prisoners  of  war. 

The  American  sloop-of-w^ar  Wasp,  commanded  by  Captain 
Jones,  had  an  encounter  with  the  British  sloop-of-war  Frolic,  '^^  Wasp, 
the  British  ship  being  superior  in  weight  of  metal.  The  jones,  takes 
American  at  first  received  the  fire  of  her  enemy,  at  the  dis-  the  Frolic 
tance  of  fifty  or  sixty  yards,  but  gradually  lessening  this  dis- 
tance, she  fired  her  last  broadside  so  near,  that  her  rammers, 
while  loading,  were  shoved  against  the  side  of  the  Frolic. 
Captain  Jones  then  boarded  her,  but  he  trod  her  deck  amidst 
the  dead  and  dying,  without  finding  a  private  in  arms  to  op- 
pose him.  Three  officers  and  the  seamen  at  the  wheel  were 
all  that  were  found  alive  on  deck  Of  the  brave  crew,  con- 
sisting originally  of  one  hundred  and  twenty,  one  hundred 
were  either  killed  or  wounded.  The  Americans  had  five 
killed  and  five  wounded.  Captain  Jones^did  not  long  enjoy 
his  bloody  triumph.  Two  hours  after  the  battle,  a  British 
seventy-four,  the  Poictiers,  took  both  the  victor  and  his  prize, 
and  carried  them  into  Bermuda.  On  the  return  of  Captain 
Jones  and  his  officers,  they  were  hailed  by  their  countrymen 
with  distinguished  marks  of  honor.  His  crew  received  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars,  and  himself  the  command  of  the  Mace- 
donian frigate. 

Again  the  x\mericans  triumphed  on  the   ocean,  and  under 
circumstances  which  forced  the   English  to   the  humiliating  Decatur,  in 
concession,  which,  for  many  years  they  had  not  made,  that  y^^^^e^"J.gp 
there  existed  a  nation  which  was  their  equal  in  naval  tactics  ;     tures'the 
the  Americans,  not  satisfied  with  this,  claimed  to  be  their  supe-  Macedonian. 
riors.     The  frigate  United  States,  commanded  by  Commodore 
22* 


Is  retalten 

with  his 

prize. 


Oct.  25. 


316 


THE    FORTUNATE    FRIGATE    COMSTITUTION. 


PART  IV. 


i§13. 
Dec.  29. 
The  Consti- 
tution, Cap- 
tain Bain- 
bridgej  cap- 
tures tlie 
Java. 


Success  of 
American 
privateers. 


Americans 

mortified   by 

their  defeats 

on  land. 


The  li/itish 
by  their  fail- 
ures at  sea. 


Decatur,  encountered  the  British  frigate  Macedonian,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Garden.  When  the  two  ships  came  to 
close  action,  the  rapid  and  well-directed  fire  of  the  United 
States  swept  the  masts  and  spars  of  the  British  frigate,  and 
left  her  an  "  unmanageable  log ;"  and  her  captain  reluctantly 
ordered  the  flag  of  his  nation  to  be  furled.  When  he  offered 
his  sword,  Decatur,  with  a  magnanimity  equal  to  his  valor,  re* 
fused  to  take  it,  "  from  one  who  knew  so  well  how  to  use  it," 
but  asked  to  receive  the  friendly  grasp  of  his  hand.  The  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded,  on  the  side  of  the  Americans,  was  only 
twelve,  while  that  of  the  British  was  one  hundred  and  four. 

The  naval  campaign  closed  with  another  brilliant  victory. 
The  fortunate  Constitution,  now  commanded  by  Commodore 
Bainbridge,  descried,  off  the  coast  of  Brazil,  the  British  frig- 
ate Java,  of  forty-nine  guns,  and  four  hundred  men,  command- 
ed by  Captain  Lambert.  An  action  commenced,  and  contin- 
ued nearly  two  hours.  The  Constitution  had  nineteen  men 
killed,  and  twenty-five  wounded;  but  she  had  shot  away  the 
masts  of  the  Java,  killed  sixty  of  her  men  and  wounded  one 
hundred  and  one.  The  British  colors,  which,  after  every  spar 
was  gone,  had  been  nailed  to  the  stump  of  a  mast,  were  at 
length  torn  down,  and  the  British  lion  once  more  quailed  be- 
fore the  American  eagle. 

Nor  were  these  successes  on  the  ocean  confined  to  armed 
vessels.  The  swift-sailing  privateers,  which  issued  from 
every  American  port,  captured  vessels  of  superior  force,  and 
harassed  and  destroyed  the  enemy's  commerce.  Nearly  250 
British  vessels,  and  3,000  prisoners  were  taken  by  American 
privateers,  while  few  of  these  feH  into  the  hands  of  their 
enemies. 

In  viewing  the  results  of  the  campaign  of  1812,  we  find  on 
land  a  series  of  disgraceful  failures,  altogether  unparalleled  in 
the  history  of  America.  The  darkness  of  the  picture  is,  how- 
ever, relieved  by  occasional  flashes  of  valor.  These  failures 
were  the  more  mortifying,  because  the  superiority  of  the 
Americans  in  numbers,  over  the  small  British  force  in  Canada, 
was  known  to  be  great ;  and  it  was  confidently  expected  by 
many,  that  Canada  would  have  fallen  during  the  first  cam- 
paign. 

But  the  ill-success  of  the  Americans  on  land,  was  counter- 
balanced by  a  series  of  naval  triumphs,  equally  unexpected, 
and  more  mortifying  to  their  enemy,  than  even  their  land  de- 
feats were  to  the  United  States.  Great  Britain  regarded  hei 
superiority  at  sea  as  the  vital  part  of  her  power ;  and  the  most 
melancholy  apprehensions  were,  on  this  occasion,  indulged  by 
some  of  her  politicians,  who  predicted  "  the  total  annihilation 
in  the  breasts  of  her  seamen,  of  that  proud  confidence,  which 
had  been  so  eminently  serviceable  in  leading  them  to  victory.'* 


«)KDERS    IN    COUNCIL    REPEALED 


317 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Political  affairs. 


U.v  the  23il  of  June,  five  days  after  the  declaration  of  war, 
the  British  govcrnmenl  repealed  the  orders  in  council. 

No  sooner  had  the  United  States  declared  war  against  Grciat 
Britain,  than  Mr.  Monroe,  the  secretary  of  state,  directed  Mr. 
Russell,  charge-des-afl'aires  at  the  court  of  St.  James,  to  state 
to  the  British  government,  that  America  had  entered  upon 
this  contest  with  reluctance,  and  was  ready  to  make  peace,  as 
soon  as  the  wrongs,  of  which  she  justly  complained,  were  re- 
dressed. Mr.  Russell  was  authorized  to  negotiate  an  armis- 
tice by  sea  and  land,  on  the  condition,  that  the  orders  in  coun- 
cil should  be  repealed  ;  the  impressment  of  American  seamen 
discontinued,  and  those  already  impressed  restored  ;  and  as 
an  inducement  to  discontinue  their  practice  of  impressment, 
the  American  government  pledged  themselves,  to  pass  a  law, 
prohibiting  the  employment  of  British  seamen,  either  in  the 
public  or  commercial  service  of  the  United  States. 

These  propositions  being  made  by'  Mr.  Russell,  Lord  Cas- 
tlereagh,  the  British  minister,  on  the  29th  of  August,  commu- 
nicated to  him  their  rejection  by  his  government ;  at  the  same 
time,  informiftg  him  that  measures  had  been  taken  to  author- 
ize Sir  John  Borlase  Warren,  the  British  admiral  on  the 
American  station,  to  propose  to  the  United  States  an  immedi- 
ate and  reciprocal  cessation  of  hostilities  ;  and  in  that  event, 
to  assure  them,  that  full  effect  should  be  given  to  the  provis- 
ions for  repealing  the  orders  in  council.  On  the  subject  of 
impressment,  Lord  Castlereagh  said  the  British  government 
were  ready,  as  heretofore,  to  receive  from  the  government  of 
the  United*  States,  any  proposition  which  might  check  the 
abuse  of  the  practice,  but  they  could  not  consent  to  suspend 
the  exercise  of  a  right,  upon  which  the  naval  strength  of  the 
empire  materially  depended,  until  they  were  fully  convinced 
that  other  means  could  be  devised  and  adopted,  by  which  the 
object  to  be  obtained  by  impressment  could  be  secured. 

While  this  correspondence  was  going  on  in  England,  nego- 
tiations were  also  carried  on  in  America.  The  advantage 
which  was  taken  by  Sir  George  Provost,  of  the  intelligence, 
that  the  British  had  repealed  their  orders  in  council,  in  procu- 
ring of  (.leneral  Dearborn,  the  partial  and  temporary  armistice 
of  the  8th  of  August,  has  already  been  noticed  in  treating  of 
the  causes  of  the  misiortune  and  disgrace  of  General  Hull. 

Sir  John  Borlase  Warren,  then  on  the  Halifax  station,  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  Mr.  Monroe,  apprising  him  of  the  revoca- 
tion of  the  orders  in  council,  proposing  a  cessation  of  hostili- 


PART  IV 


1§12. 

June  26. 

American 
government 
make  ovei 

tures  for 
peace. 


Views  oJ 

Lord  Castle 

reagh,   tht 

British  mil 

istry. 


Advantage 

gained  over 

General 

Dearborn. 


Sept.  30. 

Sir  J.  B 
Warren  ap- 
prises the 
j,ovemment. 
of  the  repeai 
of  the  orders. 


518  THE    STATE    OF    PARTIES. 

ties,  and  threatening,  in  case  of  a  refusal,  that  the  obnoxioua 
orders  shoidd  be  revived. 

The  American  government  had,   in   the    meantime,  been 
made  acquainted  with  the  failure  of  Mr.  Russell's  negotia- 
tion ;    and   Mr.   Monroe   replied  to   Sir  J.  B.   Warren,   that 
x\merica  could  not  hope  for  a  durable  peace,  until  the  question 
of  impressment  was  settled.     "  The  claim  of  the  British  gov- 
ernment,"  says   Mr.    Monroe,  "  is  to  take  from  the  merchant 
1§12.     vessels  of  other  countries,  British  subjects.     In  the  practice, 
The  Allien-  the  commanders  of  the  British  ships  of  war  often  take  from 
menn-efuses  ^^^^  merchant  vessels  of  the  United  States,  American  citizens, 
to  waive  the  If  the   United  States    forbid  the  employment  of  British  sub- 
^im^^^ess-    i^^^^  ii^  their   service,  and  enforce  the  prohibition  by  suitable 
ment.       regulations  and  penalties,  the  motive  for  the  practice  is  taken 
away.     It  is  in  this  mode  that  the  president  is  willing  to  ac- 
commodate this  important   controversey  with  the  British  gov- 
ernment, and  it  cannot  be  conceived  on  what  ground   the   ar- 
rangement can  be  refused.     He  is  willing  that  Great  Britain 
should  be  secured  against  the  evils  of  which  she  complains  ; 
but  he  seeks,  on  the  other  hand,  that  the  citizens  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  should  be  protected  against  a  practice,  which,  while 
it  degrades  the   nation,  deprives  them  of  their  rights  as  free- 
men, takes  them  by  force  from  their  families  and  country  into 
a  foreign  service,  to  fight  the  battles  of  a  foreign  power,  per- 
haps, against  their  own  kindred  and  country."     The  British 
admiral  having  no  powers  to  enter  on  the  question  of  impress- 
ment, nothing  further  remained  to  America,  but  to  exchange 
the  pen  of  the  negotiator,  for  the  sword  of  the  warrior. 

The  warmth  of  party  feeling  had  increased  throughout  the 
Union.  Notwithstanding  bravery  had  been  exhibited  by  indi- 
vidual officers  and  soldiers,  still  the  army  had  failed  in  the 
accomplishment  of  any  important  object.  The  enemies  of 
the  administration  declared,  that  the  ill-success  of  the  war 
ty  feelin^!'  "^^^  owing  to  the  inefficient  measures  of  the  government  in 
providing  means  for  its  prosecution ;  while  its  friends  attribu- 
ted the  failure  to  the  interference  of  the  opposite  party.  Both 
were  right  in  degree  ;  as  the  government,  inexperienced  in 
providing  for  the  exigencies  of  war,  had  doubtless  failed  of 
making  judicious  and  seasonable  provisions.  But  all  its  diffi- 
culties were  increased  by  an  ungenerous  and  almost  treason- 
able opposition.  Had  the  expectations  which,  previous  to  the 
war,  were  generally  entertained  with  regard  to  the  efficiency 
of  the  militia  system,  been  realized,  and  had  the  affiiirs  of  the 
army  been  managed  well  by  the  agents  of  government,  its 
provisions,  notwithstanding  the  inveteracy  of  its  opponents 
would  have  been  suffiicient  to  produce  very  different  results 
from  those  actually  experienced. 

'['he  most  alarming  opposition  to  the  national  government, 
was  not,  however,  that  arising  from  mere  individual  clamor. 
Tlie  states  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  had  been  offi- 


CONOUESS    MAKE    PROVISION    FOR    THE    WAR.  319 

ciaJly  requested,   by  the    president,  to  furnish  detachments  of  PA  RT  IV. 
their  militia,  and  place  them  under  General  Dearborn,  for  the    i'khiod  ii. 
defense  of  the  maritime  frontier.     The  constitution  gives  to 
congress,  power  to   demand  the   services  of  the  militia  "  for 
the  execution  of  the  laws,  the   suppression   of  insurrections, 
and  the  repelling  of  invasions  ;"  and  also  declares,  "  that  the 
president  shall  be   commander-in-chief  of  the  militia   of  the 
several  states,   when   called  into   the  service  of  the  United 
States."     The  refusal  to  furnish  the  required  detachments,  iitia  oif  their 
was  on  the  ground  that  the  state  governments  ought  to  de-  ^^"*J:^  ^^  ^^^ 
termine  when  the  exigencies  of  the  nation  require  the  ser-   gJiieralgo^ 
vices  of  their  militia.     They  also  decided  that  it  was  uncon-    vemment 
stitutional  for  the  president  to  delegate  his  power  to  any  offi- 
cer, not  of  the  militia,  and  who  was   not  chosen   by  the  re- 
spective states.     This   construction  of  the   constitution,  was 
favored  by  the  decision  of  the  supreme   court  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  as,  in  their  opinion,  exigencies  did  not  exist  which 
required  the   service  of  the  militia,  they  refused  to  obey  the 
call  of  the  president.     The  sea-coast  of  these  states,  and,  al- 
so, of  Rhode  Island,  which  state   subsequently   adopted  the 
same  views,  was  thus  deprived  of  an  important  means  of  de- 
fense ;  and  public  feeling  was  agitated  with  apprehensions  of 
a  civil,  as  well  as  a  foreign  war. 

It  was  probably  owing  to  the  disapprobation  which  these 
measures  of   the    opposition    excited,   that,    notwithstanding 
the   ill-success  of  the   army,  the   result  of  the  election  of 
president,  was  not  only  favorable  to  Mr.  Madison,  but  showed 
a  diminution  of  the  federal,  and  an  increase  of  the  republi-     ^ov.  4. 
can  party.     Congress   assembled  on   the   fourth  of  Novem-     ^gemble  ** 
her,  after  an  unusually  short  recess.  The  increase  of  the  army 
and  navy  early  occupied  their  attention.     As  a  greater  in- 
ducement to  enlist,  an  act  was  passed,  by  which  an  addition 
of  two  dollars  per  month  was  made  to   the  pay   of  the  non-     ,-        . 
commissioned  officers  and  privates,  and  by  which  they  were  An  act  to  en 
exempted  from  arrest  for  debts  contracted  either  before  or  af-  courage  en- 
ter enlistment.     By  another  act  twenty-five  dollars  were  giv-      ^s^^^^"^- 
en,  in   addition  to  the  existing  bounty,  to  each  recruit  who 
would  enlist  for  five  years. 

Bills  passed  congress  in  the  early  part  of  the  session,  au- 
thorizing the  construction  of  four  ships,  carrying  each  seventy-  The'^navy  m- 
four  guns,  and  six  frigates  each  of  forty-four  guns,  and  another     creased, 
providing  for  the  increase  of  the  navy  on  the  lakes.     The 
military  force  was  to  be  increased  by  such  a  number  of  regi-     ?^-*^|^* 
ments  of  infantry,  not  exceeding  twenty,  as  the  service  might   ThT  army 
require.     As  but  little  benefit  had  resulted  from  the  employ-    increased, 
ment   of  volunteers,  the  law  was  repealed  which   authorized 
their  acceptance. 

On  the  26th,  a  bill  passed,  authorizing  a  loan  of  sixteen  .Tan.  26. 
millions  of  dollars,  for  the  year  1813,  and  the  following  day,  J^^^TaLT^ 
another  was  passed,   giving  to  the  president  power  to  issue      money. 


320 


LOCATIONS    OF    THE    ARMIES. 


1813. 

Jan.  29. 


Feb.  13. 
Twelve 
generals  ap- 
pointed. 

Madison  re- 
elected pres- 
ident. 


-reasury  notes,  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  five  millions  of 
dollars. 

On  the  29th,  congress  passed  a  law,  declaring  that  no  sea- 
men should  be  employed  in  American  vessels,  but  native  cit- 
izens of  the  United  States,  or  those  who  had  become  natural- 
ized. This  law  was  to  be  carried  into  effect  at  the  close  of 
the  war. 

The  regular  force  of  the  United  ^States  now  amounted  to 
nearly  fifty-five  thousand  men.  An  act  was  passed,  by  which, 
in  addition  to  the  officers  of  an  inferior  grade,  six  major-gen- 
erals and  six  brigadiers  were  appointed. 

On  counting  the  votes,  it  was  found  that  James  Madison 
had  been  re-elected  president,  and  Elbridge  Gerry  chosen 
vice  president,  for  the  ensuing  term  of  four  years. 


CHAPTER   VII 

Campaign  of  1813. 


Arrange- 
ment of  the 
three  Ameri- 
can armies. 


Plan  of  the 
campaign. 


British  com- 
manders and 
arrange- 
ments. 


General 
Harrison  di- 
rides  his  ar- 
my. 

JVinchestei.' 

at  French 

to-ATi. 


Jan.  22. 

Battle  ot 

Frenchtown. 


The  scene  of  military  operations,  during  the  year  1813, 
comprehended  the  extensive  northern  frontier  of  the  United 
States.  At  the  opening  of  the  campaign,  the  army  of  the 
west,  under  General  Harrison,  was  near  the  head  of  lake 
Erie ;  the  army  of  the  centre,  under  General  Dearborn,  be- 
tween the  lakes  Erie  and  Ontario  ;  while  that  of  the  north, 
under  General  Hampton,  occupied  the  shores  of  lake  Cham- 
plain.  The  invasion  of  Canada  was  still  the  object  of  the 
American  armies. 

The  force  which  Sir  George  Prevost  governor  of  Canada, 
could  bring  into  the  field,  was  comparatively  small.  The  de- 
fense of  Upper  Canada  was  committed  to  colonels  Proctor 
and  Vincent,  while  that  of  Lower  Canada  was  given  to  Gen- 
eral Sheaffe,  who  was,  however,  to  act  under  the  more  im- 
mediate direction  of  the  governor. 

The  head-quarters  of  General  Harrison  were,  at  this  time, 
at  Franklinton,  in  Ohio.  General  Winchester  had  proceeded 
in  advance  of  the  main  army,  and  hearing  that  a  party  of  the 
British  were  stationed  at  Frenchtown,  he  attacked  and  dis- 
persed them.  He  remained  at  Frenchtown  with  a  part  of  his 
troops  encamped  in  the  open  field,  the  remainder  being  de- 
fended by  a  breastwork. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  he  was  surprised  by  the  com- 
bined force  of  British  and  Indians,  under  the  command  of 
Proctor,  aided  by  the  Indian  chiefs,  Roundhead  and  Split-log. 
That  part  of  the  American  army  which  encamped  in  the  open 
field  were  soon  thrown  into  disorder.  Generals  Winchester 
and  Lewis,  in  a  vain   attempt,  to  rally  them  were   taken  pris- 


FRENCHTOWN. FORT   MEIGS.  321 

oners.     The  remaining  American  troops,  however,  continued  PART  IV. 
fighting  with  intrepidity,   until   they  received   an  order  from  fEuioD  ii. 
Winchester  to  surrender.     He  w^as  a  prisoner,  and   not   in   ^"^''-  "*^"- 
command,  but  he  had  presumed  to   send   this  mandate,  his  ^-^"'^-^^'^'^ 
fears  having  been  artfully  excited  by  Proctor,  who  threatened  ^  1813. 
that  if  the   men  did  not  surrender  he  could  not  defend  them     pj!)5j!f^7^^ 
from  the  savages.     They  unhappily  laid  down  their  arms,  but 
Proctor  did  not  afford  them  the  protection  which  he  promised. 
He  marched   for  Maiden,  leaving  behind  him  and  without  a 
guard,  the  helpless  prisoners,  many  of  whom  were  wounded. 
The   merciless   savages   soon  returned,  set  fire  to  the  town,  .,'^^"-  ^• 
dragged   the   wounded  from  the  houses,  scalped  them  in  the  Freetown, 
streets,   and   left  their  mangled  bodies  in  the  highway.     In     k.  522. 
this    melancholy    affair    the    Americans    lost    in    killed    and 
wounded  about  five  hundred  ;  and  an  equal  number  were  made 
prisoners   of  war.     They  were   principally   volunteers   from 
the   most   respectable   families  of  Kentucky,   and  thus,  this 
bloody  day  clothed  that  state  in  mourning.      The  loss  of  the 
British,  as  stated  by  Colonel  Proctor,  was  twenty-four  killed, 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  wounded. 

General   Harrison  now  removed  his  head-quarters    from 
Franklinton,  to    the   rapids  of  the   Maumee,  where  he  built 
a  fort  named,  in  honorof  the  governor  of  Ohio,  Fort  Meigs.      May  i. 
He  was  here  besieged  on  the  first  of  May,  by  Colonel,  now  ^j°'^'^J^J?' 
General  Proctor,  with  a  force  of  1,000  regulars  and  militia,  ° 

and  1,200  Indians.     The  American  army,  occupying  a  com- 
manding position,  and  strongly  entrenched,  resisted  the  efforts 
of  the  besiegers.      Their  fate,  however,  hung  in  suspense,      jyfjjy  5 
when,  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  an  officer  arrivinij  at  the  fort,     General 
announced  the  w^elcome  intelligence  that  General  Clay,  with  ccs^olts^ 
1,200  Kentuckians,   w^as  descending  the  Miami,  and  at  that        lief. 
moment  but  a  few  miles  distant. 

Conceiving  that  the  British  army  was  now  in  his  power, 
Harrison  sent  orders  to  land  one  half  of  the  advancing  troops 
on  the  side  of  the  river  opposite  to  the  fort,  to  co-operate  with     Colonel 
him  in  forcing  the  British  batteries.     Colonel  Dudley,  with  a     Dudley's 
party  of  800,  was  charged  with  this  service  ;  and  he  perform-  ij-felJiiar'^a, 
ed  it  with  so  much  spirit,  that,  in  a  few  minutes,  he  was  in     dor,  and 
possession  of  the  batteries  of  Proctor,  and  had  taken  several  melancholy 
prisoners  ;  but  his  troops,  unduly  elated,  pursued  the  British 
until  they  were  drawn  into  an  ambuscade,  prepared  for  them 
by  the  subtle  Tecumseh.     Dudley  strove  in  vain  to  rescue  his 
troops.      Being  mortally  wounded,  he  still  kept  the  field,  and 
killed  an  Indian  warrior  before  he  fell ;  but  the  whole  party, 
except  150,  were  cut  off. 

In  the  meantime,  the  sortie  from  the  fort  was  well  conduct- 
ed by  Colonel  John  Miller.     It  brought  on  a  general  engage- 
ment, in  which  the  British  were  defeated.     The  Indian  war- 
riors, either  displeased  at  a  want  of  success,  or  desirous  to  pj^g.^^  ^ 
display  trophies  already  gained,  and  to  gratify  their  thirst  for      featftd. 


322  GALLANT  DEFENSE  OF  FORT  STEPHENSON. 

PART  lY.  blood  by  the  immolation  of  some  of  their  captives,  now  with- 
PERioD  II.  drew  from  the  army  of  Proctor,  notwithstanding  the  entreaties 
CHAP.  VII.  of  Teciimseh,  himself  ever  faithful  to  the  cause  he  espoused. 
'^^^^'^^■^'*>^  Thus  situated,  Proctor,  on  the  9th  of  May,  raised  the  siege 
1813.  of  Fort  Meigs,  and  retreated  to  Maiden.  General  Harrison 
-,.  ^lay?-      returned  to  Ohio,  leaving  General  Clay  in  command. 

In  July,  the  Six  Nations  declared  war  against  the  Canadas. 
ix  Nations  About  the  same  time,  the  United  States  accepted  the  services 
declare  war  of  some  of  the  Other  tribes.      The  government,  at  the  com- 
*^^^ada.  ^"'  mencement  of  the  war,  deprecating  the  policy  of  employing 
savage   allies,  and,  justly  considering  the  power  which  em- 
ployed them  as  responsible  for  their  known  barbarities,  had 
refused  the  services  of  such  as  had  offered,  and  had  uniformly 
advised  them  to  remain  neutral.     This  advice  had  in  many 
cases  given  offense,  being  construed  as  implying  a  disrespect 
of  their  valor.     It  had  been  found  that  such  was  their  fondness 
for  war,  that  the  only  alternative  for  the  administration  was  to 
receive  their  hostile  efforts  upon  the  heads  of  their  own  in- 
habitants,  or  turn  them  upon  the  enemy's ;  who,  having  first 
employed  thern,  the  law  of  retaliation  now  fully  authorized 
the  American  government  to  do  the  same.     The  Indians,  al- 
lied with  the  British,  had  committed  depredations  on  those 
friendly  to    the   Americans,  and  on  this  account  they  now 
considered  themselves  a  party  in  the  warfare.     From  these  rea- 
sons, the   Americans   at  length  consented  that  they  should 
"  take  hold  of  the  sam.e  tomahawk,"  and  make  common  cause 
with  them. 
Fort°Ste-         ^^  ^^^  20th  of  July,  Proctor,  having  again  collected  about 
phensonbe-  500  of  his  Indian  allies,  with  about  as  many  regulars,  marched 
'iWorr^-"^  against  Fort  Stephenson,  on  the  Sandusky  river.     On  the  1st 
pulsed  by    of  August,  he  invested  it,  and  demanded  a  surrender.     Major 
oang  Cro-   Croghan,  a  gallant  youth  of  twenty-one,  with  a  garrison  of  160 
^  ^'        men,  took  the  resolution  of  defending  the  fort  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity, notwithstanding  the  threat,  which  in  former  instances 
had  been  found  so  potent,  that  after  the  contest  had  commen- 
ced, the  Indians  could  not  be  restrained.     By  his  judicious 
measures,  and  the  courage  and  promptness  of  his  officers  and 
men.  Proctor  was  repulsed  v/ith  aloss  of  1 50  ;  the  Americans 
losing  only  one  killed  and  seven  wounded. 

Proctor,  completely  foiled,  returned  to  Maiden ;  and  no 
military  operation  of  consequence  was  undertaken,  until  the 
Americans,  having  command  of  the  lakes,  were  able  to  act 
offensively. 


AMERICANS    TAKE    YORK. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


Campaign  of  1813,  continued. 

We  now  go  back  several  months,  to  give  a  view  of  the 
warlike  operations  on  the  New  York  frontier. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  1812,  Captain  Elliot,  with  100  men, 
embarked  in  two  boats,  crossed  the  Niagara  from  Black  Kock, 
and  took  two  British  brigs  from  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Erie. 
One  was  burned,  the  other  added  to  the  x\merican  naval  force. 

Early  in  February,  Major  Forsyth,  an  enterprising  partisan 
officer,  who  commanded  some  American  troops  stationed  at 
Ogdensburg,  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence  with  a  party  of  his  ri- 
flemen and  some  volunteers,  surprised  the  guard  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  and  took  fifty-two  prisoners,  together  with  a  quantity  of 
arms  and  ammunition. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  Sir  George  Prevost,  M^ho  had  re- 
cently arrived  at  Prescott,  directed  an  attack  upon  Ogdensburg, 
which  was  made  on  the  same  night,  by  a  corps  of  500  regu- 
lars and  militia,  under  Major  Macdonnal.  The  Americans, 
much  inferior  in  mimbers,  were  compelled  to  retire,  and  aban- 
don their  artillery  and  stores  to  the  British.  Two  schooners, 
two  gimboats,  together  with  the  barracks,  were  committed  to 
the  flames. 

Pursuant  to  the  law  passed  by  congress,  early  eflxjrts  were 
made  to  build  and  equip  fleets  upon  the  lakes.  The  preced- 
ing year,  the  Americans  did  not  possess  a  single  armed  vessel 
on  Lake  Ontario,  save  the  brig  Oneida,  of  sixteen  guns. 
Commodore  Chauncey,  the  naval  commander  on  that  station, 
by  great  exertions,  had  made  ready  a  flotilla  for  that  lake,  to 
aid  in  the  operations  of  the  coming  campaign. 

The  first  important  service  of  the  flotilla,  was  that  of  trans- 
porting the  army  from  Sackett's  Harbor  to  York,  the  capital 
of  Upper  Canada ;  the  advice  of  General  Pike,  a  much  val- 
ued officer,  having  determined  General  Dearborn  to  make  a 
lescent  upon  that  place.  He  embarked  with  1,700  men,  and 
arrived  on  the  27th  of  April.  The  British  force  was  under 
the  command  of  General  Sheafle,  and  consisted  of  400  regu- 
lars and  500  militia  and  Indians.  These  were  drawn  up  to 
oppose  the  landing  at  the  place  of  debarkation,  a  mile  and  a 
half  from  the  fort.  Major  Forsyth  was  first  on  shore,  and 
General  Pike,  who  commanded,  soon  followed  with  the  troops. 
After  a  severe  contest  of  half  an  hour,  the  enemy  retreated. 
The  Americans  formed,  advancing  in  columns.  They  had 
destroyed  one  of  the  batteries,  and  were  within  sixty  yards 
of  the  enemy's  works,  when  a  magazine  exploding  at  two 
hundred  yards'  distance,  filled  the  air,  in  every  direction,  with 


PART  IV. 

PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.   VIII. 


1813 

Februaiy 
Major  Foi 

syth  at 
Elizabeth 

town 


Feb.  22. 
British  de- 
stroy stores 
and  shipping 
at  Ogd  ens- 
burs. 


April. 

Commodore 

Chauncey 

has  a  flotilk 

on  Lake  On 


April  25. 
Dearborn 
sails   fron-i 
Sackett's 
Harbor. 


April  27. 
American 
army  lands 

at  York, 

Upper  Cana 

da. 


324 


FORTS    GEORGE    AND    ERIE. 


rART  IV. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.  VIII. 


1813. 

Death  o. 
Pike. 


British  loss. 


May  8 


Genera. 

Dearborn   at 

Niagara. 


May  21. 
Fort  George 
Burrenders 
to  the  Ameri- 
cans. 


May  23. 
Foit  Erie. 


Sackett's 
Harljor  at- 
tacked. 


Defended  by 
Genera' 
Brown. 


huge  stones  and  fragments  of  wood,  which  falling,  caused 
dreadful  havoc.  One  hundred  of  the  Americans,  and  forty  of 
the  British  were  killed.  General  Pike  himself  fell,  mortally 
wounded :  but  the  battle  had  been  won,  and  but  for  the  death 
of  Pike,  the  garrison  would  have  been  taken.  General  Sheafle 
took  advantage  of  the  confusion,  and  with  the  British  regulars 
retreated  towards  Kino-ston,  leaving  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  militia  to  make  the  best  terms  in  his  power. 

The  Americans  proceeded,  under  Colonel  Pearce,  to  take 
possession  of  the  enemy's  barracks,  and  of  the  town.  The 
brave  Pike  survived  his  wounds  but  a  few  hours  ;  but  like 
Wolfe  at  Quebec,  he  drew  his  last  breath  amidst  the  cheering 
shouts  of  victory,  his  head  reposing  upon  the  banner  of  the 
conquered  foi'tress 

The  loss  of  the  British  was  90  killed,  200  wounded,  and 
300  prisoners,  besides  500  militia  released  upon  parole.  A 
quantity  of  stores,  with  General  Sheaffe's  baggage  and  papers, 
also  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  In  the  legislative 
chamber,  was  found  the  disgraceful  trophy  of  a  human  scalp, 
occupying  the  same  place  with  the  emblems  of  royal  au- 
thority. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  General  Dearborn  evacuated  York,  and, 
having  re-crossed  the  lake  for  the  purpose  of  leaving  the 
wounded  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  again  set  sail,  and  disembarked 
his  troops  at  Niagara. 

The  army  at  Niagara  having  been  reinforced,  General 
Dearborn  re-embarked,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of 
May,  proceeded  to  attack  Fort  George.  The  landing  was 
warmly  disputed  by  the  troops  under  Colonel  Vincent,  but  the 
coolness  and  intrepidity  of  the  Americans,  led  on  by  General 
Boyd,  with  the  judicious  arrangements  for  silencing  the  ene- 
my's batteries,  executed  by  Commodore  Chauncey,  soon  com- 
pelled the  British  to  retreat.  Colonel  Vincent,  perceiving 
that  the  fort  would  soon  become  untenable,  set  fire  to  his  mag- 
azine, spiked  his  guns,  and  abandoned  the  place,  not.  however, 
until  he  had  sustained  a  loss  of  300  men.  The  loss  of  the 
Americans  was  seventeen  killed,  and  forty-five  wounded. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Preston  took  possession  of  Fort  Erie  on 
the  28th,  it  having  been  previously  abandoned  by  the  British, 
and  the  fort  blown  up. 

Sir  George  Prevost,  having  learned  that  General  Dearborn 
had  left  the  naval  stores  at  Sackett's  Harbor  with  a  weak 
garrison,  dispatched  Commodore  Yeo,  the  commander  of  the 
British  fleet  on  Lake  Ontario,  to  sieze  them.  He  embarked 
at  Kingston  on  the  27th  of  May,  reached  the  place  of  his  dos 
tination  on  the  28th,  and  landed  1,200  men.  He  was  repul- 
sed by  the  militia,  under  General  Brown,  whose  conduct  on 
that  occasion,  brought  full  before  the  public,  his  uncommon 
military  talents. 

After  the  fall  of  forts  George   and  Erie,  Colonel  St.  Vin- 


VICTORY. 


tA 


ent  had  retired,  with  his  army,  to  Burlington  Heights,  near  PART  IV. 
he  head  of  J.ake  Ontario.      lie  was  pursued  by  a  force  which  peiiiod  it 
General  Dearborn  had  detached  for  the  purpose,  under  gene-  chap,  viil 
ruls  Chandler  and  Winder.      Colonel  St.  Vincent  having  re-  ^--"^v^^y 
connoitered  their  position,  at  dead  of  night  stole  upon  them,     1§13. 
^nd  attacked  the  camp.      A  scene  of  confusion  and  carnage     ^^^^^rof 
ensued,  iu  which  the  Americans  could  not  distinguish  friend      Crcek. 
from  foe.     General  Chandler  approached  to  rally  a  party,  but 
they  proved  to  be  British  troops,  who  immediately  secured  him    chandler 
as  their  prisoner.     General  Winder  shared,  by  a  like  mistake,  and  Wind« 
a  similar  fate.      The  Americans,  however,  maintained  their    P"^''"^'"*- 
post,  and  forced  the  enemy  to  retire.     The  loss  of  the  British 
exceeded  that  of  the  Americans,    and   was   more   than  one 
hundred. 

Colonel  Burns,  on  whom  the  command  of  the  American  Colonei 
force  now  devolved,  finding  himself  in  an  embarrassing  situa-  Bum». 
tion,  from  the  capture  of  the  two  general  i  and  the  failure  of 
ammunition,  retreated  to  Forty-mile  Run.  About  this  time, 
General  Dearborn  received  orders  to  retire  from  the  direction 
of  the  northern  army,  until  his  health  should  be  restored  ;  and 
the  command  at  Fort  George  devolved  on  General  Boyd. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  Colonel  Bcerstler  received  orders  from 
General  Boyd,  to  disperse  a  body  of  the   enemy,  which  that  .  _  .     . 
general  had  iDeen  informed,  had  collected  near  the  Beaver  Dams.      Bearer 
The  Americans  were  attacked  by  a  force  much  exceeding  their      Dams. 
own.      Bcerstler  surrendered  his   detachment,   amounting  to 
570  men 

The  autumn  of  this  year  witnessed  the  novel  scene  ot  a  Sept.  lo. 
battle,  on  one  of  those  inland  seas  which  separate  the  posses-  t^jT^i^^i^^ 
sions  of  the  contending  parties.  The  American  fleet  on  Lake  Erie 
Erie,  which  had  been  formed  during  the  last  summer  was 
under  the  command  of  Commodore  Oliver  Hazard  Perry.  It 
now  consisted  of  the  Niagara  and  Lawrence,  each  mounting 
twenty-five  guns,  and  several  smaller  vessels,  carrying,  on  an 
average,  two  guns  each.  The  enemy's  fleet  was  considered 
of  equal  force.  Commodore  Barclay,  its  commander,  was  a 
veteran  officer,  while  Perry  was  young,  and  without  experi- 
ence as  a  commander.  The  battle  began,  on  the  part  of  the 
Americans,  about  12  o'clock.  Perry's  flag-ship,  the  Law- 
rence, being  disabled,  he  embarked  in  an  open  boat,  and 
amidst  a  shower  of  bullets,  carried  the  ensign  of  command  on 
board  the  Niagara,  and  once  more  bore  down  upon  the  enemy 
with  the  remainder  of  his  fleet.  The  action  became  general 
and  severe  ;  and  at  four  o'clock,  the  whole  British  squadron, 
consisting  of  six  vessels,  carrying  in  all  sixty-three  guns, 
smrendered  to  the  Americans.     In  giving  information  of  his  ^ 

victory  to  General  Harrison,  Perry  wrote,  "  We  have  met  the     Hamson 
enemy,  and  they  are  ours."  takes  pos- 

This  success  on  lake  Erie  opened  a  passage  to  the  territory  jyj^fjg"'^  °^ 
wnich  had  been  surrendered  by  General  Hull ;    and  General     De>tr»i* 
23 


Proctor 
evacuates 


526  BATTLE    OF    THlC    THAMES. 

Harrison  lost  no  time  in  transferring  the  war  thither.  On  the 
23d  of  September,  he  landed  his  troops  near  fort  Maiden,  but 
to  his  surprise,  instead  of  an  armed  force,  he  met,  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  town,  the  maids  and  matrons  of  Amhorstburg, 
who  in  their  best  attire,  had  come  forth  to  solicit  the  protec 
tion  of  the  Americans. 

General  Proctor,  despite  the  spirited  remonstrance  of  Te« 
cumseh,  an  abler  man  than  himself,  and  now  a  general  in  the 
British  army,  had  evacuated  Maiden,  burnt  the  fort  and  store- 
Maiden,     houses,  and  retreated  before  his  enemy.     The  x\mericans,  on 
the  29th,  went  in  pursuit,   entered,  and  repossessed  Detroit. 
Proctor  had  retired  to  the  Moravian  village -on  the  Thames, 
about  eighty  miles  from  that  place.     His  army  of  2,000,  was 
more  than   half  Indians.     Harrison  overtook  him  on  the  5th 
of  October.     The  British  army,  although  inferior  in  numbers. 
Is  attacked  had   the   advantage  of   choosing  their  ground.     They   were 
by  Harrison  strongly  posted ;  their  left  rested  on  the  Thames,   and    was 
Thames      defended  by  artillery  ;  their  right  extended  to  a  swamp,  which 
ran  parallel  to  the  river,  and  was  supported  by  the  brave  Te* 
cumseh  and  his  warriors,  who  were  stationed  in  a  thick  wood 
which  skirted  the   morass.     Proctor  had,   however,   left  his 
centre  weak,   and   it  was  therefore  full  upon  the  centre,  that 
General  Harrison,   placing   great   reliance   on   Colonel  John- 
son's mounted  Kentuckians,  ordered  them  to  charge.     They 
advanced  valiantly,  but  their  horses  unused  to  such  perilous 
service,  failed  to  penetrate  the  British  lines.     The  horsemen 
did  not  suffer  themselves  to  be  thrown  back  upon  the  advan- 
cing army,  but  wheeled  to  right  and  left,  and  made  a  second 
charge  with  such  impetuosity,  that  in  a  single  minute  of  time, 
the  fate  of  the  day  was  decided.     The  venerable  Governor 
Shelby   with   his    militia,  was  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray. 
1813.     Colonel  Johnson  had  led  his  battalion   against  the  Indians, 
^amltlf  Ind  ™^^®^  Tecumseh  ;  and  in  the  heat  of  the  battle  the  chief  fell, 
defeat  of  the  bravely    fighting.      His    warriors    fled.      Proctor,    dismayed, 
British,      meanly  deserted  his   army,   and  fled  with  two  hundred  dra- 
goons.    Six  hundred  of  the  British   were   made   prisoners. 
The  Indians  left  one  hundred  and  twenty  dead  upon  the  field. 
The  American   loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  upwards  of 
fifty.     Among  the  trophies  of  the  victory,  were  six  brass  field- 
pieces,  which  had  been  given  up  by  Hull  ;  on  two  ol  which 
were   inscribed  the   words,    "  surrendered  by  Burgoyne,   at 
Saratoga." 

The  Indian  confederacy,  in  which  were  still  3,000  warriors, 
had  lost  with  Tecumseh  their  bond  of  union  ;  and  the  Ottawas, 
Indians  Chippewas,  Miamis,  and  Pottawattamies,  now  sent  deputies 
ma  e  peace.  ^^  Qe^eral  Harrison,  and  made  treaties  of  alliance,  agreeing 
"  to  take  hold  of  the  same  tomahawk  with  the  Americans,  and 
strike  at  all  the  enemies  of  the  United  States,  whether  they 
be  British  or  Indian." 

General  Harrison,  having  more  than  regained  the  ground 


BARBARIAN    WARFARE.  327 

lost  by  Hull,  left  General  Cass  in  command  at  Dctroic,  and  PART  IV. 
embarked  for  Buffalo.  The  Kentucky  infantry,  on  iheir  march  TEiiTo^ 
homeward,  collected  the  bleaching  bones  of  their  country-  chap.  ix. 
men,  massacred  at  Frenchtown,  and  mournfully  deposited  ^^-v^^ 
them  m  one  common  grave. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  year,  the  bays  of  Chesapeake  and 
Delaware  were   declared  by  the  British  govenmicnt  to  be  in    Delaware 
a  state  of  blockade.     To  enforce  this  edict,  Admiral  Warren  ^"^  Chesa-. 
was  stationed    off  the    American    coast,    and    Rear  Admiral  "l^^^ 
Cockhurn  was  sent  up  the  Chesapeake,  "to  make  the  inhab- 
tants  and  the  govermnent"  says  a  British  historian,  "sensi- 
ble of  the  danger  of  arousing  the  British  nation."     A  squad- 
ron, under  Admiral  Beresford,  also  entered  the  Delaware   and      April  lo. 
on  the  10th  of  April,  proceeded  to  Lewistown.     The  British  ^"•'^^.'^^^^h' 
demanded  provisions  of  the  inhabitants,  which  being  refused,  LewLtwll 
they  attacked  the  village,  and  after  bombarding  it  for  several 
days,  they  were  compelled  to  retire. 

Admiral  Cockbiirn  made  his  name  odious  by  his  disgrace-     Admiral 
ful   behavior   m  the   Chesapeake.      He    took   possession   of  Cockbunu 
several  small  islands  in  the  bay,   and  from  these  made  de- ^  C*"^ 
scents  upon  the  neighboring  shores.     Frenchtown,  Havre  de 
Grace,  Fredericktown,  Hampton  and  Georgetown,  were  suc- 
cessively the  scenes  of  a  warfare,  of  which  savages  would 
have  been  ashamed. 

Cockburn,  now  joined  by  Sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  meditated 
an  attack  on  Norfolk      To  destroy  the  defenses  on  Craney's    Attack  on 
island,  they  made  a  descent  v/ith  4,000  troops.     But   10  000     Craney'a 
of  the  Virginia  militia  had  collected  from  among  an  outraged      ^''''''' 
people,   and  the  marauders  were  glad  to  make  good  their  re- 
treat. ^ 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Northern  arniy.— Naval  affairs. 

The  squadron  of  Commodore  Chauncey,  on  Lake  Ontario       n 
was   superior  in  force,   but  inferior  in  sailing,  to  that  of  Si^    cSlL 
James    \  eo    and  hence  he  could  not  bring  him  to  adecisive    ^'aptures  a 
engagement.     He  however,  encountered  a  fleet  of  seven  sail      '''  ^,"^''^ 
bnuna  for  Kingston,  whh  troops  and  provisions,  five  of  which  Lakeo"ta° 
(16  captured.  rio. 

General  Wilkinson,  who  had  commanded  on  the  Mississippi       ,      ^n 
was  this  year  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  army  of  the     GefeS 
centre.     He  did  not  arrive  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  till  late  in  the    Wilkinson 
season.     He  immediately  prepared  to   attempt  the  reduction  ,S%T?he 
of  Canada,  by  attacking  Montreal.     After  much   delay,   tlie  "mraUr 
troops  from  Fort  George  and  Sackett^s  Harbor  proceeded  down        "'^- 


328 


NORTHERN    ARMY INEFFECTUAL    OPERATIONS. 


PART  III. 
PERIOD  II. 
CHAP.    IX. 


1813. 

Nov.  11. 
Americans 
defeated  ai 

Williams 
burg. 


Great  prepa- 
rations to  no 
etfect. 

Armj^  in 

wiiiter-qnar- 

teis. 

General 
Hampton 


m  winter- 
quarters  at 
Flattsbufg. 


Dec.  10. 

M'Clure 
tiunis  New- 
ark. 


Dec.  19. 
Buffalo  ar  d 
Black   Rock 

burned. 


Feb.  23. 
The  Hornet 
captures  tl.e 

Peacock. 


the  St.  Lawrence,  expecting  to  be  joined  at  some  place  on 
the  river,  by  the  northern  army  under  General  Wade 
Hampton. 

The  British  governor  had  ordered  a  corps  oi  observation 
from  Kingston,  to  follow  the  movements  of  General  Wilkin- 
son's army ;  and  they  were  joined  by  some  hundreds  of  the 
Canadian  militia.  To  disperse  these  troops,  parlies  of  the 
Americans  were  landed,  to  proceed  in  advance  of  the  boats. 
An  action  occurred  at  Williamsburg,  which  terminated  in  fa- 
vor of  the  British.  The  American  force  engaged  was  under 
General  Boyd,  and  did  not  exceed  1,200;  that  of  the  enemy, 
under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Morrison,  was  estimated  at  2,000. 
ihe  loss  of  the  Americans  was  339,  that  of  the  British  180. 

The  flotilla  proceeded ;  but  the  next  day  communications 
were  received  from  General  Hampton,  in  which  he  decUned 
joinnii^  his  forces  to  those  of  General  Wilkinson.  The  con- 
lempiaied  attack  on  Montreal  was  abandoned,  and  the  army 
went  mto  quarters  at  French  Mills. 

In  tlie  meantime  General  Hampton  with  4,000  men,  had 
attempted  to  penetrate  to  Montreal  by  Chateaugay  river, 
i^oon  alter  arriving  in  Canada,  he  found  his  way  opposed  by 
aDuut  600  British  troops,  and  after  making  some  ineffectual 
efforts  to  dislodge  them,  he  returned,  and  encamped  at  Chat- 
eauiJ^ay  Four  Corners.  Here  he  dispatched  to  General  Wil- 
kinson the  communication  which  has  been  mentioned :  and, 
receiving  intelligence  that  the  expedition  had  been  abandoned, 
he  returned  to  Plattsburg,  where  he  established  his  winter- 
quarters.  He  soon  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  in  command 
by  General  Izard. 

Sir  George  Provost  being  relieved  from  his  apprehension 
of  an  attack  on  Montreal,  ordered  his  forces  under  generals 
Vincent  and  Drummond,  to  proceed  to  Niagara.  The  Amer- 
icans had  left  this  frontier  defenseless,  except  ihat  a  few  mi- 
litia under  General  M'Clure  garrisoned  fort  George.  Learn- 
ing the  approach  of  the  enemy,  M'Clure  abandoned  Fort 
George,  and  from  a  misconception  of  his  orders  burned  the 
village  of  Newark. 

The  British  retaliated,  although  the  act  was  promptly  disa- 
vowed by  the  American  government.  A  part  of  their  troops 
crossed  the  river,  gained  possession  of  fort  Niagara,  and  laia 
waste  the  whole  country  on  the  American  side  of  the  Niagara 
river  for  several  miles.  The  militia  were  immediately  collect- 
ed to  oppose  them,  but  were  compelled  to  retreat  by  the  su- 
perior force  of  the  enemy.  Buffalo,  Black  Rock,  and  other 
villages  were  burned. 

The  United  States'  ship  Hornet,  commanded  by  Captain 
Lawrence,  encountered  the  British  sloop  of  war  Peacock. 
The  action  lasted  but  fifteen  minutes.  The  loss  of  the  Brit- 
ish in  killed  and  wounded  was  about  forty,  that  of  the  Amer- 
cans  five.     The  Peacock  unfortunately  sunk  with  thirteen  ol 


THE    CHESAPEAKE    LOST.  329 

her  crew,  while  engaged  in  removing  the  wounded.  She  had  PART  IV. 
on  board  three  impressed  American  seamen,  who,  notwith-  period  n. 
standing  their  earnest  solicitations,  had  been  compelled  to  ^"'*'^-  ^^• 
fight  against  their  country.  One  was  killed  in  the  engage-  ^^""^^^""-^ 
ment,  and  two  were  found  among  the  prisoners. 

This  was  the  sixth  successive  naval  victory,  by  which 
America  vindicated  her  equal  right  with  Britain,  to  traverse, 
unmolested,  the  great  highway  of  nations. 

In  the  career  of  naval  triumph  the  Americans  now  suffered     1§13. 
a  severe  check.     As  the  United  States'  frigate,  Chesapeake,  The^cV 
was  lying  in    Boston   harbor,  the  British    frigate    Shannon,   peake  cap- 
commanded  by  Captain  Broke,  appeared  in  sight,  off  the  har-  '"f;^/^  ^y  the 
bor,  challenging  her  to  fight.     Captain   Lawrence,  who  for        ^""f^o"^ 
his  gallant  services  in  the  affair  of  the   Peacock,  had  been 
promoted  to  the   command  of  the   Chesapeake,  felt  himself 
bound  in  honor  not  to  refuse.     But  his  officers  and  crew  were 
strangers  to  him,  and  the  seamen,  not  having  received  their 
pay,  in  a  state  of  dissatisfaction.     The  Shannon,  on  the  con- 
trary, had  a  picked  crew  of  officers  and  seamen,  especially 
prepared  for  the  occasion.     Lawrence,  with  rash  valor,  put 
out  to  sea.     So  desperate   was  the  battle,  that  in  a  few  min- 
utes every  oflicer  on  board  the  Chesapeake  capable  of  taking 
the  command,  was  either  killed  or  wounded.     Captain  Law- 
rence received  a  mortal  wound,  and  the   Chesapeake  being 
much  disabled,  he  was  asked  "  if  the  colors  should  be  struck  ;"     j.     , 
he  replied,   "  no,  they  shall  wave  while  I  live."     Becoming    Lawrence, 
delirious,   he   continually  cried,    "  don't  give  up  the  ship." 
At  the  moment  of  his  being   carried  below.   Captain  Broke 
succeeded  in  boarding  the  Chesapeake,  and  the  British  low- 
ered her  colors.     The   loss  of  the  Americans  was  seventy 
killed  and  sixty-three  wounded  ;    the  British  about  half  the 
number. 

The  Shannon  carried  her  prize  into  Halifax,  and  there  the 
heroic  Lawrence,  who  had  survived  his  defeat  but  four  days, 
was  interred  with  every  mark  of  honorable  distinction.     His  His  burial 
pall  was  borne  by  the  oldest  captains  in  the  British  navy,  who 
mourned   him  with  a  generous  sympathy. 

Another  naval  disaster  soon  followed.     The  United  States'     Aug.  14. 
sloop  of  war,  Argus,  commanded  by  Lieutenant   Allen,  was  "^^"rf^rby* 
captured,   in  St.   George's  channel,   by  the   British   sloop  of  the  Pehcan. 
war.  Pelican.     The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  forty,  that  of 
the  British  only  eight.     Allen,  mortally  wounded,    died  in 
England.     Like  Lav/rence,  he  received  every  attention  while 
living,  and  an  honorable  burial  when  dead. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  the  American  seamen  were  again     Sept.  i. 
\ictorious.     The  brig   Enterprise,  saihng  from  Portland  har-   pj^ge^c^ 
bor,  fell  in,  the  same  day,  with  the  British  brig,  Boxer.     Soon     tares  the 
after  the  action  began.  Lieutenant  Burrows,  who  commanded      Boxer, 
the  American  brig,  was  mortally  wounded,  but  he  refused  to 
be  carried  below.     In  his  last  moments  he  begged  that  his 
23 


330 


MASSACRE    OF    FORT    MIMS. 


PART  IV. 


The   com- 
manders of 
he  two  bri?s 
biried  at 
Portland 


Cruise  of 

Commodore 

Rodgers. 


flag  miglit  not  be  struck.  Lieutenant  M'Call,  on  whom  the 
command  devolved,  gave  orders  to  board  the  enemy ;  but 
Captain  Blyth,  like  his  brave  antagonist,  had  fallen ;  the 
British  brig  had  become  unmanageable,  and  the  crew  cried 
out  for  quarter.  They  could  not  pull  down  their  colors,  for 
they  were  nailed  to  the  mast.  The  bodies  of  the  command- 
ers were  received  at  Portland  with  tokens  of  the  highest  re- 
spect :  masters  of  vessels  rowed  them  ashore  with  the  fune- 
ral stroke  of  the  oar,  while  minute-gims  were  fired  by  the 
vessels  in  the  harbor  ;  and  their  last  obsequies  were  perform- 
ed by  the  civil  and  military  authorities  of  the  place. 

On  the  26th  of  September,  Commodore  Rodgers  returned 
from  a  long  cruise,  in  which  he  had  circumnavigated  the 
British  isles,  and  explored  the  Atlantic.  He  did  not  gain  any 
signal  victory,  but  he  rendered  essential  service  to  his  country, 
by  harassing  the  British  commerce ;  having  captured  twelve 
merchant  vessels,  and  taken  many  prisoners. 


CHAPTER   X. 


The  Creek  War. 


The  Creeks 
are  in  a 

measure  ci- 
vilized. 


1S12. 

Tecumseh 
stirs  them  up 
to  hostility. 


Aug.  30. 

Shocking 
nittssacre  of 
Fort  Minis. 


In  the  meantime  causes  were  operating,  which  resulted  in 
a  bloody  war  with  the  Creek  Indians.  Their  lands  lying 
within  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  were  secured  to 
them  by  the  national  power.  Great  and  successful  exertions 
had  been  made  by  benevolent  individuals,  as  well  as  by  the 
government,  to  instruct  them  in  the  arts  of  civilized  life. 
Their  early  habits  and  prejudices  were  not,  however,  rooted 
out ;  and  some  of  them  wished  to  return  to  their  former  state. 
At  this  time,  Tecumseh  came  among  them.  He  urged  them, 
by  every  motive  which  could  reach  their  nature,  to  shake  oft 
the  oppressions  of  civilized  life,  return  to  their  wild  and  fear- 
less independence,  and  set  bounds  to  the  farther  progress  oJ 
the  whites  ;  ever  enforcing  the  principle,  that  to  the  Indians 
belonged  the  land  in  common  ; — that  they  had  no  right  to  make 
a  permanent  division  among  themselves,  much  less  to  sell  the 
soil  given  them  by  the  Great  Spirit. 

The  plea  prevailed  ;  and  the  Creeks  manifested  such  signs 
of  hostility,  that  the  settlers  in  the  most  exposed  situations 
took  refuge  in  forts  which  were  erected  for  their  security. 
One  of  these  was  Fort  Minis  in  the  Tensau  settlement,  which 
was  now  filled  with  alarmed  families.  Major  Beasely,  the 
commander,  had  received  repeated  warnings  of  an  intended 
attack  by  the  Indians,  but  had  delayed  to  make  suitable  prep- 
aration.     At  noon-day,   the    fort  was   suddenly  surroimded. 


THE    CREEKS    DEFEATED.  331 

At  fii-st,  the  garrison  stood  their  ground,  and  repulsed  the  sav-  PART  IV^ 
ages ;  but  they  returned,  drove  the  besieged  into  the  houses,  period  ii. 
and  set  theni  on  fire.     Dreadful  was   the  massacre.     Only    chap   x. 
seventeen,  out  of  three  hundred,  men,   women,   and  children,  ^---v^^^ 
escaped  to  bear  the  sorrowful  tidings  to  the  surrounding  in-      1§12. 
habitants. 

The  spirit  of  vengeance  was  abroad.     Tennessee  sent  forth 
2,000  men,   under  General  Jackson,  and  500  under  General  /^''y,","'*' 
Coffee.     Georgia  dispatched  General  Floyd  with  950  militia,  CoffecVand 
and  400  friendly  Indians  ;  while  Mississippi  sent  a  body  of      Floyd. 
volunteers,  under  General  Chiiborne. 

General  Jackson  met  and  defeated  the  Indians  at  Tallade-      ^^^^^  ^ 
ga,  losing  fifteen  killed  and  eighty-five  wounded.     Two  hun-  ja'cksonai 
dred  and  ninety  of  the  Indian  warriors  were  left  dead  upon   Talladega. 
the  field. 

The    Hillabee   towns    were   next   destroyed  by  the  Ten- 
nesseeans,  and  sixty  of  the  Indian  warriors  were  killed.  ^  °^'    ' 

General  Floyd,  with  950  of  the  Georgia  miUtia,  and   400     ]v^ov,29. 
friendly  Indians,  encountered  the  Creeks  at  Autossee.     This     General 
was  their  sacred  ground,  and  they  fought  bravely  in  its  de-    F^?'^^  ** 
fense,  but  were  overcome.     Four  hundred  of  their  houses 
were  burned,  and  200  of  their  bravest  warriors  slain ;  among 
whom  were  the  kings  of  Autossee  and  Tallahassee.     Of  the 
Americans,  fifty  were  either  killed  or  wounded. 

General  Claiborne,  with  the  Mississippi  volunteers,  gained     Dec.  23. 
an  important  victory  over  the  Indians,  under  their  prophet-  Eccanacha 
leader,  Weatherford,  on  his  holy  ground  at  Eccanachaca. 

General  Jackson's  army  was  diminished  by  the   return  of 
those  whose  term  of  service  had  expired,  and  sixty  days  more 
would  close   that  of  a  second  body  of  volunteers,  who  now 
joined  him.     But  Jackson  used  their  time  well.     Co-operating 
with  General  Floyd,  the  two  armies  entered  the  Indian  coun- 
try in  different  directions.     Twice  the  savages  made  night  at-  J^ot  JJfrp^i.^^ 
tacks  on  the  army  of  Jackson,  and  once  on  that  of  Floyd,  but  Jackson  and 
in  neither  case  did  they  find  these  generals  unprepared,  and      f'^ovd 
tlie  defeat  was  their  own. 

But  the  hostile  spirit  of  the  Creeks  remained  unsubdued. 
They  strongly  fortified  the  bend  of  the  Tallapoosa,  called  by 
the  Indians,  Tohopeka,  and  by  the  whites.  Horse-shoe-bend. 
Nature   and  art  had  rendered  this  a  place  of  great  security. 
They  erected  a  breastwork  from  five  to  eight  feet  high,  across 
the  peninsula,  where  a  thousand  warriors  had  collected.    This 
could  not  be  approached,  without  exposure  to  double  and  cross  jaci^s(,jj  ^^^ 
fires  from  the  Indians,  who  lay  behind  their  works.     General     feats  the 
Jackson,  aided  by  General   Coffee,  surrounded  and  stormed   S^^'^^^i^ 
the  fortifications.     The  regidars,  led  on  by  Colonel  Williams 
and  Major  Montgomery,  advanced  first  to  the  charge.     The 
combatants   fought  through  the  port-holes,  musket  to  musket. 
A.t  this  time.  Major  Montgomery,  leaping  on  the  wall,  called 
to  his  men  to  mount  and  follow.     Scarcely  had  he   spoken, 
23* 


332 


COMMISSIONERS  MEET  AT  GHENT. 


PART  IV. 


Speech  of 
the  chief, 
Weather- 
ford. 


1§14. 

Aug.  9. 
Treaty  with 
the  Creeks. 


when  a  ball  struck  him  upon  the  head,  and  he  fell  lifeless  to 
the  ground.  His  soldiers  obeyed  his  command,  and  fol- 
lowed his  example  ;  and  though  the  Creeks  fought  with  des- 
peration, yet  they  were  entirely  defeated. 

Five  hundred  and  fifty  were  killed  on  the  peninsula,  and 
many  were  drowned  or  shot,  in  attempting  to  cross  the  river 
General  Jackson's  loss,  including  the  friendly  Indians,  wia 
fifty -four  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  wounded.  This 
victory  ended  in  the  submission  of  the  remaining  warriors,  and 
the  consequent  termination  of  the  war. 

Among  those  who  threw  themselves  upon  the  mercy  of  their 
victors,  was  Weatherford,  who  was  equally  distinguished  for 
his  talents  and  cruelty.  "  I  am  in  your  power,"  said  he,  "  do 
with  me  what  you  please.  I  have  done  the  white  people  all 
the  harm  I  could.  I  have  fought  them,  and  fought  them 
bravely.  There  was  a  time  when  I  had  a  choice.  I  have 
none  now  ;  every  hope  is  ended.  Once  I  could  animate  my 
warriors  to  battle  ;  but  I  cannot  animate  the  dead.  They  can 
no  longer  hear  my  voice  ;  their  bones  are  at  Tallushatches, 
Talladega,  Emukfau,  and  Tohopeka.  While  there  was  a 
chance  of  success,  I  never  supplicated  peace  ;  but  my  people 
are  gone,  and  I  now  ask  it  for  my  nation  and  myself." 

During  the  summer,  a  treaty  of  peace  was  concluded  with 
the  conquered  Creeks,  on  conditions  advantageous  to  the  Uni- 
ted States.  General  Jackson  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  was 
soon  after  appointed  to  succeed  General  Wilkinson  in  the 
command  of  the  forces  at  New  Orleans. 


CHAPTER   XI 


Political  Affairs. 


1813.  During  the  spring  of  1813,  Alexander,  emperor  of  Russia, 

Russiaoffers  -y^j^jj  ^  laudable  zeal  to  spare  mankind  from  the  desolations  of 
u>  me  Id  e.  ^^^^  ofl^ered  his  mediation  in  the  quarrel  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain.  On  the  part  of  the  repubhc,  the 
offer  was  promptly  accepted,  and  John  Quincy  Adams,  Albert 
Gallatin,  and  James  A.  Bayard,  were  dispatched  to  Russia,  to 
meet  and  negotiate  with  such  commissioners  as  Great  Britain 
might  choose  to  appoint.  That  power,  however,  had  declined 
the  mediation  of  Alexander,  but  offered  to  treat  for  peace  di- 
rectly with  the  United  States.  In  pvu-suance  of  this  proposi- 
tion, to  which  the  American  government  acceded,  Messrs, 
Adams,  Gallatin,  and  Bayard,  in  the  month  of  August,  pro 
ceeded  to  Ghent,  the  place  of  meeting  agreed  on,  and  tlier© 
met  Lord  Gambler,  Henry  Golbourn,  and  William  Adams,  com- 


Commis- 
sioners  to 
treat  for 
pnace  meet 
at  Ghent. 


NATURALIZED    CITIZENS    DEFENDED. 


333 


missioncrson  the  part  of  Great  Britain.  On  that  of  America 
Ilcuiy  Clay,  and  Jonathan  Russell,  were  added  to  the  gen- 
tlemen already  named. 

On  account  of  the  critical  state  of  the  country,  congress 
deemed  it  expedient  to  hold  an  extra  session,  and  accordingly 
met  on  the  '24th  of  May.  Their  most  urgent  business  was  to 
provide  means  of  replenishing  the  exhausted  treasury  ;  and, 
notwitl islanding  the  clamors  of  the  party  opposed  to  the  war, 
they  i)rocceded  with  firmness  and  decision. 

Tliey  agreed  on  a  system  of  internal  duties  ;  laid  taxes 
on  lands  and  liouses,  distilled  liquors,  rehned  sugars,  retailer's 
licences,  carriages,  sales  at  auction,  and  bank  notes ;  and 
tliey  authorized  a  loan  of  seven  millions  and  a  half.  Con- 
gress adjourned  on  the  2d  of  August. 

Among  other  important  subjects,  embraced  in  the  president's 
message,  at  the  regular  session,  was  that  concerning  the  right 
of  expatriation,  on  which  Great  Britain  and  America  had  been 
so  long  at  issue,  and  from  which  the  most  tragical  consequen- 
ces were,  at  that  period,  apprehended.  Forty  persons,  natives 
of  Britain,  but  who,  by  a  long  residence,  had  become  natural- 
ized in  America,  had  been  taken  in  arms  against  the  British 
nation,  and  were  sent  to  the  land  of  their  birth,  there  to  under- 
go a  trial  for  treason.  The  American  government,  feeling 
itself  bound  to  protect  them,  had  put  in  close  confinement  an 
equal  number  of  British  soldiers,  with  a  notification,  that  if 
violence  was  done,  the  same,  in  kind  and  degree,  should  be 
indicted  in  return.  In  retaliation  for  this  step,  the  British 
government  put  in  confinement,  with  a  similar  threat,  double 
the  number  of  American  officers  of  the  lower  grades.  This 
measure  had  also  been  retaliated,  and  an  equal  number  of 
British  officers  selected. 

The  subject  was,  however,  adjusted,  by  the  exchange  of 
all  prisoners,  except  the  first  forty,  who  had  been  sent  for 
trial ;  and  concerning  these,  the  American  government  reser- 
ved a  right  to  retaliate,  in  case  any  violence  should  thereafter 
be  done  them. 

Another  message  was  soon  after  received  from  the  presi- 
dent, recommending  an  embargo  upon  exports,  to  deprive  the 
enemy  of  supplies  from  our  ports  and  with  a  design  to  pro- 
tect tiie  American  commerce,  and  completely  prohibit  British 
manufactures.  This  measure,  after  a  warm  debate,  was  adopt- 
ed by  congress,  but  it  was  considered  by  the  opposition,  as 
annoying  ourselves  more  than  our  foes,  and  condemned  as  un- 
constitutional and  oppressive. 

These  commercial  restrictions  were  not,  however,  of  long 
continuance.  Mighty  revolutions  were  taking  place  in  Europo» 
and  changing  the  policy  of  America.  Napoleon  was  now  a 
powerless  exile  on  a  little  island  in  the  Mediterranean  ;  and  the 
ports  of  Europe  were  open  to  England.     Under  these  circum' 


Dec.  2 

The  i-egular 

session  com 

menccs. 

Forty  native 
Britons,  but 
naturalized 
Americana. 


Embargo 
laid. 


It  is  violent 
ly  opposeil 


s^ 


AFFAIR   OF    LA    COLLE. 


PART  IV.   stances,  in  the  month  of  April,  the  embargo  and  non  impona- 


PERIOI)  II 

CHAP.    XII. 


tion  acts  were  both  discontinued. 

The  condition  of  the  army  required  and  received  the  atten- 
tion of  congress,  A  bill  was  passed  early  in  the  session,  giv- 
ing to  those  who  should  enlist  for  five  years,  or  during  the 
war,  the  unprecedented  bounty  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  dollars  ;  and  to  any  person  who  should  procure  an  able 
bodied  recruit,  was  given  further  tlxe  sum  of  eight  dollars. 
An  appropriation  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  was  made, 
Steam  batie-  for  the  building  of  one  or  more  floating  batteries,  to  be  pro- 
ries.        pelled  by  steam. 


1§13. 

Bills  passed 
for  the  relief 
of  the  army. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


1814. 

Feb.  21. 
Stores  at 
Malone  de- 
stroyed. 


A5air  of  La 

CoUe. 


Wilkinson 
tried. 


May. 
Attempt  to 
destroy  the 
American 
flotilla  on 
Lake  Cham- 

plain. 


Campaign  of  1814. 

General  Wilkinson  had  remained  inactive  at  French 
Mills,  until  early  in  February,  when,  having  received  orders 
from  the  secretary  of  war,  he  detached  General  Brown,  with 
2,000  troops,  to  the  Niagara  frontier ;  and  after  destroying 
his  barracks,  he  retired  to  Plattsburg.  The  enemy,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  this  movement,  made  an  incursion  as  far  as  Malone, 
and  destroyed  the  arsenal  and  public  stores  there  kept,  which 
had  belonged  to  the  cantonment  of  French  Mills. 

Movements  of  General  Wilkinson,  which  had  the  appear- 
ance of  an  attempt  again  to  invade  Canada,  caused  the  British 
commander  to  order  2,000  men,  under  Major  Hancock,  to  forti- 
fy themselves  at  La  CoUe  Mill,  near  the  river  Sorel.  General 
Wilkinson  advanced,  and  on  the  succeeding  day  made  an  at- 
tack. A  sortie  from  the  building  ended  in  his  repulse,  and  the 
loss  of  1 00  of  his  men,  in  killed  and  wounded.  Such  a  series 
of  unsuccessful  measures  brought  public  censure  upon  this 
general.  He  was  tried  before  a  court-martial  at  Troy,  New 
York,  where  he  was  nominally  acquitted  of  the  charges 
brought  against  him. 

The  British  army  of  Lower  Canada  now  withdrew  from 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  were  stationed  near  St.  Johns,  for  secu- 
ring the  entrance  of  a  fleet  into  Lake  Champlain. 

l3uring  the  autumn,  and  winter,  Macdonough,  the  American 
commodore  on  this  station,  had  labored  w^th  great  industry  to 
provide  a  naval  force  on  this  lake,  equal  to  that  of  the  enemy 
The  flotilla  was  lying  in  the  Otter  river,  at  Vergennes  ;  and  it 
was  the  object  of  the  British  to  destroy  it,  before  it  should 
make  its  appearance  on  the  lake.  Apprised  of  this,  Macdo- 
nough caused  a  battery  to  be  erected  at  the  mouth  of  the  riv- 
er. On  the  12th  of  May,  the  British  fleet  entered  the  lake. 
They  attacked  the  battery,  but  were  repulsed. 


WELLINGTCNS    VETERANS    SENT    OVER.  335 

Major  Appiing  and  Captain  Woolsey  were  appointed  to  PART  IV. 
convey  the  naval  stores  from  Oswego  to  Sackett's  Harbor,  the  period  il 
British  having  made  an  attempt  to  seize  them  at  the  former  c"ap.  xii. 
place.  A  British  party  intending  to  attack  them,  were  drawn  ^-^"v^^-y 
into  an  ambuscade  which  they  formed,  and  133  q(  their  rmm- 
ber  were  taken  prisoners. 

At  the  commencement  of  this  year,  the  Americans  were  in 
possession  of  all  their  former  territory  at  the  west,  except  fort     1§14. 
Mackinaw.      On  tlio  21st  of  Febrnary,  Captain   Holmes  was     F^^'^- 2) 
detached   from  Detroit,  with   180  men,  to  dislodge  a  party  of  i-ioimos.witk 
British  who  were  stationed  on  the  river  Thames.     When  with-     i*^o  men, 
in  fifteen  miles  of  his  destination,  he  received  intelligence  that      ^  ^^ 
about  300  of  the  enemy  were  within  one  hour's  march  of  him. 
He  retired  five  miles,  where  he  was  attacked  on  all  sides  ;  but 
he  bravely  stood  his  ground,  and  forced  the  British  to  retreat, 
with  a  loss  of  sixty-nine  men. 

During  the  early  part  of  this  year,  the  government  of  Great 
Britain  had  been  much  occupied  with  affairs  nearer  home,  but   ■ 
when  her  military  and  naval  forces  were  liberated  from  Euro-  ces*th™ateii^ 
pean   warfare,  she  directed   her   energies   to   this  continent,  ing  to  Amer- 
Two  distinct  systems  appear  to  have  been  determined  on  in        ^^^ 
the  British  cabinet ;  one,  having  for  its  object  the  invasion  of 
the  sea-coast,  and  the  other,  the  protection  of  Canada,  and  the 
conquest  of  so  much  of  the  adjoining  territory  as  might  guard 
that  province  from  future  danger.    To  effect  these  objects,  a  for-  ^y*,f^^°^ 
midable  army  of  fourteen  thousand  men,  who  had  fought  under      vxtTran"' 
the  Duke  of  Wellington,  Avere  embarked  at  Bordeaux  for  Can-    troops  sent 
ada  ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  a  strong  naval  force,  with  an  ad-        ^^^'^ 
equate  number  of  troops,  was  directed  against  the  maritime 
frontier  of  the   United   States,  to  maintain  a  strict  blockade, 
and  ravage  the  whole  coast  from  Maine  to  Georgia. 

The  northern  sea-coast  experienced  little  molestation,  until 
the  spring  of  1814,  when  the  British  ascended  the  Connect!- 
cut  river  to  Essex,  where  they  destroyed  shipping,  to  the  val-  of  shippin" 
ue  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  reason  of  the  dis-  at  Essex 
tinction,  which  was  thus  made  between  the  north  and  the  south, 
is  expressed  by  a  British  historian,  in  the  concluding  senti- 
ment of  the  following  paragraph. 

"  After  the  fall  of  Napoleon,  it  was  held  in  this  country," 
says  Baines,  "  Avith  a  lamentable  ignorance  of  the  real  state 
of  the  feelings  and  energies  of  the  United  States,  that  Britain, 
60  long  the  undisputed  mistress  of  the  ocean,  would  soon  be   Baines  ac 
able  to  sweep  from  the  seas  the   ships  of  America ;  and  that  ^flc^op^nfo'n' 
those   troops,  Avhich  had  acquired  so  much  glory  Avhen  con-  in  England 
tending  Avith  the  veteran  armies  of  Europe,  Avould  no  sooner    respecting 
shoAv  themselves  on  the  Avestern  side  of  the  Atlantic,  than  the 
panic-struck  soldiers  of  the  United  States  would  be  driven  far 
within  their  OAvn  frontiers.     These  pleasing  illusions  Avere 
heightened  by  the  hope,  that   England  Avould  soon  be  able  to 
dictate  peace  in  the  capital  of  the  republic  ;  or  at  least,  that 


336 


BATTLE    OF    CHIPPEWA. 


PART  IV 
PERIOD  II 
CHAP.  XIII. 


the  splendor  of  British  triumphs,  and  the  pressure  of  Ameri- 
can embarrassments,  would  induce  and  encourage  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  northern  states,  to  form  a  separate  government, 
under  the  protection  of  the  crown  of  Great  Britain,  if  not  ac- 
tually under  the  sway  of  her  sceptre." 


CHAPTER    XIII 


The  Niagara  Frontier. 


1§14. 

July  2  and  3. 

General 

Brown 

crosses  the 

Niagara,  and 

takes  Fort 

Erie. 


Scott  ad- 
vances upon 
the  enemy. 


July  5. 

Battle  of 

Chippewa. 


Charactei  of 
the  troops 
engaged. 


General  Brown,  in  conducting,  as  has  been  related,  2,000 
of  the  army  of  General  Wilkinson,  from  French  Mills  towards 
the  Niagara  frontier,  stopped  at  ^ackett's  Harbor.  Here  his 
force  consisted  of  two  brigades  ,  the  first  under  General  IScott, 
the  second,  under  General  Ripley.  These  able  ofiicurs  were 
diligently  occupied,  during  the  tirst  part  of  the  campaign,  in 
disciplining  their  troops,  and  preparing  them  for  action. 

In  June,  General  Brown  marched  his  army  to  Bulfalo,  ex- 
pecting to  invade  Canada.  Here  were  added  to  his  army, 
Towson's  artillery,  and  a  corps  of  volunteers,  commanded  by 
General  Porter,  maknig,  in  the  whole,  about  3,500  men.  On 
the  second  and  third  of  July,  they  crossed  the  Niagara,  and 
invested  Fort  Erie,  where  the  garrison,  amounting  to  100  men, 
surrendered  without  resistance. 

On  the  4th,  the  brigade  under  General  Scott,  with  Towson's 
artillery,  advanced  from  Fort  Erie  along  the  bank  of  the  Ni- 
agara, to  Street's  Creek,  which  falls  into  the  river  from  the 
southwest,  and  here,  being  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  ene- 
my, he  halted.  General  Brown,  with  the  remahiing  brigade, 
arrived  at  the  same  place  at  midnight,  and  General  Porter,  with 
the  volunteers,  at  sunrise.  The  British  army,  3,000  strong, 
and  commanded  by  General  Piall,  occupied  a  position  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Chippewa. 

The  battle  of  the  5th  commenced  with  a  skirmish,  in 
which  a  detachment,  under  General  Porter,  surprised  and 
defeated  a  body  of  Indians  ;  but  they  being  rehiiorced,  in 
their  turn  drove  the  Americans,  who  retreated,  bravely  iight- 
ing.  The  main  body  of  the  British  advanced  ;  and  General 
Brown  put  his  whole  camp  in  motion.  General  Ripley  was 
sent  to  the  left,  to  the  aid  of  Porter,  while  General  Scott, 
crossing  the  creek,  drew  up  his  brigade  in  order  of  battle,  to 
receive  the  charge  of  the  king's  regiment,  and  that  of  the 
royal  Scots.  They  outnumbered  the  republican  troops  in  the 
field  by  more  than  one-third,  and  were  the  veterans  who  had 
fought  and  conquered  by  the  side  of  Wellington,  and  of  whom 
many  of  the  English  had  predicted,  that  they  would  re-colo 


ArPROACH    OF    A    BATTLE. 


337 


nizo  America.  The  ofliccrs  and  soldiers  of  the  republic  had, 
at  the  most,  but  two  years  experience  ;  and  many  of  them  had 
never  before  been  in  battle.  Here  then  they  met  in  fair  and 
open  light,  arm  to  arm,  and  breast  to  breast. 

General  Scott  led  on  his  men,  while  his  ofTicers  nobly  sec- 
onded his  exertions.  The  conflict  was  bloody  ;  but  the  val- 
or of  America  prevailed.  The  veterans  gave  way,  and  re- 
treated, while  the  Americans  pursued,  defeating  them  at  every 
point,  until  at  length  their  retreat  being  changed  to  a  rout, 
they  sought  the  shelter  of  their  entrenchments.  So  decisive 
had  been  the  movements  of  General  Scott,  that  the  enemy 
were  totally  defeated  before  the  brigade  of  General  Ripley 
was  brought  into  action.  General  Brow^n  now  ordered  up 
the  artillery  to  batter  their  \vorks  ;  but  the  day  was  spent,  and 
their  batteries  so  strongly  fortified,  that  he  desisted  from  the 
attempt,  drew  off  his  forces,  and  returned  to  his  camp. 

In  this  engagement.  Colonel  Gordon,  of  the  royal  Scots, 
and  Colonel  the  Marquis  of  Tweedale,  late  aid-de-camp  to  the 
Duke  of  Wellington,  were  both  severely  wounded.  The  loss 
of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  was  514; 
that  of  the  Americans,  328. 

In  the  meantime,  a  large  body  of  British  troops,  commanded 
by  General  Drummond,  were  at  the  head  of  lake  Ontario, 
near  Burlinoton  Heiorhts,  and  at  York.  Soon  after  the  battle 
of  Chippewa,  General  Riall  fell  back  to  fort  George,  where 
in  a  few  days  he  was  joined  by  Drummond,  when  his  army 
amounted  to  5,000,  of  whom   1,500  were  militia  and  Indians. 

On  the  10th  of  July,  the  American  camp  was  removed 
from  Street's  Creek  to  Queenstown,  and  from  thence  Gene- 
ral Brown  marched  to  invest  fort  George  ;  but  finding  unex- 
pected difficulties,  he  retired  from  that  position,  and  on  the 
23d,  took  post  at  Chippewa.  He  had,  however,  previously 
sent  his  wounded  and  heavy  baggage  across  the  strait  to 
Schlosser,  near  the  Falls,  intending  at  the  time,  to  advance 
upon  the  enemy. 

On  the  morning  of  the  25th,  General  Brown  received  in- 
formation from  General  Swift,  w^ho  had  the  care  of  the  w^ound- 
ed,  that  the  enemy  were  at  Queenstown,  and  that  a  detach- 
ment threatened  his  stores  at  Schlosser.  At  this  intelligence. 
General  Brown  detached  General  Scott,  with  his  brigade  and 
Captain  Towson's  artillery,  to  make  a  movement  on  the 
Queenstown  road,  as  if  to  attack  the  enemy,  and  thus  divert 
their  attention  from  his  stores.  Scott  left  the  camp  at  four  in 
the  afternoon,  moved  along  the  river,  and  passed  the  grand 
cataract,  in  ignorance  that  the  enemy  were  near.  Having 
proceeded  a  short  distance  beyond  the  Falls,  he  learned  that 
the  British  army,  in  great  force,  were  encamped  behind  a 
wood,  only  a  few  hundred  yards  to  the  north,  and  that  they 
intended  to  attack  the  Americans  the  next  day.  Scott  imme- 
diately transmitted  this  intelligence  to  his   commander,  and 


PART  IV 


1814. 

The    British 
defeated. 


General 
Riall  re- 
ceives rein- 
forcements 
by  Drum- 
mond. 


General 
Brown  falla 

i)ack  to 
Chippewa 


July  25. 
Scott's  de- 
tachment 
falls  in  witk 
the  British 
army  at 
Lundy'a 
Lane. 


338 


A    NIGHT-SCENE. 


PART  IV. 


1§14. 

The  Ameri- 
cans in  a 
dangerous 
position  ; 
fight  with 
desperate 
valor. 


Ripley  rein- 
ferces  Scott, 


Miller 
"tries"  to 
take  the  bat- 
tery and  suc- 
ceeds. 


Terrible 
night  en- 
cointec 


moved  rapidly  forward  through  the  wood,  till  he  perceived  the 
British  strongly  posted  on  an  eminence,  defended  by  nine 
pieces  of  artillery.  He  halted  and  drew  up  his  men  in  order  of 
of  battle,  on  a  level  gi'ound  near  Lundy's  lane,  and  in  front  of 
the  British  position.  The  artillery  under  Towson  commenced 
a  brisk  cannonade,  which  was  returned  by  the  British  battery. 
The  American  combatants  stood  for  more  than  an  hour  and 
maintained  a  contest  against  a  force  seven  times  their  number. 
It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when  the  engagement  commen- 
ced. The  sun  had  now  gone  down,  and  darkness  came  on. 
No  reinforcement  appeared.  But  the  gallant  band  still  main- 
tained the  battle,  although  an  ofhcer  reminded  the  general, 
that  the  rule  for  retiring  was  accomplished,  since  more  than 
one-fourth  of  his  number  were  killed  or  wounded,  among 
whom  were  many  of  his  officers.  The  brave  Colonel  Brady 
had  been  the  first  to  form  his  regiment,  and  on  that  the  loss 
fell  heaviest.  Himself  twice  wounded,  he  was  entreated  by 
those  who  observed  him  pale  from  the  loss  of  blood,  to  quit 
the  field.  "  Not  while  I  can  stand,"  was  the  reply,  worthy  of 
Leonidas. 

At  that  critical  moment,  a  reinforcement  appeared.  Gene 
ral  Ripley,  by  whom  it  was  commanded,  had  been  ordered  to 
form  his  brigade,  on  the  skirt  of  a  wood  to  the  right  of  Gene- 
ral Scott.  But,  finding  that  this  position  was  not  favorable, 
he  took  the  responsibility  of  first  moving  nearer  to  the  Brit- 
ish. For  this  purpose,  he  was  about  to  pass  the  brigade 
of  Scott,  but  coming  between  him  and  the  enemy,  he  found 
that  he  was  suifering  severely  from  their  cannon.  Ripley 
then  conceived  the  bold  thought  of  storming  the  formidable 
battery.  "  Colonel  Miller,"  said  he,  "  will  you  take  yonder 
battery  ?"  "  I'll  try,"  said  that  heart  of  oak,  and  at  the  head 
of  the  twenty-first  regiment,  he  calmly  took  his  course,  march- 
ed up  to  the  mouth  of  the  blazing  cannon,  around  which  the 
enemy  had  rallied,  bayoneted  the  men  while  firing,  and  pos- 
sessed himself  of  their  guns.  Ripley  had  moved  at  the  same 
time,  at  the  head  of  the  23d  regiment,  to  the  attack  of  the  in- 
fantry, and  drove  them  from  the  eminence,  which  was  the  key 
of  their  position. 

Here  Ripley  formed  his  brigade.  General  Porter,  with  his 
volunteers,  was  on  the  right,  and  the  artillery  of  Towson  in 
the  centre.  The  enemy,  rallied  in  their  might,  and  advanced 
to  regain  their  position  and  artillery.  The  Americans  per- 
ceived that  the  foe  was  coming  on,  but  could  not  distinctly  as- 
certain from  Avhat  point.  The  moon  had  risen,  but  dark  clouds 
were  in  the  heavens,  and  her  light  was  fitful.  Sounds  came 
indistinctly  mingled  from  every  quarter.  The  roar  of  the 
cataract,  the  shrieks  and  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying, 
the  discharge  of  artillery,  were  all  heard,  as  well  as  the  rush 
of  the  enemy's  attack.  In  this  situation,  Ripley  gave  his 
troops  the  order  to  wait  till  the   enemy's  bayonets  touched 


THE    BATTLE     JF    BRIDGEWATER    WON.  339 

their  own,  and  take  aim  by  the   light  from  the  discharge  of  PART  IV. 
their  muskets.     The   aim  of  the  Americans  was  good,   and 
numbers  of  their  brave  enemy  fell.     They  closed  up  their 
ranks,  and  came  on  with  the  bayonet.     The  republicans  stood 
the  charge,  and  sturdily  pushed  back  the  thrust.     For  twenty 
minutes  this  deadly  strife  continued,  when  the  veterans  of 
Wellington  retreated  in  disorder.     But  they  renewed  the  at- 
tack till  they  were  four  times  repulsed.     At  length,   about  Americans 
midnight,  they  ceased  to  contend,  and  left  their  position  and  ^"^^JJJa^" 
artillery  to  the  Americans. 

Although  the  brunt  of  the  battle  was  on  the  eminence,  other 
efforts  were  making  in  different  parts  of  the  field.  The  brig- 
ade of  Scott,  shattered  as  it  was,  having  formed  anew,  was 
not  content  to  look  idly  on,  w^hile  their  brethren,  who  had  Incidents  of 
stepped  betAveen  them  and  death,  were  now  bleeding  in  their  able'b^tle 
turn.  General  Scott  charged  at  their  head,  through  an  open- 
ing in  Ripley's  line  ;  but  in  the  confusion  and  darkness  of  the 
scene,  he  passed  between  the  fires  of  the  combatants.  He 
afterwards  engaged  in  the  fight,  taking  his  post  on  Ripley's 
left.  In  another  quarter.  Colonel  Jessup,  with  only  two  hun- 
dred men,  advanced  upon  the  enemy,  brought  them  to  close 
action,  drove  them  from  the  ground,  and  captured  General 
Riall,  with  other  officers  and  soldiers,  to  a  number  almost 
equal  to  his  own. 

In  this  sanguinary  contest,  the  total  loss  of  the  British  was 
eight  hundred  and  seventy-eight.  Generals  Drummond  and 
Riall  were  among  the  wounded.  The  Americans  lost,  in  kill- 
ed, wounded,  and  missing,  eight  hundred  and  sixty.  Of  these, 
eleven  officers  were  killed,  among  whom  were  Major  M'Far- 
land  and  Captain  Ritchie.  Fifty-six  officers  were  wounded, 
among  Avhom  w^ere  generals  Brown  and  Scott ;  it  was  not, 
however,  until  towards  the  close  of  the  action,  that  the  two 
generals,  highest  in  command,  were  disabled.  General  Brown, 
on  receiving  his  wound,  gave  notice  to  General  Ripley,  that 
he  was  left  in  command,  but  ordered  him  to  collect  the  Avound- 
ed,  remove  the  artillery,  and  retire  to  the  camp  at  Chippewa,   ^j^g^j^jj^g 

Unfortunately,  the  Americans  lost  the  trophies  of  their  hard-  unfortunate- 
earned  victory,  as  no  means  of  removing  the  captured  artillery    ly  lose  the 
were  at  hand  ;  and  General  Ripley  was  obliged  to  leave  it  on  thdr  victorj 
the  field  of  battle.     The  British,  on  learning  that  the  Ameri- 
cans had   abandoned  the  field,   re-occupied   it  immediately ; 
and  taking  advantage  of  this  circumstance,  their  officers,  in 
their  dispatches  to  their  government,  claimed  the  victory. 

The  American  army  now  reduced  to  1,600,  retired  to  fort 
Erie,   and  proceeded  to  entrench  themselves  strongly  in  that 
position.     The  enemy,  to  the  number  of  5,000,  followed  them  ; 
and  on   the  4th  of  August,  commenced  a  regular  siege.     On      j^^g,  4^ 
the  5th,  General  Gaines  arrived  at  Erie  from   Sackett's   Har-    American 
bor,  and    took    the   command.     Anticipating  an   attack,    the     gjjg^^j  ^^ 
Ameifcans  prepared  them^selves  to  receive  it.  Fort  Erie. 


340  SORTIE    OF    FORT    ERIE, 

PART  IV.       On  the  morning  of  the  15th,  the  enemy  advanced  in  tlirefi 
PERIOD  II.   columns,   commanded  by  Colonels   Drummond,  Fischer,  and 
CHAP.  xni.   Scott.     The  columns  to  the  right  and  left  repeatedly  attacked, 
-'■^''^^'^^'^•^  and   were    as    often   repulsed.     The    centre    column,  under 
1§14.     Drummond,  after  a  sanguinary  conflict,  succeeded  in  scaling 
Drummond  ^^®  walls,  and  taking  possession  of  a  bastion.     While  tliis 
assaults  the  savage  man  was  denying  mercy  to  the  conquered  Americans 
ibrt,  and  IS    g,  barrel  of  powder  beneath  him  became  ignited.     There  was 
repu  se  .     ^  sudden   crash,  and  bastion,   assailants,   and  assailed,  were 
blown  together  into  the  air.     Those  of  the  Britisli  who  sur- 
vived, fled  in  dismay.     Their  numbers  were  thinned  as  they 
passed  the  American  artillery.     According  to  the  British  offi- 
cial report,  their  loss  on  this  day  was  57  killed,  of  whom 
were  Colonels  Scott  and  Drummond,  319  wounded,  and  539 
missing.     The   total  loss   of  the  Americans  was  but  eighty- 
four. 

After  this  repulse,  both  armies  remained  in  a  state  of  inac- 
tivity for  some  time.     General  Gaines  had  been  wounded  by 
General     the   bursting  of  a  shell,  and  the  command  again  devolved  on 
Brown  in    General  Ripley  ;  it  was  exercised,  however,  but  a  short  time, 
as  General  Brown,  now  recovered  from  his  wounds,  entered 
the  fort,  and  resumed  his  functions. 
General  The   American  public   had  become  anxious  for  the  fate  of 

^*^^  Ti"V*°  their  brave  defenders,  and  General  Izard,  by  the  order  of  the 
Brown,  secretary  of  war,  abandoning  a  post,  which,  from  the  arrival 
of  the  British  troops  at  Montreal,  it  was  hazardous  to  leave, 
marched  from  Plattsburg,  with  5,000  men  for  their  relief. 
The  enemy  were  daily  receiving  reinforcements,  and  their 
works,  upon  which  they  labored  with  great  assiduity,  grew 
more  and  more  formidable. 

General  Brown,  learning  that  of  the  three  parts  into  which 
the   British  army  was   divided,   two   were   kept  at  the  camp, 
while  the  third  manned  the  batteries,  determined  to  make  a 
sortie,  with  a  view  of  destroying  the  batteries,  and  cutting  off 
the  brigade  on  duty. 
Sept.  17.         On  the  17th  of  September,  at  twelve  o'clock,  General  Por- 
The  Ameri-  ^gj.  j^gf^  ^j^g  gamp  at  the  head  of  a  detachment,  to  penetrate 
sortie  and'  by  a  passage  through  the  wood.     Being  perfectly  acquainted 
dislodge  the  with  the  ground,  he  with  his   men,  trod  silently  and  circuit- 
*#tfft^E?e™  ously  along,  when,  arriving  at  their  destined  point,  they  rush- 
ed upon  the  enemy,  whom  they  completely  surprised.     In 
thirty  minuies  they  had  taken  a  blockhouse  and  two  bastions, 
spiked  their   guns,  blovi^n  up  their  magazine,  and  made  pris- 
oners of  their  garrison  ;    but  the  brave  colonels   Gibson  and 
Wood  had  fallen  at  the  head  of  their  columns.      General  Rip- 
ley arrived  in  season  to  share  the  danger  and   the   honor  of 
this  well-planned  and  well-conducted  enterprise. 

Thus  in  a  few  hours  were  the  enemy  deprived  of  the  fruit 
of  forty-seven  days'  labor,  of  a  great  quantity  of  artillery  and 
annnunition,  and  of  J  ,000  mer     vvhich  was  their  number  of 


WASHINGTON    THREATENED. 


34] 


killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  General  Miller,  on  whom 
the  command  devolved,  secured  the  prisoners  and  the  trophies 
of  the  victory,  and  re-conducted  the  army  to  the  fort  in 
perfect  order.  The  killed  and  wounded  were  300.  Several 
more  were  missing,  so  that  their  loss  was  not  much  less  than 
one-third  of  their  whole  number. 

After  the  destruction  of  his  works  before  Fort  Erie,  Gene- 
ral Drummond  broke  up  his  camp,  and  retired  on  the  night  of 
the  21st,  to  his  entrenchments  behind  Chippewa. 

Soon  after  this,  the  arrival  of  General  Izard  placed  the 
Americans  on  a  footing  which  enabled  them  once  more  to 
commence  ofiensive  operations ;  and  leaving  Erie  in  command 
of  Colonel  Hindman,  General  Brown  again  advanced  towards 
Chippewa.  Near  this  place,  an  affair  occurred  on  the  20th 
of  October,  in  which  Colonel  Bissell,  with  a  detachment  of 
1,000  men,  obtained  an  advantage  over  a  detachment  of  1,200, 
under  the  Marquis  of  Tweedale. 

During  the  summer  of  this  year,  an  expedition  was  set  on 
foot  to  recover  Mackinaw.  It  was  conducted  by  Major  Cro- 
ghan,  with  the  co-operation  of  part  of  the  fleet  of  Lake  Erie, 
which  was  for  that  purpose  taken  through  the  straits  into 
Lake  Huron.  The  attempt  was  unsuccessful,  and  several 
brave  men  were  lost,  among  whom  was  Captain  Holmes. 
The  British  warlike  establishments  at  St.  Josephs,  and  the 
Sault  de  St.  Marie,  were,  however,  destroyed. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  IL 
CHAP.    XIV. 


1814. 

The   British 
army  retires 


Oct.  20. 
Colonel  Bis- 
sell defeats 
the    Marquis 
of  Twee 
dale. 


Unsuccess 
fill  attempt 
to  recover 
Mackinaw 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Washington  taken  by  the  British. — Baltimore  threatened. 

[n  the  early  part  of  the  year  1814,  while  Admiral  Cock- 
burn  was  engaged  in  predatory  warfare  upon  the  shores  of 
the  Chesapeake,  the  main  protection  of  the  inhabitants  was  a 
fleet  of  gunboats  and  smaller  vessels,  commanded  by  Commo- 
dore Barney.  Early  in  June,  several  skirmishes  took  place 
between  this  flotilla  and  a  part  of  the  enemy's  vessels  ;  but  Commodore 
not  being  able  to  cope  witli  the  superior  force  of  the  British,  -  Bamey 
Barney  took  refuge  in  the  Patuxent,  and  was  there  blockaded 
by  the  British  admiral. 

Now  that  the  armies  which  had  been  employed  in  Europe, 
were,  by  the  pacification,  left  at  liberty  to  be  brought  over  by 
the  great  navy  of  Britain,  the  nation  supposed  that  they  might 
probably  soon  dictate  a  peace  in  the  capital  of  the  United 
States  ;  and  an  expedition  was  accordingly  planned,  whose 
object  was  the  capture  of  Washington. 

The  administration  were  not  entirely  inattentive  to  its  de- 
24  ^ 


lockaded  in 
the  Patux- 
ent. 


Plan  to  in- 
vade Wasiy 
ingtoa 


342  BARNEY*S    FLOTILLA    DESTROVED. 

PART  IV.   fense,  and   that  of  ihe  adjacent  city  of  Baltimore  ;  but  theii 
PERIOD  II.  measures  were  inefficient.     The  national  territory  had  been 
CHAP.  XIV.   previously  divided  into  nine  military  districts.     A  tenth  was 
'  .^'v-"**^  now   formed,  embracing  Maryland,  the  District  of  Columbia, 
and  a  part  of  Virginia.     On  the  4th  of  July,  a  requisition  was 
made  by  the  president,  upon  the  governors  of  these  states  for 
ninety-three  thousand  militia.     Of  these,  fifteen  thousand  were 
within  tlie  limits  of  the  new  military  district.     One  thousand 
regidars  were  also  to  be  added,  and  thus  there  was,  numeri- 
cally, a  force  of  sixteen  thousand  men  at  the  disposal  of  Gen- 
eral Winder,  who  was  appointed  to  the  command.     But  it  was 
1§14.     only  a  fortnight  previous  to  the  invasion,  that  the  order,  au- 
lor?e  for  the  ^horizing  that  general  to  call  for  these  forces,  was  received. 
defense  of   Time  is  necessarily  consumed  in  the  tardy  operations  of  re- 
Washmgton.  publican  governments,  unused  to  war  ;  and  when,  on  the  20th 
of  August,  news  arrived  that  the  enemy  had  landed  at  Bene- 
dict, General  Winder  had  not  collected  more  than  3,000  men, 
and  these  were  undisciplined  and  unacquainted  with  each 
other. 
Awr.  17.         O^  ^^®  ^"^^^  0^  August,  the  British  fleet  in  the  Chesapeake 
Cochrane  ar-  was  augmented  by  the  arrival  of  Admiral  Cochrane,  who  had 
rives  with  an  been  sent  out  with  a  large  land  force,  commanded  by  Major- 
Ross.        General  Ross,  in  pursuance  of  the  resolution  which  had  been 
taken  by  the  British  government,  "  to  destroy  and  lay  w^aste 
such  towns  and  districts  upon  the  coast,  as  might  be  found 
assailable."     This  formidable  fleet  was  divided  into  three  parts, 
one   of  which,  carrying  General  Ross,  and   commanded  by 
»  Admiral   Cochrane,  proceeded  up  the  Patuxent ;  one,  under 

Captain  Gordon,  ascended  the  Potomac  ;  and  the  third,  under 
Sir  Peter  Parker,  went  further  up  the  Chesapeake,  as  if  to 
threaten  Baltimore. 

On  the  19th,  General  Ross  landed  at  Benedict  with  5,000 
infantry  :  on  the  20th,  he  began  his  march  to  Washington, 
the^PaUiT-    distant  twenty-seven  miles,  keeping  along  the  right  bank  of 
ent.        the  Patuxent.     His  object  was,   in  the  first  instance,  to  co- 
operate with  Admiral  Cockburn,  in  the  destruction  of  Commo- 
dore Barney's  squadron,  which  he  had  for  some  time   been 
F ^c"  Co      blockading.     On  the  22d,  the  expedition  reached  Pig  Point, 
morions  Bar-  and  descried  the  pendant  of  the  American  flotilla.     On  their 
neytode-    approach,  the  Americans  abandoned  their  fleet,  and   sixteen 
'  ^"tilia!    ""  ^^^^  '^^  seventeen  boats  were  blown  up  to  prevent  their  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.     The  British  were  now  distant 
only  sixteen  miles  from  Washington. 
Aug.  20.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  20th,  General  Winder,  apprised  of 

American    of  the  danger  of  the  capital,  advanced  from  it  towards  the 
SVmder^ad-  enemy,  and  on  the  22d  encamped  near  Marlborough.      Com* 
vances  from  modore  Barney  here  united  his  marines  with  Winder's  army. 
Washington,  'pjjg  president  of  the  United  States,  with  General  Armstrong, 
Aug.  22.     .^jjQ  ]^jj J  succeeded  Mr.  Eustis  as  secretary  of  war,  and  some 
marines,     of   the  Other  heads  of   department,  here  visited  the  camp 


BATTLE    OF    BLADENSBURG.  343 

It  was  resolved  to  fall  back  nearer  to  the  capital.  The  same  PART  IV. 
retreating  policy  was  pursued,  until  General  Winder  had  re-  period  ii. 
crossed  the  east/»rn  branch  of  the  Potomac.  Here  he  made  ^^a**-  ^J'- 
provisions  for  guarding  the  bridge,  it  being  supposed  the  ^--"^s^""*^ 
enemy  would  attempt  the  capital  from  tliis  point. 

In  the  meantime,  the  militia  from  Baltimore,  under  General 
Stansbury,  advanced  to  the  relief  of  Washington.     These,  to 
the  number  of  2,200,  including  a  company  of  artillery,  rested, 
on  the  night  of  the  23d,  near  Bladensburg.     Being  under  orders 
to  join  General  Winder,  they  commenced  their  march  on  the 
morning  of  the  24th,     But  it  was  now  discovered,  that,  al- 
though that  general,  or  those  under  whose  direction  he  acted,      1§14. 
had  carefully  set  a  trap  at  the  great  bridge  on  the  east  branch,      Enemy 
the   British   commander  did   not  choose  to  fall  into  it;  but  *Jv\-J^^road^ 
had  taken  for  safety  a  more  circuitous  route,  and  was  march- 
ing past  Washington,  to  gain  the  Bladensburg  road,  on  the 
north. 

General  Stansbury  now  met  an  order  from  Winder  to  re-     General 
trace  his  steps  to  Bladensburg,  and  there  give   battle  to  the    Stansbury. 
enemy.     Although  exhausted  by  fatigue,  and  the  heat  of  the 
season,  he  obeyed.     On  his  march  he  was  met  by  Colonel 
Monroe,  secretary  of  state,  who  had  been  scouring  the  adja- 
cent  country  for  volunteers.     He  proposed  to  Stansbury  to 
make  a  movement  in  order  to  get  in  the  enemy's  rear  ;  but 
that  general  being  under  orders  to  the  contrary,  did  not  feel  at     ^^^  ^^ 
liberty  to  follow  this  judicious  counsel.     About  noon  he  met  Americans 
the   enemy  near  Bladensburg.     General  Winder  soon  came  ^u^f  ^^^^  ^* 
up  with  the  main  body.     The  president  and  heads  of  depart-       burg, 
ment   were  on  the  field,   but   as  the   event  of  the  day  was 
doubtful,  and  they  had  documents  of  importance  to  secure, 
all  left  it  about  the  time  the  battle  began,  except  Colonel  Mon- 
roe, who  was  active  in  forming  and  bringing  forward  the  caval- 
ry of  General  Stansbury.     The  contest  which  ensued,  termina- 
ted as  might  have  been  expected  from  the  condition  of  the 
American  troops.     Many  of  the  militia  fled.     Commodore  Bar- 
ney, with  his  400  marines  and  a  small  battery,  fought  valiantly 
and  for  some  time  held  the  enemy  in  check  ;  but  he  was  at 
length  wounded  and  made  prisoner.     The  regulars  and  mili- 
tia of  the  district  of  Columbia  stood  their  ground  for  a  time, 
but  at  length  they  left  the   field  and  retreated  towards  Wash- 
ington. 

They  were  now  joined  by  fresh  militia  from  Virginia,  and  They  rail/ 
upon  the  heights  they  formed  again,  and  once  more  interposed  p^^"^  ^^'=*sh 
a  l)arrier  between  Washington  and  its  invaders.     But  on  sur-  ^"lefeatadT 
veying  their  numbers,  wasted  by  the  flight  of  the  timid,  and 
the  fall  of  the  brave,  they  were  found   inadequate  to  the  task 
of  its  defense. 

General  Ross  entered  Washington  at  eight  in  the  evening.     General 
and  with  that  oarDarism   which  disting-uished  the   Goths  and  vvS.i^"^um 
Vandals  of  the  middle   ages,  but  which  is  unknown  to  civili- 


844 


THE    BRITISH    IN    WASHINGTON. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.   XIV. 


1§14. 

General 
Ross  enters 

Washing- 
ton; burns 

and  plun- 
ders. 


American 

and  British 

loss. 


British  bar- 
barism de- 
feats British 
policy. 


Aug.  27. 
Alexandria 
capitulates. 


British  re- 
pulsed at 
Beliair. 


Sept.  11. 
The  Biilish 
proceed  to 
Baltijnore. 


zed  warfare,  his  troops  burnt,  not  only  the  capital,  which  ^as 
in  an  unfinished  state,  but  its  extensive  library,  records,  and 
other  collections,  appertaining  not  to  war,  but  to  peace  and 
civilization.  The  public  offices  and  the  president's  house 
were  wantonly  sacrificed,  together  with  many  private  dwel- 
lings. The  public  stores  at  the  navy-yard,  and  the  vessels  on 
the  stocks  had  been  burned  by  order  of  the  president,  to  pre- 
vent their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  invaders.  The  expen- 
sive bridge  across  the  Potomac  was  also  destroyed.  The 
loss  of  public  property  alone,  amounted  to  one  million  of 
dollars. 

The  British,  though  they  had  entered  the  capital,  had  learn- 
ed enough  of  the  people,  to  satisfy  them  that  it  would  not  be 
wise  to  attempt  keeping  possession.  General  Ross  left  it  on 
the  evening  of  the  25th,  and  reached  the  fleet,  still  in  the  Pa- 
tuxent,  on  the  evening  of  the  27th. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans,  in  the  battle  of  Bladensburg 
was  eighty  in  killed  and  wounded ;  that  of  the  enemy,  249. 
Their  loss  during  this  expedition,  amounted  to  400  killed  and 
wounded,  and  500  either  taken  prisoners  or  deserted. 

Had  the  British  confined  themselves  to  the  capture  and  de 
struction  of  public  property  appropriated  to  warlike  purposes, 
the  Americans  would  have  felt  deeply  their  humiliation,  and 
the  resentment  of  the  nation  might,  as  was  expected  in  Eng- 
land, have  fallen  upon  the  public  servants  ;  but  the  manner  in 
which  the  advantage  was  used,  produced,  in  the  minds  of  the 
people,  a  vindictive  feeling  against  the  conquerors,  which 
swallowed  up  all  minor  resentments,  and  united  the  nation, 
not  in  a  wish  for  peace,  but  in  high  resolves  for  war. 

In  the  meantime,  the  squadron,  under  Captain  Gordon, 
passed  up  the  Potomac  without  opposition,  and  appeared  be- 
fore Alexandria,  on  the  27th  of  August.  The  inhabitants  en- 
entered  into  a  capitulation,  by  which  they  delivered  up  their 
merchandise  and  shipping  to  the  enemy ;  who,  aden  with  a 
rich  booty,  returned  to  the  ocean,  though  not  v/ithout  being 
much  annoyed  from  the  shore  as  they  passed. 

The  squadron  which  had  sailed  up  the  Chesapeake,  under 
Sir  Peter  Parker,  landed  about  250  marines,  for  the  purpose 
of  surprising  200  militia,  who  were  encamped  near  Bellair, 
under  Colonel  Reed.  They  were  repulsed  with  the  lo&s  of 
forty-one  killed  and  wounded  ;  Sir  Peter  Parker  himself  being 
among  the  latter. 

Admiral  Cochrane  having  received  on  board  his  fleet  the 
elated  conquerors  of  Washington,  the  combined  land  and  sea 
forces  moved  on,  in  the  confidence  of  victory,  to  the  attack 
of  Baltimore.  After  passing  down  the  Patuxent,  they  as- 
cended the  Chesapeake,  and  on  the  11th  of  September,  ap- 
peared at  the  mouth  of  the  Patapsco,  fourteen  miles  from 
Baltimore. 

On  the  morning  of  the  12th,  General  Ross,  with  an  army 


THE    ENEMY    REPULSED    AT    BALTIMORE.  34& 

amounting  to  about  5,000,  debarked  at  North  Point,  and  com-  PART  IV. 
menced  his  march  towards  the  city. 

General  Smith  commanded  the  whole  force  of  the  defend- 
ers.     Watching  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  he  dispatclied 
about  2,300  men,  under  General  Strieker,  who,  on  the   ilth,     1814. 
marched  towards   North   Point.     They  hahed  at  night  seven  g^^jgiJel- 
miles  from  the  city.     On  the  morning  of  the   12th,  informa-    Baltimore, 
tion  was  received  of  the  landing  of  the   enemy,  and  General 
Strieker  advanced  to  meet  them.      A  skirmish  between  the 
advanced  parties  ensued,  in  which  General  Ross  was  killed.     Death  of 
The  command  then  devolved  on  Colonel  Brooke,  who,  having 
the  instructions  of  General  Ross,  continued  to  move  forward. 
An  action  commenced  at  about  half  past  three,  by  a  discharge 
of  cannon  on  both  sides.    After  maintaining  the  contest  for  some     General 
time,  the  Americans  gave  way,  and  General  Strieker  retired  Strieker  re 
behind  an  entrenchment  on  the  heights,  where  General  Smith       ^^'^^^• 
was  stationed  with  the  main  arm5^ 

On  the  morning  of  the  1 3th,  the  British  adv^anced  within  a     ggpt.  13. 
mile  and  a  half  of  the  camp,  and  manoeuvred  to  draw  forth  the     General 
Americans  ;    but  General  Smith  had  the  advantage  of  ground    jJnt  con^* 
and  position,  and  v.qsely  maintained  it.     Colonel  Brooke  was       duct, 
aware  that  the  republicans  were  superior  to  him  in  numbers  as 
well  as  position  ;  he  therefore  made  no  attempt  upon  them  du- 
ring the  day,  but  disposed  his  troops  for  a  night  attack. 

In  the  evening,  he  received  a  communication  from  Admiral    Cochrane 
Cochrane,  the  commander  of  the  naval  forces,  informing  him  ^pHenryT* 
that  Fort  M'Henry  had  resisted  all   his  efforts,  and  that  the    and  is  re- 
entrance  of  the  harbor  was  blocked  up  by  vessels  sunk  for      Pulsed, 
that  purpose,  and  that  a  naval  co-operation  against  the  towii'Britishaba* 
and  camp,  was  impracticable.     Colonel  Brooke  not  choosing,  don  the  en 
therefore,  to  hazard  an  attack,  moved  off  in  the  night ;  and,  on.      ^rpnse. 
the  1 5th,  re-embarked  at  North  Point. 

Great  was  the  joy  at  Baltimore,  when,  on  the  morning  of 
the  15th,  the  "  star-spangled  banner"  was  still  seen  to  wave 
over  Fort  M'Henry,  and  the  city  was  no  longer  threatened 
with  destruction. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

Maine. — Invasion  of  Plattsburg. — Macdpnougli's  Victory. 

On  the  11th  of  July,  Commodore  Hardy,  with  eight  ships       July, 
and  2,000  men,  made  a  descent  upon  the  coast  of  Maine,  and,  ^°™j.^y°^ 
without  resistance,  took  possession   of  Eastport  and   all  the  makes  a  de- 
towns  on  the  west  side  of  Passamaquoddy  Bay.     Many  of  the  scent  upon 
inhabitants  remained,  but  it  was  on  the  degrading  condition  ^  '^^^^J^ 
of  acknowledging   themselves  the  subjects  of   Great  Britain. 


34(5 


INVASION    OF    PLATTSBURG. 


Aug.  9. 
British  at- 
tack Sto- 
nington,   but 
arfe  repulsed. 


July  and 
August. 
Sir  George 
Provost  is 
reinforced. 

He  medi- 
tates  an  in- 
vasion. 


Sept.  3. 
He  invades 
at  Chain- 
plain. 

His  procla- 
mation 
arouses  the 
people  with- 
out distinc- 
tion of  party. 


In  August,  the  governor  of  New  Brunswick,  with  the  aid 
of  Admiral  Griffith,  invaded  Maine,  took  possession  of  Cas- 
tine,  which  had  been  previously  evacuated,  and  proceeded  up 
the  Penobscot  river  to  Hamden,  where  the  frigate  .John  Ad- 
ams had  been  placed  for  preservation.  The  militia  who  had 
been  stationed  for  its  defense,  fled  on  their  approach,  and  the 
frigate  was  blown  up,  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of 
the  British.  A  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  council  of  New 
Brunswick,  declaring  the  country  east  of  the  Penobscot  in 
possession  of  the  king  of  Great  Britain  ;  and  a  direct  conniui- 
nication  was  opened  through  it,  between  New  Brunswick  and 
Canada.  The  British  continued  to  occupy  this  section  of 
Maine  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

A  British  fleet  under  Commodore  Hardy  appeared  before 
Stonington.  They  landed  and  attacked  at  different  points. 
So  far  were  they  from  finding  that  Connecticut  was  attached 
to  the  British  cause,  that  no  where  had  their  predatory  excur- 
sions been  met,  by  the  militia,  with  more  spirit.  Even  the 
women  shared  the  zeal  for  the  common  cause.  After  bom- 
barding the  place  for  three  days,  Commodore  Hardy  drew  ofi 
his  fleet. 

During  the  months  of  July  and  August,  the  British  army  in 
Canada  was  augmented  by  another  considerable  body  of  those 
troops,  who  had,  under  Lord  Wellington,  acquired  experience 
and  reputation  in  the  war  of  the  Spanish  peninsula.  With 
these  Sir  George  Provost  determined  to  invade  America,  by 
the  same  route  that  Burgoyne  had  formerly  pursued,  and  per- 
haps, with  the  same  expectation  of  penetrating,  by  the  way 
of  Lake  Champiain  and  the  Hudson,  to  New  York.  A  part 
of  his  baggage,  like  that  of  Burgoyne,  consisted  of  arms  and 
clothing,  for  those  whom  he  expected  would  flock  to  his  stand- 
ard. Such  a  belief  had  been  excited  by  the  smugglers  from 
the  United  States,  who  wished  to  court  favor  with  the  British 
in  Canada,  and  by  the  republican  party  who  had  too  freely  ac- 
cused their  opponents  with  being  the  friends  of  the  British. 

The  army  at  Plattsburg  having  been  reduced  by  the  depar- 
ture of  General  Izard  for  Fort  Erie,  Sir  George  Provost  con- 
centrated his  force  on  the  frontier,  and  entered  the  American 
territory  on  the  3d  of  September.  From  Champiain,  he  issued 
a  proclamation,  giving  the  assurance  that  his  arms  would  on- 
ly be  directed  against  the  government,  and  those  who  support- 
ed it ;  while  no  injury  should  be  done  to  the  peaceful  and 
unoffending  inhabitants. 

The  fire  of  genuine  patriotism  rt- Idndlff]  ir.  the-  breasts  of 
the  Americans,  when  they  heard  that  an  invading  enemy  had 
dared  to  call  on  the  people  to  separate  the.n-tselves  from  their 
government.  The  inhabitants  of  the  northern  part  of  New 
York,  and  the  hardy  sons  of  the  Green  Mountains,  without 
distinction  of  party,  rose  in  arms,  and  hastened  towards  the 
scene  of  action. 


MACDONOUGIl's    VICTORY.  347 

Sir  Geoige  Provost,  at  the  head  of  14,000  troops,  march-  PART  IV. 
iiig  in  two  cohmms,  now  advanced  upon  Plattsbnrg-.  One  I'eriod  il 
column,  with  all  the  baggage  and  artillery,  proceeded  by  the  ^"^p  ^^• 
lake  road,  and  the  other,  under  the  command  of  General  Bris-  ^-^^v-**--' 
bane,  by  Beekmantown. 

Parties   of  the   Americans  were  detached,  who  obstructed     1§14. 
their  way,  by  breaking  down  bridges  and  felling  trees.     On  sk'''^'^"i^( 
the  morning  of  the  Gth,  Major  Wool,  with  a  small  corps  of  reg-   twoca  the 
ulars,   met  General   Brisbane   seven  miles   from    Plattsburg,   advance  of 
where  a  smart  skirmish  ensued.     From  the  superior  force  of  cans  alTd  the 
the  British,  the   Americans   were   compelled  to   retreat,   not,     BritisL 
however,  without  disputing  the  ground,  and  killing  or  wound- 
ing 200  of  the  enemy  ;  among  whom  was  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Wellington.      The    Americans    lost   forty-five  in   killed   and 
wounded.     Sir  George  arrived  in  the  course  of  the  morning,  ^H^sh  force 
with  the  main  column,  and   encamped  his  whole  army  before       before 

Plattsburg.  Plattsburg. 

The  situation  of  General  Macomb,  who  had  succeeded  Gen-  situation  of 
eral  Izard  in  command,   was   critical   in   the   extreme.     His  the  Ameri- 
whole  regular  force  did  not  exceed  2,000,  and  his   fortifica-  '^p'll^^sburg^ 
tions   were   merely  a  show  of   defense.      Had   Sir   George 
pursued  Major  Wool  across  the  Saranac,  on  the  morning  of 
the  Gth,  he  could  have   taken  with  ease,  the  works  occupied 
by  Macomb  and  his   army,  but  he  preferred  to  w^ait  until  the 
two  fleets  should  have  settled  the  supremacy  of  the  lake. 

On  the  morning  of  the    11th  of  September,   Sir   George     Sept.  Ji. 

formed  his   army  in  two  columns,  preparatory  to  an  assault.    Platjsburg 

One  column  passed  the  Saranac,  and  placed  itself  in  the  rear    American 

of  the  American  position,  while  the  other  was  in  the  village    army  me- 

in  front,  ready  to  advance  whenever  the  order  might  be  given,   ^^^^^^  ?1* 

•'  .    ,       .       .  ^  r>ii  11  force  supe- 

or  circumstances   might  justify.     Such  was  the  threatening  rior  to  their 

position  of  the  army,  when  the  British  fleet  made  its  appear-  '^^'^ 
ance  in  the  bay  of  Plattsburg.  It  was  commanded  by  Com- 
modore Downie,  and  was  composed  of  the  Confiance,  a  frigate 
of  thirty -nine  guns,  a  brig  of  sixteen,  two  sloops  of  eleven,  and 
several  galleys,  mounting,  in  the  whole,  ninety-five  guns,  and 
having  1 ,000  men.  The  American  squadron,  under  Commo- 
dore Macdonough,  which  was  anchored  in  the  bay,  mounted 
no  more  than  eighty-six  guns,  and  had  only  820  men.  It  con- 
sisted of  the  Saratoga  of  twenty-six  guns ;  the  Eagle  of 
twenty  ;  the  Ticonderoga  of  seventeen  ;  the  Preble,  of  seven, 
and  ten  galleys. 

The  enemy,  having  the  advantage  in  choice  of  position,  an-     Macooa 
chored  within  three  hundred  yards  of  the  American  line,  and  ougli's  skiH 
at  9  o'clock  began  the  fight.     The  surface  of  the  lake  was  un-  ^"^  ^'^^'"^ 
ruffled,  and  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  the  Saratoga  and  Confiance 
poured  upon  each  other  a  destructive  fire,  while  the  smaller 
vessels  commenced  a  close  and  spirited  action.     The  Eagle         r  ■  -j, 
then  cut  her  cable,  and  passing  between  the  Ticonderoga  and  fleet  dafeat- 
Satatoga,  increased  the  danger  of  the  American  conunodore,        ed. 
24* 


848  RETREAT  OF  SIR  GEORGE  PROVOST. 

PART  IV.  by  leaving  him  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  brig. 

PERIOD  II.  His  gims  were  dismounted,   or  had  become  unmanageable ; 

CHAP.  XVI.   when,  by  the  skillful  manueuvre   of    waring  his  ship,  which 

^--•^v^^*-^  Commodore   Downie   vainly  attempted,  he   brought  a  fresh 

broadside  to  bear  upon  the  Confiance,  which  soon  compelled 

her  to  surrender.     The  smaller  vessels  were  of  course  obliged 

to  follow  her  example,  and  the  whole  British  fleet  on  the  lake 

remained  with  the  Americans,  as  trophies  of  their  victory. 

The  British  loss  was  eighty-four  killed,  and  one  hundred 
and  ten  wounded  ;  among  the  former  was  Commodore  Downie 
The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  fifty-two  killed  and  iifty-eighf. 
wounded. 

When  the  engagement  between  the  fleets  began,  the  British 
land  army  opened  their  batteries  upon  the  American  works ; 
but  they  soon  ceased ;  for  the  moment  Sir  George  perceived 
that  his  fleet  was  captured,  he  recalled  his  columns  from  the 
o-   P  contemplated  assault,  and,  leaving  behind  him  large  quantities 

Provost  re-  of  ammunition  and  military  stores,  he  retreated  in  great  haste 
treats  in  great  towards  Canada.     The  column  placed  in  the  rear  of  the  Ame- 
^^^^'       ricans,   was  pursued  by  General   Strong,  of  Vermont,  who 
commanded  the  volunteers.     The  soldiers  of  one  of  the  re- 
treating companies,  were  either  killed,  wounded,  or  captured. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

Bloody  Sea-fight.— The  Hartford  Convention. 

Commodore       Co.MMODORE  PoRTER,  who  had  sailed  in  the  frigate  Essex, 
Z° p^J  ^^ '^■'  ^^'^^  cruised  in  the  Pacific  ocean,  and  had  greatly  annoyed  the 
tkc  Pacific,  enemy's  commerce,  having  captured  twelve  armed  whale  ships, 
whose  aggregate  force  amounted  to  107  guns,  and  302  men. 
One  of  these  prizes  was  equipped,  named  the   Essex  Junior, 
and  given  in  command  to  Lieutenant  Downes,  by  whom  it  was 
employed  to  conduct  the  prizes,  made  by  Porter,  to  the  neu- 
tral port  of  Valparaiso. 
Commodore       To  meet  the  Essex,  the  British  admiralty  had  sent  out  Corn- 
out  to'^mTet^  modijre  Ilillyar,  with  the   Phebe  frigate,  carrying  fifty-three 
Porter,      guns  and  320  men,  accompanied  by  Captain  Tucker,  with  the 
Cherub  sloop  of  war,  mounting  twenty-eight  guns,  and  having 
180  men.     The  Essex  carried  forty-six  guns  and  250  men, 
and  her  consort  twenty  guns  and  sixty  men. 
Commodore       ^"  learning  the  vicinity  of  his  enemy.  Commodore  Porter 
Porter  at  the  Steered  ibr  the  island  of  Noaheevah,  to  refit.     Of  this  island 
^U?^^d^^!^    he  took  possession,  in  the  name  of  the  American  government, 

'     calling  it,  in  honor  of  the  president,  Madison's  Island, 
at  Valparai-       Leaving  three  of  his  vessels  under  the  charge  of  Lieutcn- 
8o.  ant  Gamble,  he  proceeded  to  Valparaiso,  and  there,  as  he  ex- 


con- 


THE    ESSEX    CAPTURED  349 

pcctcd  met  with  Commodore  Hillyar,  who,  for  several  months,  PART  IV. 
had  sought  him.  Finding,  to  his  regret,  that  his  adversary's  period  u. 
force  was  greatly  superior  to  his  own,  Porter  remained  block-  chap.  xvi. 
aded  at  Valparaiso,  for  six  weeks. 

Determining  at  length  to  attempt  an  escape,  he  set  sail  with 
a  fair  wind,  but  on  rounding  the  point  at  the  entrance  of  the 
harbor,  a  sudden  squall  carried  away  his  maintopmast.     Thus 
disabled,  he  anchored  in  a  small  bay  near  the   shore,  hoping  'It'rTrT 
that  the   neutrality  of  the  place  would  protect  him.     But  the  tact  with  the 
liritish  frigrite  pressed  on.     Porter  met  her  assault  so  warm-      ^"<^™y- 
ly,  that  ifi  half  an  hour,  the  Phebe  was  obliged  to  retire  and 
repair  hor  damages.     She  however  soon   returned,  and  being 
able  to  choose  her  distance,  she  placed  herself  out  of  the  shot 
of  the  guns  of  her  antagonist,  but  where  her  own  of  a  longer 
reach  poured  upon  the  Essex  a  destructive  fire.     As  the  Ame-  The  battle  ol 
rican  sailors  fell  at  the  guns,  others  stepped  into  their  places,  ^^^^  ylehe. 
till  in  this  way,  one  gun  was  manned  the  third  time.     Porter 
attempted  to  board,  but  his  masts  were  shot  away,  and  his 
ship  was  unmanageable.     He  next  endeavored  to  run  ashore, 
but  the  wind,  shifting,  blew  him  upon   the  raking  fire  of  his 
enemy.      The  Essex  now  burst  into  flames,  and  before  they 
could  be   extinguished,  a  quantity  of   gunpowder  exploded. 
Still  the  Americans  kept  up  the  fight.     At  length  the  commo- 
dore thought  of  consulting  his  officers  on  the  subject  of  sur- 
render.    Only  one,  Lieutentant  M' Knight,  remained.     Porter 
then  struck  his  colors  ;  but  the  enemy's  firing  continued  ten 
minutes  afterwards.     Seventy-five  were  all  that  remained  of 
die  crew  of  the  Essex. 

Commodore  Porter  was  sent  on  parole,  in  the  Essex  Junior,    Porter  re- 
to  the  United  States,  where  he  was  received  at  New  York  turns  in  the 
with  distinguished  honors.     The  desperate   valor  which  he      ^^^^'     ' 
displayed  in  this,  the  most  bloody  naval  action  of  the  war, 
will  give  his  memory  to  future  ages,  as   a  hero  of  the  same 
class  as  Paul  Jones. 

On  the  2 1st  of  April,  the  United  States' sloop  of  war  Frolic,  Frohc  cap- 
commanded  by  Commodore  Bainbridge,  was  captured  by  the  ^^"i^fitlgii/-^ 
Orpheus  frigate.  On  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  the  United  E;.enierby 
States'  sloop,  the  Peacock,  of  which  Captain  Warrington  was  the  Amcri- 
the  commander,  captured  the  British  brig  Epervier,  command- 
ed by  Captain  Wales. 

The  Wasp,  commanded  by  Captain  Blakely,  left  Portsmouth, 
(N.  H.)  on  the  18th  of  May.     On  the  28th  of  June,  near  the   xhe^Wasp 
entrance  to  St.  Georj^e's  channel,  she  fell  in  with  the  Eng-  leaves  Porta 
lish  brig  Reindeer,  commanded  by  Captain   Manners.     After      moutn. 
an  action  of  nineteen  minutes,  the  Reindeer  lost  her  com-  p*^^^"^^,^" 
mander  and  purser,  twenty-seven  men  killed  and  forty-two    the  Rein- 
wounded,  and  having  made  two  unsuccessful  attempts  to  board        deer, 
the  Wasp,  she  was  herself  boarded  by  the  American  vessel,  and 
taken,  but  in  a  condition  so  shattered  that  she  was  burned. 

The  Wasp  continued  her  cruise,  and  after  making  several 


350 


THE    OPPOSITION    IN    NEW    ENGLAND. 


CHAP.   XVI. 


can  govern 
ment. 


PART  IV.   captures  put  into  the  port  of  TOrient,  in  France,  on  the  8th  of 
PERIOD  II.   July.     She  remained  there  until  the  27th  of  August,  and  when 
four  days  at  sea,  she  met  the  brig  Avon,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Arbuthnot.     After  a  severe  action  of  forty-five  minutes, 
1814.     and  after  orders  were  given  to  board  her,  three  Britisli  vessels 
Aug.  31,     appeared  in   sight,  and  Captain   Blakely  was  compelled  to 
counters  the  abandon  the  contest.     The  Avon  sunk  soon  after  he  left  her. 
Avon.       During  the  remainder  of  the  cruise.  Captain  Blakely  captured 
founders  at^  fifteen  merchant  vessels  ;  but  he  never  returned  to  port ;  nor 
sea.        is  it  known  what  was  the  fate  of  the  vessel  and  her  gallant 
crew. 

In  October,  communications  were  received  from  the  Amen 
can  commissioners  in  Europe,  from  which  it  appeared  that 
Great  Britain  demanded  such  terms  as  extinguished  the  hopes 
Difficult  ^^  ^  speedy  reconciliation.  In  the  meantime  the  situation  of 
situation  of  affairs  in  the  United  States,  was  such  as  to  alarm  the  friends 
the  Ameri-  ^f  ^j^g  country.  The  expenditure  of  the  nation  greatly  ex- 
ceeded its  income,  its  credit  was  low,  its  finances  disordered, 
and  the  opposition  of  the  federal  party  to  the  administration 
was  unremitted.  Congress,  however,  shrunk  not  from  the  du- 
ties which  the  crisis  imposed.  New  loans  were  authofized, 
taxes  augmented,  and  vigorous  preparations  made  for  prosecu- 
ting the  war.  Mr.  Monroe  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  war 
department,  in  the  place  of  General  Armstrong.  The  affair 
of  Washington  had  injured  the  popularity  of  Armstrong,  and 
much  increased  that  of  Monroe. 

The  opposition  had,  at  this  time,   assumed  a  bold  attitude. 
Some  of  the  New  England  states   had  not  only   refused  lo 
call   out  their  militia,   but  Massachusetts  even  proposed  to 
withhold  the  revenue  of  the  state  from  the  general  governmenL 
Legislatures  ^  convention  of  delegates  from  the  New  England  states  was 
chusettr    proposed,  the  object  of  which  was,  to  take  into  consideration 
Connecticut,  the  situation  of  the  country,  and  to  decide  upon  such  measures 
and  Rhode    ^^  might  lead  to  a  redress  of  supposed  grievances.     Members 
choose  dele-  Were  appointed  by  the  legislatures  of    Massachusetts,  Con- 
gates,       necticut,  and  Rhode  Island,     Two  members  from  New  Hamp- 
shire,  and   one    from    A^ermont,    were   appointed    at   county 
>       meetings. 

The  convention  assembled  at  Hartford,  in  Connecticut,  on 

Dec.  15      the  15th  of  December,  and  sat  nearly  three  weeks  with  closed 

Meeting  of   j^Qj-g^     After  their  adiournraent,   they  published  an  address, 

the  conven-      ,  .  ,  .         ,  -^  '  •  i 

tion  at  Hart-  chargmg  the  national  government  with  pursuing  measures 
ford.        hostile  to  the  interests  of  New  England,   and  recommending 
amendments     of   the     federal     constitution.      Among    these 
dress^a^nd    amendments,  it  was  proposed  that  congress  should  have  no 
proposed     powcr  to  lay  an  embargo  for  more  than  sixty  days,   that  they 
mendments  gl^ould  not  interdict   commercial  intercourse,  or  declare  war 
Btitution.'    without  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  both   houses  ;    that 
no  person,  who  shall  be  hereafter  naturalized,  shall  be  eligi- 
ble to  a  seat  in  the  senate  or  house  of  representatives,  or  hold 


DELEGATES  CONVENE  AT  HARTFORD.  35] 

any  civil  ofllce  under  the  government  of  the  United  States  ;  PART  IV^ 
and  that  the  same  person  shall  not  be  twice  elected  to  the 
office  of  president  of  the  United  States,  nor  the  president 
elected  from  the  same  state  for  two  successive  terms.  A  res- 
olution was  passed,  which  i)rovided  for  the  calling  of  another 
convention,  if  the  United  States  "  should  refuse  their  consent 
to  arrangements,  whereby  the  New  England  states,  separately, 
or  in  concert,  might  be  empowered  to  assume  upon  themselves, 
the  defence  of  their  territory  against  the  enemy,  and  appro- 
priate therefor,  such  part  of  the  revenue  raised  in  those  states 
as  might  be  necessary."  The  committee  appointed  by  the 
convention  to  communicate  these  resolves  to  the  government 
proceeded  to  Washington ;  having  met  on  the  way,  the 
news  of  peace.  The  proposed  amendments  of  the  constitu- 
tion were  submitted  lo  the  several  states,  and  rejected  by  all,  181. f. 
except  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  and  Connecticut.  Prob-  Public preju 
ably  there  had  been  no  measure  taken  since  America  was  a  ^^^^' 
nation,  which  subjected  the  agents  to  more  severe  personal, 
as  well  as  political  censure.  But  party  heat  having  subsided, 
candid  minds  are  now  ready  to  allow,  that  their  views  were 
•\i  a  degree  misunderstood,  and  their  actions  misrepresented* 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

British  invasion  and  defeat  at  New  Orleans. 

After  the  peace  with  the  Creeks,    General  Jackson  had     ^^g  15^ 
fixed  his  head-quarters  at  Mobile.     Here  he  learned  that  three  Jackson  at 
British  ships  had  entered  the  harbor  of  Pensacola,  and  landed     ^^o^^^^. 

*  The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  E-'q,  one 
of  tlie  most  distinguished  citizens  of  Massachusetts,  and  regarded  as  tho  lead- 
ing member  of  this  convention,  to  the  author  of  this  work,  who  had  requested 
him  to  give  a  brief  view  of  the  motives  of  those  engaged  in  promoting  the 
measure. 

"  The  Hartford  Convention,  far  from  being  the  original  contrivance  of  a  cabal, 
for  any  purpose  of  faction  or  disunion,  was  a  result,  growing  by  natural  con- 
sequences out  of  existing  circumstances.  More  than  a  year  previous  to  its  in- 
stitution, a  convention  was  simultaneously  called  for  by  the  people,  in  their 
town  meetings,  in.  all  parts  of  Massachusetts.  Petitions  to  that  effect  were  ac- 
cumulated on  the  taoles  of  the  legislative  chamber.  They  were  postponed  for 
twelve  months,  by  the  influence  of  those  who  now  sustain  the  odium  of  the 
measure.  The  adoption  of  it  was  th^  consetjuence,  not  the  source  of  a  popular 
sentiment ;  and  it  was  intended,  by  tViose  who  voted  for  it,  as  a  safety-valve  by 
which  the  steam  arising  from  the  fermentation  of  the  times  might  escape,  not  as 
a  boiler  in  which  it  should  be  generated.  Whether  good  or  ill,  it  was  a  meas- 
ore  of  the  people,  of  states,  of  legislatures.  How  unjust  to  brand  the  unwil- 
ling agents,  the  mere  committee  of  legislative  bodies,  with  the  stigma  of  facts 
which  were  first  authoiized,  and  then  sanctioned  by  their  constituted  assem 
bUes  !" 

In  addition  to  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Otis,  the  fact  may  be  mentioned,  that  in 
sonie  parts  of  New  England,  the  people  of  the  federal  party  vserc  so  much  ex- 
cited, that  they  had  a  military  organization.  What  were  its  definite  objects,  or 
how  far  it  extended,  is  unknown 


sm 


THE    BARRATARIANS. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.  XVII. 


1§14. 

Colonel 
NiehoUs  at 
Pensacola. 

Colonel 
NichoUs' 
proclama- 
tion. 


The  Barra- 
tarians. 


La  Fitte  re- 
ceives dis- 
closures 
from 

NicnoUs. 


He  informs 
gcvernor 
Claiborne, 
and  is  par- 
doned. 


Oct.  30. 
Jackson 
leaves  Mo- 
bile, and, 


about  300  men,  under  Colonel  Nichplls,  together  with  a  large 
quantity  of  guns  and  ammunition,  to  arm  the  Indians.  He 
also  learned  that  the  British  meditated  a  descent,  with  a  large 
force,  upon  the  southern  shores  of  the  United  States.  He 
immediately  made  a  call  for  the  militia  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  promptly  furnished  with  two  thousand  men  by  that  patri- 
otic  state. 

Colonel  Nichoils  issued  a  proclamation,  which  was  address* 
ed  to  the  inhabitants  of  Louisiana,  Kentucky,  or  Tennessee, 
inviting  them  to  return  to  their  allegiance  to  the  British  gov- 
ernment, and  help  to  restore  the  country  to  its  rightful  owner. 
This  proclamation  produced  no  excitement  among  the  people, 
except  upon  their  risiblcs.  If  this  attempt  manifested  Nich- 
oils to  be  weak  and  ignorant,  another  showed  liim  to  be 
wicked. 

West  of  the  moutli  of  the  Mississippi,  the  island  of  Barrataria 
became  the  resort  of  a  band  of  marauders,  who,  by  their  daring 
courage,  the  celerity  and  mysterious  secrecy  of  their  move- 
ments, kept  the  country  in  a  state  of  perpetual  ahu-m  ; 
now  appearing,  to  strike  some  unexpected  blow  of  robbery, 
perhaps  of  murder,  sometimes  by  sea,  sometimes  by  land  ; 
then  suddenly  disappearing, — and  constantly  eluding  pursuit. 
Their  numbers  were  formidable,  amounting  to  five  or  six 
hundred.  Their  leader,  La  Fitte,  was  subtle  and  courageous, 
and  though  unprincipled,  yet  possessing  traits  of  magnanim- 
ity. They  had  made  pretence  of  sailing  under  the  Cartha- 
genian  flag,  as  privateers,  but  their  prizes  were  condemned  in 
their  own  ports.  In  short,  they  were  by  land,  robbers  ;  by 
sea,  pirates.  The  American  authorities,  by  whom  they  were 
outlawed,  having  endeavored  to  root  them  out,  applied  to  the 
British  to  lend  their  assistance.  Instead  of  this,  NichoUs, 
disclosing  to  La  Fitte  that  a  powerful  attempt  was  to  be  made 
on  New  Orleans,  offered  him  a  large  reward,  if,  by  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  passes,  he  would  aid  the  British  in  their  approach 
to  the  threatened  city. 

La  Fitte  drew  from  him  important  facts,  and  then,  dismis- 
sing his  propositions  with  disdain,  disclosed  the  whole  to 
Claiborne,  governor  of  Louisiana.  Struck  with  this  act  of 
the  bandit's  generosity  for  a  country  which  had  set  a  price 
upon  his  head,  and  perceiving  how  valuable  would  be  the  ser- 
vices of  the  Barratarians  in  the  crisis  which  was  approach- 
ing. Governor  Claiborne,  by  a  proclamation,  offered  pardon  to 
the  whole  band,  if  they  would  come  forward  in  defense  of 
the  country,  They  joyfully  accepted  the  proposition,  and  af- 
terwards rendered  essential  services. 

General  .Jackson  had  represented  to  the  government,  that 
the  Spanish  had  violated  their  neutrality  by  suffering  the  Brit* 
ish  to  use  the  port  of  Pensacola  for  annoying  the  Americans, 
and  he  therefore  urged  the  propriety  of  taking  it  into  posses 
sion  during  the  war.     Not  having  received  an  answer,  he  de- 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEFENSE  AT  NEW  ORLEANS.  353 

lermined  to  hazard  the  responsibility  of  the  measure.  Ac  PART  IV. 
cordingly,  he  marched  from  Mobile,  at  the  head  of  nearly  'period  ii 
two  thousand  men,  and  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pensa-  chap.  xvn. 
cola  on  the  6th  of  November.  He  sent  a  flag  to  the  gover- 
nor, for  the  purpose  of  conference,  but  his  messenger  was 
fired  upon.  On  the  seventh,  he  entered  the  town,  carrying 
at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  a  battery  which  had  been  placed 
in  the  street  to  oppose  him.  The  governor  then  capitulated. 
The  British  troops  destroyed  the  forts  at  the  entrance  of  the 
harbor,  and  with  their  shipping  evacuated  the  bay. 

Jackson  was  there  informed  that  Admiral   Cochrane  had 
been  reinforced  at  Bermuda,  and  that  thirteen  ships  of  the  line,      Dec.  i. 
with  transports  and  an  army  of  ten  thousand  men,  were  ad-     '^^^/^'^^^ 
vancing.      Believing    New    Orleans  to  be  their  destination,     Orleans. 
he   marched  for  that  place,  and  reached  it  on  the  1st  of  De- 
cember. 

Early  in  the  month  of  September,  the  inhabitants  of  Lou-    New  Or- 
isiana  believed  that  the   British  were   about  to  invade  them    '^""^     ?? 

rm     ......  ened  with 

With  a  powerful  force.      Their  prmcipal  citizens,  among  whom    invasion 
were  Governor  Claiborne  and  Edward  Livingston,  beheld  the 
prospect  with  well-grounded  alarm.     This  part  of  the  union 
having  been  but  recently  annexed,  its  yeomanry  might  not 
feel  the   same  pride   of  country  as  those  of  older  states;  and 
New  Orleans  being  assailable  from  so  many  points,  it  was 
difficult  to  secure  it  in  all.     Yet,  far  from  being  discouraged 
by  difficulties,  the  exigency  proved  only  a  stimulant  to  great- 
er exertions.      Governor   Claiborne   immediately  issued  his 
proclamation,  calling  on  the  people  to  arm  for  the  defense  of    Sept.  16 
their   country  and  their  homes.     Mr.   Livingston,  at  a  meet-  ^Iri^ivmg 
ing  of  the  citizens,  who  convened  on  the  16th  of  September,      dress 
to  devise  measures  in   co-operation  with  the  government  of 
the  state,  made  an  eloquent  and  moving  appeal,  calling  on  the  'Called  on 
inhabitants  to  prove  the  assertion  a  slander,  that  they  were 
not  attached  to  the  American  government.     The  people  arous- 
ed ;  defenses  were  begun,  to  guard  the  principal  passes,  and  j^ckson  ar 
volunteer  corps  organized.     In  the  meantime,   General  Jack-  rives,  and  is 
son  arrived,  and  the  citizens  believing  that  he  would  preserve     invested 

,  .  J  111  .        •    .  .     \    ^  ^  '^^  ifh  dictato 

them  in  safety,  or  lead  them  to  victory,  Avere  content  to  put  j.[a\  powers. 
all  their  strength,  pecuniary   and  physical,  at  his  disposal. 
Confident  in  his  own  energies,  he  took,  with  a  firm  and  un- 
wavering step,  the  perilous  post  assigned  him. 

At  length  it  was  ascertained  that  the  enemy,  with  sixty  sail,  The  British 
were  off  Ship  Island.     Jackson  forgot  no  measure  to  increase  ^^'^t'^^  ?^P 

,  .         .,.  K  -,       .  r>>       •  1  •  island. 

his  military  lorce,  or  make  it  more  etiective  ;  or  to  put  at  his 
disposal  more  laboring  hands,  in  the  building  of  defenses. 
The  motley  population  of  New  Orleans,  the  slaves,  the  free 
people  of  color,  Frenchmen,  Spaniards,  and  Americans,  all 
were  employed. 

The   enemy  had  passed  into  lake  Borgne.     A  naval  force,    •5Jl^,j^]5'^ 
consisting  of  several  small  vessels,  under  Lieutenant  Jones,     Boign« 


354 


ENERGY    ANJ    ACTIVITY. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.  XVII. 


The  extre- 
mity of  dan- 
ger in  New- 
Orleans  au- 
thorizes 
Jackson  to 
proclaim 
martial  law. 


Dec.  22. 
The  British 
land  below 
New  Or- 
leans, where 
they  repulse 
the  Ameri- 


The  Ameri- 
cans fortify 
themselves 
nearer  the 
city. 


jackson  s 

fortifications 

on  the  left 

bank 


met  them  at  one  of  the  straits  which  connect  that  lake  with 
Ponchartrain.  The  British,  being  provided  with  a  great  num- 
ber of  boats,  sent  forty-three,  with  twelve  hundred  men, 
against  the  American  flotilla,  which  was  manned  with  only- 
one  hundred  and  eighty  men.  After  a  spirited  defense  in 
which  Lieutenant  Jones  killed  a  considerable  number  of  the 
enemy  and  took  several  of  their  barges,  he  was  compelled  by 
their  superior  force  to  surrender.  The  loss  of  this  flotilla, 
which  had  been  supposed  adequate  to  defend  the  passes,  in- 
creased the  danger  which  threatened  New  Orleans. 

Having  reason  to  believe  that  there  were  persons  in  the 
city,  who  carried  intelligence  to  the  enemy,  an  embargo  was 
laid  for  three  days.  That  not  an  idle  hand  might  be  found, 
the  prisons  were  disgorged,  on  condition  that  the  prisoners 
should  labor  in  the  ranks,  where  already  La  Fitte  and  the 
Barratarians  were  employed.  To  keep  in  order  and  direct 
the  energies  of  such  a  mass,  General  Jackson  judged  that 
the  strong  arm  of  military  control  could  alone  be  efi'ectual. 
The  danger  of  the  time  was  extreme.  A  few  days  must  de^ 
cide  the  fate  of  the  cit}'.  The  general  therefore  took  the  daring 
responsibility  of  proclaiming  martial  la\^^ 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  December,  three  thousand 
British  troops,  under  General  Kean,  landed  at  the  head  of 
lake  Borgne,  and  at  two  o'clock,  after  making  prisoners  of  a 
small  advanced  party  of  Americans,  they  posted  themselves 
on  the  Mississippi,  about  nine  miles  below  New  Orleans. 
Apprehending  that  the  fleet  would  pass  the  strait  from  Borgne 
to  Ponchartrain,  and  that  thus  they  would  make  a  double  at- 
tack, Jackson  posted  a  part  of  his  force,  under  General  Car«. 
roll,  so  as  to  intercept  their  approach  in  that  direction. 

At  Ave  on  the  afternoon  of  the  23d,  General  Jackson,  ac^ 
companied  by  General  Cotfee,  having  the  co-operation  of  the 
Caroline,  an  armed  vessel,  attacked  the  enemy  in  their  posi- 
tion on  the  bank  of  the  river.  The  charge  of  the  Americans 
was  bravely  made,  but  the  British  troops  maintained  their  po- 
sition. A  thick  fog  coming  on.  General  Jackson  deemed  it 
prudent  to  draw  off  his  army.  Having  rested  on  the  field,  he 
withdrew  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  to  a  stronger  position, 
two  miles  nearer  the  city.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was 
about  one  hundred  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing ;  that  of 
the  British,  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  killed,  besides  a 
large  number  of  wounded. 

In  the  discretion  with  which  General  Jackson  now  took  his 
post,  and  the  diligence,  care,  and  activity  with  v/hich  he  for- 
tified it,  consists  much  of  the  merit  of  his  defense  of  New 
Orleans.  His  camp  occupied  both  banks  of  the  Mississippi. 
On  the  left  bank  was  a  parapet  of  a  thousand  yards  in  length 
in  the  construction  of  which  bags  of  cotton  were  used,  witli 
a  ditch  in  front,  containing  five  feet  of  water.  The  right 
wing  of  the  division  here  posted,  rested  on  the   river,  and 


BATTLE    OF    THE    EIGHTH    OF    JANUARY.  355 

the  left,  on  a  wood  which  nature  and  art  had  rendered  im-  PART  IV. 
pervious.  period  n. 

On  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  a  heavy  battery  enfiladed  chap,  xvhl 
the  whole  front  of  the  position  on  the  left.  The  entire  army  '--*'^^^^^->' 
were  vigorously  occupied  in  strengthening  these  lines.  ^'=^^  ^^"^ 

In  the  meantime,  the  British,  who  had  been  greatly  annoyed     .-  ^^^  - 
by  the  fire  of  the  Caroline,  constructed  a  battery,  which,  by  Qj^roline  d». 
means  of  hot  shot  set  fire   to  the  vessel,  and  blew  her  up ;     stroyed. 
she  having  been  one  hour  before  abandoned  by  her  crew. 

On  the  25th,  Sir  Edward   Packenham,  the  commander-in-     ^^^  ^^ 
chief  of  the  British  force,  accompanied  by  Major   General    British  at- 
Gibbs,  arrived  at  the  British  encampment  with  the  main  army,     tempt  to 
and  a  large  body  of  artillery.     On  the  28th,  Sir  Edward  ad-   /^^'ericans 
vanced  with  his  army  and  artillery,  intending  to  force  Jack-   from  their 
son  from  his  position.     At  the  distance  of  half  a  mile  from  position,  and 
the  American  camp,   he   opened  upon  their  yet  unfinished  ^^ 
works  a  heavy  cannonade.     This  was  met  on  the  part  of  the 
Americans,  by  the  broadsides  of  the  Louisiana,  then  lying  in 
the  river,  and  by  the  fire  of  their  batteries.     After  maintain- 
ing the  contest  for   seven  hours,  the  British  commander  re- 
tired  with  the  loss  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men.     The 
loss  of  the    Americans  was   inconsiderable,  being  only  six 
killed  and  twelve  wounded. 

While  engaged  in  the  conflict  of  the  28th,  General  Jackson 
was  informed  that  plans  for  entering  into  negotiations  with 
the  enemy,  were  forming  in  the  legislature  of  Louisiana, 
which  was  then  in  session.  In  the  moment  of  irritation,  he 
sent  an  order  to  Governor  Claiborne,  to  w^atch  their  conduct, 
and  if  such  a  project  was  disclosed,  to  place  a  military  guard 
at  the  door,  and  confine  them  to  their  chamber.  Governor 
Claiborne  misconstrued  the  order,  and  placed  a  guard  which 
prevented  their  assembling. 

On  the  morning  of  the  first  of  January,  the  enemy  having     1§15. 
constructed  batteries  near  the  American  lines,  opened  a  heavy  „  .f.^^-  ■*•  . 

^  ,  ,  ,  .  ,         '     ^  •'    lintish  again 

fire  upon  them,  and  at  the  same  tmie  made  an  attempt  to  turn    repulsed 
their  left  flank.     They  were  repulsed,  and  in  the   evening 
abandoned  their  position.     The  loss  of  the  Americans  was 
30  in  killed  and  w^ounded.     The  British  had  120  men  killed. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  General  Jackson  received  a  re-in- 
forcemei\t  of  twenty-five  hundred  Kentucky  militia,  under 
General  Adair.  On  the  6th,  the  British  army  was  augmented 
by  four  thousand  troops,  under  General  Lambert.  Their  army 
amounted,  at  this  time,  to  fourteen  thousand,  while  that  of 
General  Jackson  did  not  exceed  six  thousand. 

On  the  7th,  the  British  commanders  were  vigorously  pre- 
paring to  attack.  With  immense  labour  they  had  widened 
and  deepened  the  canal  from  lake  Borgne  to  the  Mississippi, 
so  that  on  the  night  of  the  seventh,  they  succeeded  in  getting 
their  boats  through  this  passage  from  the  lake  to  the  river. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  American  army  was  as-      Jan.  8 


356  LAST    SCENES    OF    THE    WAR. 

PART  IV.  sailed  by  a  shower  of  bullets  and   congreve  rockets.     The 
PERIOD  II.  British  army,   under  generals   Gibbs   and   Kean,  the   whole 
CHAP,  xvni.  commanded  by  Sir  Edward  Packenham,  had  marched  in  twc 
^-'^"'^^^'^'^^  divisions,  to  storm  the  American  entrenchments.     'J'he  batte- 
ries of  General  Jackson  opened  a  brisk  fire  upon  them,  but 
the  British  soldiers  advanced  slowly,  though  firmly,  carrying 
fascines  and  scaling  ladders.       The  keen  and  practiced  eyes 
Ifelo.     Qf  ^i^g  western  marksmen  were,  as  they  advanced,   selecting 

Jan.  8.         ,     .       .     .  -_ri  1  •  1  •  T       z'    T     .° 

Battle  of  their  victims.  When  the  enemy  were  within  reach  of  tneir 
New  Or-  rifles,  the  advanced  line  fired,  and  each  brought  down  his 
defeat 'of"the  ^'^^^'  Those  behind  handed  a  second  loaded  rifle  as  soon  as 
Bri'ish.  the  first  was  discharged.  The  plain  was  soon  strewed  with 
the  dead,  and  the  brave  foe  faltered,  and  retreated  in  confu- 
sion. Sir  Edward  appeared  among  his  men,  encouraging 
them  to  renew  the  assault,  when  two  balls  struck  him,  and  he 
fell  mortally  Avounded.  A  second  time  the  British  columns 
advanced,  and  a  second  time  retreated  before  the  deadly  fire 
of  the  Americans.  Again  their  thinned  ranks  were  closed, 
and  they  moved  forward  with  desperate  resolution.  Gene- 
rals Kean  and  Gibbs  were  now  both  wounded,  and  carried 
from  the  field,  and  their  troops  fell  back.  At  this  time.  Gen-. 
eral  Lambert,  who  commanded  the  reserve,  attempted  to  bring 
them  up,  but  the  day  was  irretrievably  lost.  The  retreating 
columns  had  fallen  back  in  disorder  upon  the  reserve,  and  all 
his  attempts  to  rally  them  were  in  vain. 

The   British  had  also  attacked  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
river,  and  there  they  were  successful ;  but  after  their  defeat 
Q*^^\?f      on  the  right,  they  abandoned  the  position.     The  disparity  of 
don  the  ex-'  ^^^s  on  this  occasion  is  utterly  astonishing.     While  that  of 
©edition  and  the  enemy  was  twenty-six  hundred,  that  of  the  Americans 
retire.       ^^^g  j^^^.   gg^g^   killed  and   six   wounded.      Completely  dis- 
heartened, the  British  abandoned  the  expedition  on  the  night 
of  the  18th,  leaving  behind,  their  wounded  and  artillery. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

Peace  with  England. — Nava^  combats. — War  with  Algiers. 

Feb.  18.  On  the  18th  of  February,  Fort  Bowyer,  commanded  by 

Fort  Bow-   Major  Lawrence,  with  a  garrison  amounting  to  three  hundred 

and  seventy,  was  invested  by  a  British  force,  six  thousand 

strong;  and  on  the  11th  of  March,  Lawrence  surrendered  his 

garrison  as  prisoners  of  war. 

Feb.  17.  On  the  17th  of  February,  while  the  Americans  were  yet 

cSmed?'   rejoicing  for  the  victory  at  New  Orleans,  a  special  messenger 

arrived  from  Europe    bringing  a  treaty  of  peace,  which  the 

commissioners  had  concluded  in  the  month  of  December,  at 


yer  snrreia 
cers. 


TREATY    OF    PEACE 


357 


Ghent.  This  treaty,  which  was  immediately  ratified  by  the 
president  and  senate,  stipukitcd  that  all  places  taken  during 
the  war  sliould  be  restored,  and  the  boundaries  between  the 
American  and  British  dominions  revised.  Yet  it  contained 
no  express  provision  against  those  maritime  outrages  on  the 
part  of  Great  Britain,  which  were  the  chief  causes  of  the 
war.  But  as  the  orders  in  council  had  been  repealed,  and 
the  motives  for  the  impressment  of  seamen  had  ceased 
with  the  wars  in  Europe,  these  causes  no  longer  existed  in 
fact ;  although  America  had  failed,  as  Europe,  combined  under 
the  name  of  the  armed  neutrality,  had  formerly  done,  to  com- 
pel England  to  the  formal  relinquishment  of  the  principles  on 
which  she  founds  her  arrogant  claims. 

The  warlike  ships  of  the  two  nations  were  many  of  them 
at  sea  when  the  treaty  of  peace  was  promulgated,  and  some 
fighting  occurred  about  the  time  and  soon  after. 

On  the  15th  of  January,  the  frigate  President,  Commodore 
Decatur,  attempted  to  put  out  to  sea  from  New  York,  although 
the  harbor  was  blockaded  by  four  British  frigates.  He  was 
discovered,  chased,  and  brought  to  an  engagement.  He  lost 
one-lifth  of  his  crew,  killed  or  wounded,  and  finally  sur- 
rendered. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  the  Constitution,  then  under  the 
comm.and  of  Captain  Stewart,  off  the  island  of  Madeira,  cap- 
tured the  Cyane  and  Levant ;  and  on  the  23d  of  March,  off 
the  coast  of  Brazil,  the  sloop  Hornet,  Captain  Biddle  captured 
the  British  brig  Penguin. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  a  barbarous  massacre  was  committed 
by  the  garrison  at  Dartmoor  prison,  in  England,  upon  the 
Americans  who  were  there  confined.  The  attack  was  made 
upon  these  defenseless  men,  without  any  provocation  ;  and  the 
lives  of  sixty-three  most  wantonly  and  inhumanly  sacrificed. 
The  British  government  were  not.  however,  implicated  in  the 
transaction. 

Soon  after  the  ratification  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  the 
United  States  declared  war  against  Algiers.  The  Algerine 
government  had  violated  the  treaty  of  1795,  and  committed 
depredations  upon  the  commerce  of  the  United  States.  These 
outrages  were  not  chastised  at  the  time,  on  account  of  the  war 
with  Great  Britain. 

Two  squadrons  were  fitted  out,  under  Commodores  Decatur 
and  Bainbridge.  The  former  sailed  from  New  York  in  May, 
and  proceeding  up  the  Mediterranean,  captured,  on  the  17th 
of  June,  an  Algerine  frigate  ;  and  on  the  19th,  oflf  Cape  Palos, 
an  Algerine  brig,  carrying  twenty-two  guns. 

From  Palos  he  sailed  for  Algiers.  The  Dey,  intimidated, 
signed  a  treaty  of  peace,  which  was  highly  honorable  and 
Advantageous  to  the  Americans. 

Decatur  then  proceeded  to  Tunis  and  Tripoli,  where  he 
obtained  satisfaction  for  the  unprovoked  aggressions  in  viola- 
25 


PART  IV 


1§15. 

Jan.  15. 

President 

strikes  to  the 

Endymion 


Cyane,  Le 
vant,  and 
Penguin 
captured. 


April  6. 

Massacre  at 

Dartmoor. 


War  with 
Akiers. 


May. 
Decatur 

sails. 

June. 
Capture* 
Algerine 
vessels. 

At  Algiers 

dictates   a 

peace. 

Decatur  vis 
its  Tunis 

and  Tripoli 


358  NATIONAL    BANK. TREATIES. MANUFACTURES. 

PART  IV.  tion  of  the  treaties  subsisting  between  those  governments  and 
PERIOD  II.  the  United  States.  On  his  arrival  at  GibraUar,  he  joined  the 
OHAP.  XVIII.  squadron  under  Commodore  Bainbridge,  to  whom  he  resigned 
^-*'""'^^'""'''*^  the  command. 

1§15.  Bainbridge  made  a  formidable  appearance  before  Algiers, 

The  Barba-  Tunis,  and  Tripoli,  but  seeing  no  disposition  to  violate  the 
jy  ^Y^^^\  treaties,  he  returned  to  the  United  States.  In  this  war,  the 
United  States  set  the  powers  of  Europe  a  worthy  example  in 
chastising  and  humbling  a  lawless  band  of  pirates,  who  had 
exacted  and  received  tribute  from  all  christian  nations.  Ex- 
pressions of  submission  were  obtained  from  these  powers  by 
the  United  States,  such  as  had  never  been  obtained  by  any 
other  nation. 

With  a  view  to  the  tranquillity  of  the  western  and  north 

western  frontiers,  measures  were  taken  to  obtain  a  peace  with 

wiThThrin-  s^^'^r''^!  tribes  of  Indians  who  had  been  hostile  to  the  United 

dians.       States.     Some  of  their  chiefs  met  at  Detroit,  on  the  6th  of 

September,  and  readily  acceded  to  a  renewal  of  the  former 

treaties  of  friendship. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  the  regular  army  of  the  United 
States  was  reduced  to  10,000  men.     For  the  better  protection 
of  the  country  in  case  of  another  war,  congress  appropriated 
a  large  sum  for  fortifying  the  sea-coast  and  inland   frontiers, 
and  for  the  increase  of  the  navy. 
1§16.         i^  April,  1816,  an  act  was  passed  by  congress,  to  establish 
bank!^      a  national  bank,  with  a  capital  of  thirty-five  millions  of  dollars. 
Fort  Apa-        ^^^   August,   Fort  Apalachicola,    which  was    occupied  by 
lachicola  de-  runaway  negroes  and  hostile  Indians,  was  destroyed  by  a  de- 
stroyed,    tachment  of  American  troops.     More  than  one  hundred  were 
killed,  and  the  remainder  were  taken  prisoners. 
Treaty  with      In   September,    General   Jackson  held   a  treaty  with  the 
saws  &c^    Chickasaws,  Choctaws,  and  Cherokees.     He  made  purchases 
of  their  lands  particularly  favorable  to  the  wishes  and  security 
of  the  frontier  settlements.     Tranquillity  was  restored  among 
the  Indians,  and  civilization,  seemed  again  making  progress. 
Dec.  11,  Yii   December,  the  Indiana  territory  was  admitted  into  the 

admitted.     Union  as  a  state. 

Pro-^ress  of  ^"^^  early  as  the  year  1790,  establishments  for  spinning  cot- 
ananufacuv  ton,  and  for  manufacturing  coarse  cotton  cloths,  were  attempt- 
fies  for  cot-  ed  ill  the  state  of  Rhode  Island.  They  were  at  first  on  a 
small  scale ;  but  as  the  cloths  found  a  ready  market,  IlieiT 
number  and  extent  gradually  increased.  The  embarrassments 
to  which  commerce  was  subjected  previous  to  the  war,  had 
increased  the  demand  for  American  goods,  and  led  the  people 
to  reflect  upon  the  importance  of  rendering  themselves  inde- 
pendent of  the  manufactures  of  foreign  nations.  During  the 
war,  large  capitals  were  vested  in  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, from  which  the  capitalists  realized  a  handsome  profit. 
But  at  Its  close,  the  English  having  made  great  improvements 
in  labor-saving  machines,  and  being  able  to  sell  their  goods  a 


ton  cloth. 


THE    TARIFF    QUESTION    FIRST    AGITATED.  359 

a  mucli  lower  rate  than  the  American  manufacturers  could  PART  IV 
afford,  the  country  was  immediately  filled  by  importations  from  period  ii 
England.  The  American  manufactures  being  in  their  infancy,  ^hap.  xvni 
could  not  stand  the  shock,  and  many  failed.  v,^.*-^-^*^ 

The  manufacturers  then  petitioned  government  for  protec- 
tion, to  enable  them  to  withstand  the  competition  ;  and  in  con- 
sequence of  this   pethion,  the   committee  on  commerce  and 
manufactures,  in   1816,  recommended  that  an  additional  duty     ^gje 
should  be  laid  on  imported  goods.     A  new  tariff  was  accord-    iManufao- 
ingly  formed,  by  which  the  double  imposts  which  had. been     tures  en 
laid  during  the  Avar,  were  removed,  and  a  small  increase    of  a^newMariff 
duty  was  laid  upon  some  fabrics,  such  as  coarse  cotton  goods. 
The  opposition  to  the  tariff,  from  the  commercial  interest,  and 
in  some  sections  of  the  country,  from  the  agricultural,  was  so 
great  that  nothing  effectual  was  at  that  time  done  for  the  en- 
couragement of  manufactures,  but  the  question  of  its  expedi- 
ency   was    regarded  as  of  the  first  importance. 

A  society  for  colonizing  the  free  blacks  of  the  United  States,  Colonization 
was  first  proposed  in  1816,  and  was  soon  after  formed.  It  socie^ty form, 
v/as  not  under  the  direction  of  government,  but  was  patron- 
ized by  many  of  the  first  citizens  in  all  parts  of  the  Union. 
The  society  purchased  land  in  Africa  where  they  yearly  re- 
moved considerable  numbers  of  the  free  blacks  from  America. 
Their  object  was,  by  removing  the  free  negroes,  to  diminish 
the  black  popuTktion  of  the  United  States  ;  and  by  establish- 
ing a  colony  in  x^frica,  to  prevent  the  traffic  in  slaves  which 
then  existed,  and  to  afford  facilities  to  the  inland  Africans  to 
advance  in  civilization. 

Mr.  Madison's  second  term  of  office  having  expired,   he      1§IT. 
followed  the  example  of  his  predecessors,  and  declined  a  re-     March  4. 
election.      James  Monroe  was  elected  president,  and  Daniel     inautmra-* 
D.  Tompkins,  vice-president.    On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  they         tecL 
entered  upon  their  official  duties.     During  the  smumer  of  this 
year,  Mr.  Monroe  visited  all  the  northern  and  eastern  states, 
and  was  received  with  every  demonstration  of  affection  and 
respect. 

A  treaty  was,  this  year,  concluded  by  commissioners  ap-  Indians  cede 
pointed  by  the  president  of  the  United  States,  with  the  chiefs  ^ohTo  to^lh? 
of  the  Wyandot,    Delaware,   Shawanese,  Seneca,  Ottowas,      United 
Chippewa,  and  Pottowattamie  Indians.     Each  of  these  tribes      States. 
ceded  to  the   United  States,  all  lands  to  which  they  had  any 
title  within  the  limits  of  Ohio.     The  Indians  were,  at  their 
option,  to  remain  on   the  ceded  lands,  subject  to  the  laws  of 
the  state  and  country. 

The  territory  of   Mississippi  was,  this  year,  admitted  into     l^ec.  10. 
theUnion,a,,astat«.  ^Sf 

About  this  period,  a  band  of  adventurers,  who  pretended  to 
act  under  the  authority  of  the  South  American   states,  took      Amelia 
possession  of  Amelia  island,  near  the  boundary  of  Georoia,  jezvoiis  tor* 
with  the  avowed  design   of  mvading  Florida.     This  island  illegal  traffic. 


360 


THE    GREAT    WESTERN    C  A.NAL. 


PART  IV,  having  been  the  subject  of  negotiation  with  the  government 
PERIOD  II,"  of  Spain,  as  an  indemnity  for  losses  by  spoUations,  or  in  ex- 
cHAP.  XIX.  change  for  lands  of  equal  value  beyond  the  Mississippi,  the 
measure  excited  a  sentiment  of  surprise  and  disapprobation , 
which  was  increased,  when  it  was  found  that  the  island  was 
made  a  channel  for  the  illicit  introduction  of  slaves  from  Afri- 
ca into  the  Republic,  an  asylum  for  fugitive  slaves  from  the 
neighboring  states,  and  a  port  for  smuggling  of  every  kind. 
An  island  upon  the  coast  of  Texas  was  also  a  rendezvous  for 
smugglers,  and  for  equipping  vessels,  which  gave  great  annoy- 
ance to  the  commerce  of  the  United  States.  These  marau- 
ders were  found,  however,  to  be  merely  private  adventurers, 
The  overa  unauthorized  by  any  government ;  and  the  United  States  sent 
mcnt  reduce  out  a  force,  which  took  possession  of  the  islands,  and  put  a 
them.       stop  to  their  illicit  trade. 


Also,  an 
island  of 
Texas. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Internal  irn- 
provements. 


DeV/iu 
Clinton. 

The  great 

CMials  of 

Ne-jr  York. 


Qaasiion  of 
internal  im- 

yrovemenls. 


Internal  Improvements. — Seminole  War. 

The  political  feuds  which  had,  since  the  revolution,  occa- 
sioned so  much  animosity,  were  now  gradually  subsiding  ;  and 
it  was  an  object  with  the  administration,  to  remove  old  party 
prejudices,  and  promote  union  among  the  people. 

A  spirit  of  improvement  was  also  spreading  over  the  coun- 
try ;  roads  and  canals  were  constructed  in  almost  all  parts  of 
the  Union  ;  and  the  facilities  for  travelling  and  conveying  mer- 
chandise and  produce,  were  continually  increasing.  These 
improvements  were,  however,  made  by  the  state  governments  ; 
among  which,  the  wealthy  state  of  New  York,  at  whose  head 
was  the  illustrious  De  Witt  Clinton,  took  the  lead.  The  great 
western  canal,  connecting  Lake  Erie  witli  the  waters  of  the 
Hudson ;  and  the  northern  canal,  bringing  to  the  same  river 
the  waters  of  Lake  Champiain,  were  brought  to  full  com- 
pletion. 

Congress  caught  the  spirit  of  the  times,  and  manifested  a 
desire  to  employ  the  resources  of  the  nation  for  these  objects  ; 
and  though  no  doubt  arose  as  to  the  expediency  of  such  a 
course,  yet  the  power  of  that  body  for  carrying  on  such  a  sys- 
tem of  internal  improvement,  was  questioned  and  debated. 
It  was  the  opinion  of  President  Monroe,  that  the  general  gov- 
ernment had  not  this  power,  and  could  not  obtain  it,  except  by 
an  amendment  of  the  constitution.  After  much  debate,  con- 
gress adopted  the  president's  opinion. 

Congress  had,  however,  caused  the  great  Cumberland  road 
vo  be  made,  connecting,  through  the  seat  of  government,  the 


THE    CUMBERLAND    ROAD.  361 

easiern  with  the  western  states,  and  passing  over  some  of  the  PART  IV. 
hitjhest  mountains  in  the  Union.  But  this  undertaking  was  period  ii 
not  decisive  of  the  great  question  respecting  the  right  of  con- 
gress ;  as  it  was  made  under  peculiar  circumstances.  An  ar- 
ticle of  compact  between  the  United  States  and  the  state  of 
Ohio,  under  wliich  that  state  came  into  the  Union,  provided  that 
6nch  a  road  should  be  made  ;  the  expense  being  defrayed  by 
money  arising  from  the  sale  of  public  lands  within  that  state. 
As  the  road  passed  through  iMaryland,  Pennsylvania,  and  Vir- 
ginia, it  was  thought  necessary  to  obtain  the  sanction  of  those 
several  states.  Accordingly,  the  subject  was  brought  before 
their  legislatures,  and  an  act  passed,  approving  the  route,  and 
providing  for  the  purchase  of  the  land. 

Military  roads  had  been  opened  during  the  late  war,  but  it  was      Militaiy 
by  order  of  the  war  department.     One  of  these  extended  from       ^"^^ 
Plattsburg  to   Sackett's  Harbor  ;  another  from  Detroit  to  the 
foot  of  the  Maumee  rapids.    The  extra  pay  to  the  soldiers,  en- 
gaged in  these  works,  was  provided  for  by  congress,  in  a  spe- 
cific appropriation. 

In  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Monroe's  administration,  an  arrange- 
ment was  concluded  with  the  British  government,  for  the  re- 
duction of  the  naval  force  of  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States,  on  the  lakes  ;  and  it  was  provided,  that  neither  party  j^j^^.j^j  f^^^ 
should  keep  in  service  on  Lake  Ontario  or  Champlain,  more  on  the  lakes 
than  one  armed  vessel,  and  on  Lake  Erie,  or  any  of  the  upper     reduced, 
lakes,  more  than  two,  to  be  armed  with  one  gun  only. 

For  the  security  of  the  inland  frontiers,  military  posts  were     ^r-,:.„ 
estabhshed,  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Peter's,  on  the  Mississippi,  posts 'in'Tha 
and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yellow  Stone  river,  on  the  Missouri,     far  west 
above  eighceen  hundred  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

During  the   year  1817,  the  United  States  became  engaged     1§17. 
in  a  war  with  the  Seminole  Indians,  a  confederacy,  who  oc-   The  com- 
cupied  the  lands  lying-  on  the  confines  of  the  United  States  "^encement 
and  r  lorida  ;  the  greater  part,  however,  lying  within  the  do-    ixole  war. 
minions  of  the  king  of  Spain.     Outlaws  from  the  Creek  na- 
tion, and  negroes,  who  had  fled  from  their  masters  in  the 
United  States,  had  united  with  these  Indians  ;  and  massacres 
had  become  so  frequent,  that  the  inhabitants  were  obliged  to 
flee  from  their  homes  for  security. 

The  hostile  spirit  of  the  Indians  was  further  incited  by  an   Arbuthnot 
Indian  prophet,  and  by  Arbuthnot  and  Ambrister,  two  English  and  Ambri» 
emisf:-:,ries,  who  had  taken  up  their  residence  among  them,  for        ^^^ 
the  purposes  of  trade. 

In  December,  1817;  a  detachment  of  forty  men,  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  Scott,  was  sent  to  the  mouth  of  the  LiTutT^t 
river  Apalachicola,  to  assist  in  removing  some  military  stores  Scott  and 
to  Fort  Scott.  The  party  in  returning,  were  fired  upon  by  a  thnty-four 
body  of  Indians,  who  lay  in  ambush,  and  the  lieutenant  and  ly  ^^e  Semi 
all  his  party,  except  six,  w^ere  killed.  The  offenders  were  nole«. 
25 


362 


NEW    STATES. TREATIES.-  -PENSIONS. 


PAR  r  IV. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP,   XIX. 


\ia]  of  Ar- 
♦uthnot  and 
Ambrister. 


They  are 
condemned 
and  exe- 
cuted. 
Dec.  3. 
1§1§. 
Illinois. 

Treaties 
with  Great 
Britain  and 

Sweden. 


Indigent 
officers  and 
soldiers  of 
the  revolu- 
tion provided 
for. 


The  Chicka- 
saws  cede 

their  lands  to 

the  United 

States. 


1819 

Alabama. 

181§. 
De  Wilt 

Clinton  re- 
commends to 

ihe  legisla- 
ture ot 


demanded  by  General  Gaines,  the  commanding  officer  oa  tna 
frontier,  but  the  chiefs  refused  to  give  them  up. 

General  Jackson,  with  a  body  of  Tennesseeans,  was  order 
ed  to  the  spot.  He  soon  defeated  and  dispersed  them.  Per- 
suaded that  the  Spaniards  furnished  the  Indians  with  supplies, 
and  were  active  in  fomenting  disturbances,  he  entered  Florida, 
took  possession  of  forts,  St.  Marks,  and  Ponsacola,  and  made 
prisoners  of  Arbuthnot,  Ambrister,  and  the  prophet. 

A  court-martial  was  called  for  the  trial  of  Arbuthnot  and 
Ambrister,  at  which  General  Gaines  presided.  Arbuthnot  was 
tried  on  the  following  charges  : — "  for  exciting  and  stirring  up 
the  Creek  Indians  to  war  against  the  United  States  and  her 
citizens,  he  being  a  subject  of  Great  Britain,  with  whom  the 
United  States  are  at  peace."  Second,  "  for  acting  as  a  spy, 
aiding,  abetting,  and  comforting  the  enemy,  and  supplying 
them  with  the  means  of  war."  He  was  found  guilty  of  these 
charges,  omitting  the  words,  "  acting  as  a  spy,"  and  sentenced 
to  be  hung.  Ambrister  was  tried  on  similar  charges,  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  shot.     Both  were  execute,'' 

Congress  passed  a  bill  to  admit  Illinois  territory  into  the  Union . 

Treaties  of  commerce  "svere,  this  year,  concluded  with 
Great  Britain  and  Sweden.  In  the  treaty  with  the  former, 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  United  States,  from  the  Lake  of 
the  Woods  to  the  Siony  Mountains,  was  fixed. 

Congress  passed  a  law,  abolishing  internal  duties. 

The  indigent  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  revolution,  had  al- 
ready been  partially  provided  for.  A  more  ample  provision  was 
now  made,  by  which  every  officer,  who  had  served  nine  months 
at  any  period  of  the  revolutionary  war,  and  whose  annual  in- 
come did  not  exceed  one  hundred  dollars,  received  a  pension 
of  twenty  dollars  a  month ;  and  every  needy  private  soldier 
who  had  served  that  length  of  time,  received  eight. 

This  year  the  Chickasaws  ceded  to  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  all  their  lands,  west  of  the  Tennessee  river,  in 
the  states  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

The  condition  of  those  tribes  living  within  the  territories  of 
the  United  States,  now  attracted  the  attention  of  the  govern- 
ment, and  a  humane  policy  dictated  its  measures.  The  sum 
of  1 0,000  dollars  annually,  was  appropriated  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  schools  among  them,  and  to  promote,  in  othei 
ways,  their  civilization.  By  means  of  the  missionary  socie- 
ties, already  established  in  the  United  States,  missionaries 
were  supported  among  the  Indians,  and  success,  in  many  in- 
stances, crowned  their  effi)rts. 

Alabama  territory  was  this  year  admitted  into  the  union  of 
the  states,  and  the  territory  of  Arkansaw  separated  from  Mis- 
souri territory. 

In  December,  1818,  De  Witt  Clinton,  then  governor  of  New 
York,  recommended  in  his  message  to  the  legislature  of  that 
state,  «ome  special  attention  to  the  education  of  females.    Hia 


SPANISH    NEGOTIATION.  863 

recommendation  was  based  upon  the  principle  long  acknowl-  PART  IV. 
edged,  that,  as  mothers,  the  lemale  sex  have  great  influence,  period  il 
in  Ibrnung  the  minds  and  characters  of  all  individuals  compo-  chap.  xix. 
sing  the  community  at  large  ;  and  it  was  apparent  that  no  good 
reason  could  be  shown,  why  they,  being  endued  with  the  high 
attributes  of  mind  in  common  with  the  other  sex,  should  be 
denied  the  enjoyment  and  added  means  of  usefulness,  attend- 
ant on  mental  cultivation. 

The  legislature  passed  an  act,  Avhich  is  probably  the   first     i§j9 
law  existing  which  makes  public  provision  for  the  education    February. 
of  women.     It  provides  that  academies,  for  their  instruction  The  legisl*- 
in   the  higher  branches  of  Icaridng,   shall  be   privileged  to  ^^^^  accord^ 
receive  a  share  of  the  literature  fund.  ingly. 

Since  that  time,  several  of  the  states,  especially  among 
those  recently  admitted,  have  made  provision  for  the  same 
object.  Religious  denominations  and  wealthy  parents  of 
(laughters,  have  also  favored  it ;  and  throughout  the  country, 
female  schools  have  sprung  up.  Large  and  handsome  edifi- 
ces are  erected ;  and  adequate  teachers,  libraries  and  appara- 
tus, are  provided  for  the  use  of  the  students.  The  consequences 
of  this  change  are  becoming  manifest,  in  the  increasing  num- 
ber of  competent  female  teachers,  and  in  other  respects. 

On  the   23d  of  February,  1819,  a  treaty  was  negotiated  at     Feb.  23. 
Washington,  between  John  Quincy  Adams,  secretary  of  state,  ^gnc?bS 
and  Don  Onis,  the  Spanish  minister,  by  which  Spain  ceded  tween  John 
to  the  United  States,  East  and  West  Florida,  and  the  adjacent  Adams  and 
islands.     The  government  of  the  United  States  agreed  to  ex- 
onerate  Spain  from  the  demands  which  their  citizens  had 
against  that  nation,  on  account  of  injuries  and  spoliations  ;  and 
it  was  stipulated  that  congress  should  satisfy  these  claims,  to 
an  amount  not  exceeding  five  millions  of  dollars.     The  con- 
tracting parties  renounced  all  claims  to  indemnities  for  any 
of  the   recent  acts   of  their  respective   officers  in   Florida.  „  .^ 

This  treaty  was  ratified  by  the  president  and  senate  of  the  Spain  reject 
United  States,  and  sent  to  Spain,  but  the  king  very  unexpect-    ed  by  the 
edly  refused  to  sanction  it.  ^^' 

Don  Onis  was  recalled,  and  Don  Vivos  sent  out.     Instead 
of  comhig  directly  over,  he  went  to  Paris  and  London,  to  as- 
certain whether,  in  case  of  a  war  between  Spain  and  the  Uni- 
ted States,  the  former  party  would  be  aided  and  abetted.     But 
American  valor  stood  high  in   Europe  since  the  close  of  the   Mission  of 
last  war,  and  Don  Vivos  obtained  no  encouragement  for  Spain  Don  Vive*, 
to  quarrel  with  the  republic.     He,  however,  on  his  arrival  at 
Washington,  undertook  to  open  a  diplomatic   campaign,  but 
was  soon  put  to  silence  by  Mr.  Adams  ;  the  American  sec- 
retary steadily  demanding  the  ratification  of  the  engagement 
already  entered  into  by  an  authorized  agent  of  Spain.     Flori- 
da had  ceased  to  be  of  any  political  value  to  that  nation,  and 
the  just  claim  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  she  knew 
not  how  else  to  canceL 
25* 


364 


TREATY    WITH    SPAIN    RATIFIED. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  II. 

CHAP.  XIX. 


1820. 

Treaty  rati- 
fied and 
Florida 
ceded. 


The  treaty  was  therefore  ratified  by  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment in  October,  1820,  and  possession  of  the  Floridas  given 
the  following  year. 

Although  the  addition  of  this  peninsula,  which  completes 
the  ocean  boundary  of  the  United  States,  made  no  great  sen- 
sation, and  seemed  little  to  afiect  the  politics  of  the  country, 
yet  the  event  was  important,  and  fraught  with  consequences. 
The  historian  of  the  American  Republic  must  now  look  back, 
and  give  the  history  of  Florida  as  a  part  of  his  nlan,  and  look- 
ing forward  from  its  cession,  we  already  find  a  bloody  war 
following  this  increase  of  territory. 


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iliiiliiiiiiiiiraiiili  '^*'IS"'' 


PERIOD     III 


THE    CESSION     I    1§20   1     OF    FLORIDA. 
TO 
THE  TREATY  OF     I   1S4§.   1     GAUDALUPE   HIDALGO. 


CHAPTER    I, 

The  Missouri  question. 


A  PETITION  was  presented  to  congress  this  year,  from  the 
territory  of  Missouri,  praying  for  authority  to  form  a  state 
government,  and  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union.  A  bill  was 
accordingly  introduced  for  that  purpose,  which  with  an  amend- 
ment, prohibiting  slavery  within  the  new  state,  passed  the 
house  of  representatives,  but  was  arrested  in  the  senate. 

The  district  of  Maine  also  presented  a  memorial  to  con- 
gress, praying  \,o  be  separated  from  Massachusetts,  to  be  au- 
thorized to  form  its  own  constitution,  and  to  be  admitted  into 
the  Union,  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  other  states.  The 
two  bills  for  the  admission  of  Maine  and  Missouri  were  joined, 
but  not  without  much  opposition  from  the  advocates  of  the  re- 
striction in  the  Missouri  bill.  Upon  this  subject,  the  mem- 
bers of  congress  were  divided  into  two  parties  ;  those  from 
the  non-slaveholding  states  were  in  favor  of  the  restriction, 
while  those  from  the  south  warmly  opposed  it.  Much  debate 
took  place,  and  at  no  time  had  the  parties  in  the  congress  of 
the  United  States  been  so  marked  by  a  geographical  division, 
or  so  much  actuated  by  feelings  dangerous  to  the  union  of  the 
states.  Nor  was  the  seat  of  government  the  only  place 
where  this  subject  was  discussed  ;  but  in  all  parts  of  the 
country  it  attracted  the  attention  of  the  people.  Many  of  the 
northern  states  called  meetings,  and  published  spirited  reso- 
lutions, expressive  of  their  fears  of  perpetuating  slavery. 

The  members  from  the  south  opposed  the  restriction,  partly 
on  the  ground  of  self-defense.  They  did  not  consider  that 
the  unqualified  admission  of  Missouri,  would  tend,  in  any  de- 
gree, to  perpetuate  slavery.  It  would  not,  they  contended,  be 
the  means  of  increasing  the  number  of  slaves  within  the 
states,  but  of  removing  some  of  those  that  already  existed, 
from  one  state  to  another.  They  maintained,  that  it  would  be 
a  dangerous  and  despotic  measure  of  the  general  government, 
and  one  that  would  infringe  upon  the  sovereignties  of  the 
states ;  that  such  a  condition  was  inconsistent  with  the  treaty 
by  which  the  territory  was  ceded  to  the  United  States  ;  and, 


PART  IV. 


1820. 

Maine  pe- 
titions to  be 
admitted. 


Heated  am' 

dangerous 

debate. 


PleaofthoM 

friendly  to 

the  restric 

tion. 


opponents. 


366  MR.    MONROE    RE-ELECTED. 

PART  IV.  fii  alh ,  they  insinuated  the   danger  of  a  dissolution  of  the 
PERIOD  III.  Union,  if  the  friends  of  the  measure  persisted. 
CHAP.  I.         Q^  j.|-^g  other  hand  it  was  maintained  that  the   constitution 
'-*'''"''''"**^  gave  to  congress  the  right  of  admitting  states  with  or  without 
1820.     restrictions,   and   that  no   state   had  ever  yet  been    admitted 
oDPonents*^^  without  any.     In  proof  of  this  it  was  urged,  that  when  North 
Carolina  ceded  to  the  United  States  that  part  of  her  territory 
which  now  includes  the  state   of  Tennessee,   she   made  the 
grant  upon  the  express  condition  that   congress  should  make 
no  regulation  tending  to  the  emancipation  of  slaves.     When 
Georgia  ceded  the  Mississippi  territory,  the  articles  of  agree- 
ment which  provided  for  its  admission  as  a  state,  on  the  con- 
ditions of  the  ordinance  of  1787,  expressly  excepted  ihat  ar- 
ticle which  forbids  slavery.     It  was  also  maintained  that  to 
strike  out  the  restriction  from  this  bill,  would  inevitably  tend 
to  perpetuate  slavery,  and  to  entail  this  greatest  of  evils  upon 
the  new  state,  besides  increasing  to  the  Union  the  mischiefs 
arising  from  unequal  representation.     After  much  discussion, 
Missouri  ad-  a  compromise  was  agreed  on,  and  a  bill  passed  for  the  admis- 
'ouuestri^c^'  ^^^^  ^^  Missouri   without  any  restriction,  but  with  the  inhibi- 
ti(  a.        tion  of  slavery  throughout  the  territories  of  the  United  States, 
36i°  the     north  of  36^  30'  north  latitude.     Thus  was  the  most  danger- 
limit  of  sla-  Q^g   question  ever  agitated  in  congress,  at  length  disposed  of 

by  friendly  compromise. 
Maine  be-        The  long  connection  of  Maine  with  Massachusetts  was  now 
comes  a  se^  dissolved   by  its-  final   admission  as  one  of  the  states  of  the 
parate  state.  Yedeial  Union. 

1§21.  Missouri  was  not  declared  independent  until  August,  1821. 

The  Missou-  Previously  to  the  passage  of  the   bill   for  its  admission,  the 
a"-ahi^aT    P^^P^®  ^^^  formed  a  state  constitution ;    a  provision  of  which 
"tared.       required  the  legislature  to  pass  a  law  "  to  prevent  free  negroes 
and   mulattoes   from    coming  to,   and   settling  in  the   state." 
When  the  constitution  was  presented  to  congress,  this  provis- 
ion was  strenuously  opposed.     The  contest  occupied  a  great 
Missouri  ad-  p^^t  of  the  session,  but  Missouri  was  finally  admitted,  on  the 
condition  that  no  laws  should  be  passed,  by  which  any  free 
citizens  of  the  United  States  should  be  prevented  from  enjoy- 
ing those  rights  within  that  state,  to  which  they  were  entitled 
by  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Monroe      This  year,  Mr.  Monroe  entered  upon  his   second  term  ot 
re-elected,    oflice,  having  been  re-elected  to  the  presidency  by  nearly  a 
unanmious  vote      Mr.  Tompkins   was  also  continued  in  the 
vice-presidency. 
The  cp.nsus.       By  the  fourth  census  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  1820  was 

found  to  be  9,625,734,  of  whom  1,531,436  were  slaves. 

Jackson  go-       Qn  the  7tli  of  March,  president  Monroe  appointed  Genera) 

Florida.      Jackson  governor   of  Florida,  and  Elijeus  Fromentin,   chief- 

Aug  22.     justice.     But  it  was  not  until  the   22d  of  August   that   the 

reluctant    Spanish   ofilcers    yielded    up  their   posts.      They 

showed  a  disposition    to    embarrass    the    operations   of  the 


GENERAL    JACKSON    IN    FLORIDA.  367 

new   authorities  by  refusing  to  give  up  all  the  archives,  ac-  PART  IV. 
cording  to  the  treaty.     Don  Cavalla,  the  Spanish  governor,  period  la 
withheld  four  documents   relating  to  the   rights  of  property,     chap.  i. 
Governor  Jackson,  after  a  specific  demand,   sent  an   armed  ^-^■v^ 
force  to  take  the  papers,   and  bring  Cavalla  himself  before     1§21. 
him.     He  refusing,  Jackson  sent  a  second  time,  had  him  taken  fl^Jg^s^^Jj^JjIj 
from  his   bed,   and  carried  to  prison,  and  the  papers   seized,  take  to  em- 
Cavalla   applied  to  Judge   Fromentin,  who  granted  a  writ  of  barrass  him 
habeas    corpus  for  his  relief.     Jackson  did  not  suffer  it  to  be  He  proceeds 
executed   until   his  own  purpose  of  securing  all  the  missing  Yu  hi^uruaT 
papers  was  effected  ;  when  he  discharged  Cavalla.     This  af-    summary 
fair  caused  much  controversy.  mamier. 

Seven  of  the  Spanish  officers,  published  in  "'The  Floridian," 
a  newspaper  issued  from  Pensacola,  severe  strictures  on  the     Banishes 
new  government.     Jackson  issued  a  proclamation  which  ban-  JiJ  ^^j^cgr" 
ished  them  from  the  territory  after  five  days. 

Florida  was  now  for  the  purposes  of  government  divided  Fbnda  di- 
into  two  counties,  one  east  of  the  Suwaney  river,  called  St.  i-^^.^  p^^j^. 
John's,  and  one  west,  called  Escambia.  ties 

At  the  next  session  of  congress  an  act  was  passed,  pro- 
viding that  Florida  should  be  governed  in  the  same  manner, 
and  by  the  same  laws  as  the  other  territories.  General  Jack- 
son's powers  which  he  had  used  so  liberally,  and  which  he 
declared,  in  defending  his  bold  measures,  were  unconstitu- 
tionally great,  terminated  according  to  the  terms  of  his  com- 
mission, at  the  rising  of  congress  ;  and  he  declined  a  re-ap- 
pointment. 

In   June,   a  convention  of  navigation   and    commerce,   on     i§22 
terms  of  reciprocal   and  equal  advantage,  v^^as  concluded  be-  Treaty  with 
tween  France  and  the  United  States.  •  France 

The  ports  of  the  West  India  Islands  were  about  this  time 
opened  to  the  American  republic,  by  act  of  the  British  par- 
liament. 

The   American    commerce,  in  the  West  Indian  seas,  had,  Alai-mmg  xn- 
for  several  years,  suffered   severely  from  depredations  com-  crease  of  pi- 
mitted  by  pirates.     The  Alligator,  a  United  States'  schooner, 
having   received   information    of  their  vicinity  to  Matanzas, 
sought  and  engaged  the  pirates,  and  recaptured  five  American 
vessels.     She   also  took  one  piratical  schooner;   but  Allen,  Allen's hrars 
the  brave  commander  of  the  Alligator,  was.  mortally  wounded 
in  the  enffagrem.ent. 

The    pirates  continued  their  lawless  aggressions,  and  con- 
gress  the  next  year  appropriated  a  sum  of  money  to  fit  out     1§23. 
an   expedition  to  suppress  piracy.      Commodore   Porter,   to   p^'Jl!^°sent 
whom  was  given  the  command,  sailed  for  the  West  Indies,  and  against  the 
cruising  with  his  squadron  in  the  Caribbean  seas,  the  free-     pirates. 
hooters  dared  not  appear,  but  depredated  on  the  inhabitants  of 
the  West  India  Islands. 

In  the  message  of  President  Monroe  to  congress,  he  mvi- 
•ed  their  attention  to  the  question  of  recognizing  the  indepen- 


enterpnse 
and  death. 


368  SOUTH    AMERICA^    REPUBLICS. 

PART  IV.   dence   of  the   South   American   republics.      He   stated,  thai 

PERIOD  III.  throughout  the  contest  between  those  colonies  and  the  parent 

CHAP.  I.     country,  the  United  States  had  remained  neutral,  and  had  ful- 

'--''^^''•*-^  filled,  with  the  utmost  impartiality,  all  the  obligations  incident 

1§23.     to  that  character.     Some  time  had  elapsed  since  the  provin- 

The  mde     ^es  had  declared  themselves   independent   nations,   and   had 

the  ^Souih    enjoyed    that  independence,  free  from  invasion.     Nor  was  it 

American    now  contemplated  to  change  ihe  friendly  relations  with  either 

iS)wieT^ed'  ^^  ^^^®  parlies  which  had   been  belligerent ;  but  to  observe  in 

Ministers    all  respects  as  heretofore,  should  the   war  be  renewed,  the 

sent  to  Mex-  most  perfect  neutrality   between   them.     The   measure  was 

Ayres,  and    sanctioned,  and  ministers  were  appointed  to  Mexico,  Beunos 

Chili.       Ayres,  Colombia,  and  Chili. 
Slave-trade       Articles  of  convention   for  the  suppression  of  the  African 
prohibited,    slave-trade,   were,  this  year,  subscribed  at  London,  by  pleni- 
potentiaries appointed  for  this  purpose,  from  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain.     These  articles   authorized  the   commis- 
sioned officers   of  each  nation,   to  capture   and  condemn  the 
ships   of  the   other,   which  should  be  concerned  in  the  illicit 
traffic  of  slaves. 
1§21  Ever  since  the  year  1816,  the  tariff  had  attracted  the  atten- 

rhe  tariff  tion  of  the  people  throughout  the  Union,  and  from  time  to 
question  time  the  subject  had  been  brouf^ht  before  confess  ;  but  with 
l;ated." "  ^^^  exception  of  the  small  protection  afforded  to  coarse  cot- 
ton cloths,  nothing  had  yet  been  done  for  the  encouragement 
of  American  manufactures.  Notwithstanding  the  depression 
which  succeeded  the  war,  the  manufacturers  of  cotton,  after 
they  recovered  from  the  first  shock,  had  proved  successful. 
Excepting  fine  fabrics,  which  were  not  manufactured  to  any 
extent  in  America,  domestic  cottons  almost  supplied  the  coun- 
try, and  considerable  quantities  were  exported  to  South  xAmer- 
ica.  Factories  for  printing  calicoes  had  been  erected  in  a 
few  places,  and  in  some  instances  the  manufacture  of  lace 
had  been  attempted. 

In  supporting  extensive  manufactories   independent  of  the 
protection  of  government,  great  energy  and  perseverance  were 
displayed.     The   friends   of  manufactures  had   increased   in 
The  tariff  ^^^'^^^^'s,  and  in  zeal  for  the  cause.     This  year  the  subject  ot 
bill  opposed,  a  new  tariff  was  again  brought  before  congress,  but  was  ^  e- 
Gix)unds  of  hemently  opposed.     The   grounds  of  opposition  were,  that  it 
o^iposition.    would   injure  the   commerce  and  agriculture  of  the  country, 
and   by  lessening  the  public  revenue,  compel  a  resort  to  a 
system  of  excise  and  taxation.     That  it  would  diminish  the 
exports  of  the  country,  as  other  nations   would  not  purchase 
articles   of  any  kind  from  us,  unless  the  produce  of  their  in- 
dustry was  received  in  exchange.     That  the  country  was  not 
prepared  for  the  successful  establishment  of  manufactures,  on 
account   of  the   high  price   of  labor ;  and  that  manufactures 
would,  under  a  favorable  concurrence  of  circumstances,  flour- 
ish without  the  protection  of  government. 


THE    TARIFF.  369 

The  friends  of  a  new  tariff  replied,  that  a  dependence  upon  PART  IV. 
the  internal  resources  of  the  country  was  the  only  true  policy  I'^^kiod  hi 
of  our  government ;    and  that  the  protection  desired  for  man-    *^"-^^-  "• 
ufactures,   far  from  injuring,  would  prove  beneficial  both  to  *— ''"^^^'^'' 
commerce   and  agriculture.      It  would  bring  into   existence     1824. 
new   and  extensive   establishments,  and  thus  create  a  home  of[hef?iend» 
market,  without   which  the   agriculturist  would  not  receive  oftheprot^c- 
with   constancy,  the  just  reward   of  his   labors,  and  which  '^^^'^/g^^"^^ 
would  tend  to  keep  the  resources  of  the  country  at  home.     It 
would  not  diminish  the  exportations,  unless  to  Europe,  where 
little   besides   the  raw  materials  are  carried ;  and  by  the  ap- 
plications  of  industry,   new   articles  of  exportation  might  be 
multiplied,   more   valuable   than  the   raw  materials,   and   by 
which  we  should  be  indemnified  for  any  losses  thus  incurred. 
They  considered  it  by  no  means  certain  that  it  would  lessen 
the  public  revenue  ;  the  augmentation  of  duty  would  compen- 
sate for  the   diminution  in  the   quantity   of  goods  imported. 
Experience  proved  that  manufactures  needed  protection,  and 
that  such  had  ever  been   the  policy  of  those  governments 
where  the  manufacturing  interest  flourished  ;  and  in  proof  of 
this,  they  pointed  to  the  steady  course  of  England. 

Many  of  the  friends  of  the  tariff,  however,  conceded,  that 
if  all  nations  would  unite  in  a  system  of  free,  unshackled 
trade,  it  would  probably  produce  the  best  possible  state  of 
things  ;  but  they  contended,  that  as  the  United  States  must 
sufier  from  laws  made  by  other  nations  to  protect  and  favor 
their  own  manufactures,  it  was  but  just  that  the  citizens  of 
the  United  States  should  receive  a  like  protection  and  prefer- 
ence  from  their  own  government.  After  much  discussion,  formed' 
the  bill,  with  some  amendments,  passed.  It  proved  effectual 
in  affording  the  desired  protection  to  cotton  goods  ;  but  the 
question  was  still  agitated  in  favor  of  manufactures  of  other 
kinds,  and  the  manufacturers  of  v/ool  zealously  endeavored  to 
obtain  a  similar  protection. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Lafayette  invited  to  America. 


On  the  15th  of  August,  1824,  General  Lafayette*  arrived     1§24. 
in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  in  consequence  of  a  special  in-    ^"S-  ^^• 
vitation,  which  congress,   participating  in  the  warm  feeling     arrma.* 
which  pervaded  the   whole  nation,  had  given  him   to  visit 
America. 

*  In  the  days  of  the  revolution,  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  was  the  style  l»y 
which  the  hereditary  nobleman  was  known.  Subsequently  he  renounced  all 
dislinctionsof  this  kind,  and  would  receive  no  other  title  than  that  given  by  his 
ifeiiJ.ary  rank.     His  address  was  then,  General  Lafayette. 


370 


THE    NATION  S    GUEST. 


PART  IV. 

PERIOD  III 

CHAP.    II. 


1§25. 

His  recep- 

tior.  in  New 

York. 


Lafayette 
oe»  to  Bos- 
ton. 


September. 
Returns  to 
New  York. 

Makes   ex- 
cursions 
north,  and 
south. 


When  information  was  received  in  the  city  of  New  York 
of  his  arrival,  a  committee  of  the  corporation,  and  a  great 
nmnber  of  distinguished  citizens,  immediately  proceeded  to 
Staten  Island,  to  behold  and  welcome  the  former  benefactor 
of  their  country,  now  its  illustrious  guest.  Arrangements 
were  made,  by  the  committee,  for  his  visit  to  New  York, 
which  was  to  take  place  the  following  day.  A  splendid  es- 
cort of  steamboats,  gaily  decorated  with  the  flags  of  every 
nation,  and  bearing  thousands  of  citizens,  brought  him  to  the 
view  of  the  assembled  crowds  at  New  York.  His  feelings 
at  revisiting  again,  in  prosperity,  the  country  which  he  had 
sought  and  made  his  own  in  adversity,  were  at  times  overpow- 
ering, and  melted  him  to  tears.  Esteemed,  as  he  was,  for  his 
virtues,  and  consecrated  by  his  sufferings  and  constancy, 
the  philanthropist  of  any  country  could  not  view  him  without 
an  awe  mingled  with  tenderness  ;  but  to  Americans  there  was 
besides,  a  deep  feeling  of  gratitude  for  his  services,  and  an 
associated  remembrance  of  those  worthies  of  our  revolution 
with  whom  he  had  lived. 

The  thousands  assembled  to  meet  Lafayette  at  New  York, 
manifested  their  joy  at  beholding  him,  by  shouts,  acclama- 
tions, and  tears.  He  rode  uncovered  from  the  battery  to  the 
City  Hall,  receiving  and  returning  the  affectionate  gratulations 
of  the  multitude.  At  the  City  Hall,  magistrates,  and  citizens, 
were  presented  to  him,  and  he  was  welcomed  by  an  address 
from  the  mayor.  He  then  met  with  a  few  gray-head'ed  vete- 
rans of  the  rcA^olution,  his  old  companions  in  arms,  and  though 
nearly  half  a  century  had  passed  since  they  parted,  his  faith- 
ful memory  had  kept  their  countenances  and  names. 

Deputations  from  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  New  Hnven, 
and  many  other  cities,  arrived  at  New  York,  with  invitations 
for  him  to  honor  those  places  with  his  presence.  After  re- 
maining a  few  days  in  New  York,  he  proceeded  through 
Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  on  his  way  to  Boston.  An 
escort  of  eight  hundred  citizens,  from  that  place  met  him,  and 
the  mayor  and  corporation  awaited  his  arrival  at  the  city  lines. 
The  pupils  of  the  public  schools,  both  male  and  female,  were 
arranged  in  two  lines  on  the  side  of  the  common,  under  the 
care  of  their  respective  teachers,  and'  through  these  beautiful 
lines  the  procession  passed. 

From  Boston  he  proceeded  to  Portsmouth,  to  visit  the  navy- 
yard.  Orders  liad  been  issued  by  the  president  to  all  the 
military  posts,  to  receive  him  with  the  honor  due  to  the  high- 
est oflicer  in  the  American  service. 

On  his  return  to  New  York,  a  splendid  fete  was  given  at 
Castle  Garden. 

From  that  city  he  proceeded  to  Albany  and  Troy,  calling 
at  West  Point,  and  several  other  places  on  the  river.  He 
next  passed  through  New  Jersey,  and  visited  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore,  Washington,   Yorktown,  and  Richmond.     These 


THE  ERA  OF  GOOD  FEELING  371 

places    t'ied  with  New  York  and  Boston  in  the  splendor  with   PA.RT  IV. 
which  they  received  the  beloved  defender  of  their  country,  period  m 
He  returned  to  Washington  during  the   session   of  congress,    chap.  n. 
and  remained  there  several  weeks.     Congress  voted  him  the  ^^^'^^^^^ 
sum  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  a  township  of  land     1825. 
which  was  located  in  Florida,  as  a  remuneration,  in  part,   of    ^^"gJess 
his  services  during  the  revolutionary  war,  and  as  a  testimony  make  him  • 
of  their  gratitude.  lil^^ral  dona 

About  the  last  of  February  he  proceeded  from  Washington 
to  Richmond,  thence  through   North  and  South  Carolina,  to  From  Wash 
Savannah.     He  then   travelled   through   Georgia,    Alabama,    '"^^^^'^J^h 
and  Mississippi,  to  New  Orleans.     Proceeding  up  the  Missis-   tour  of  the 
sippi  as  far  as  St.  Louis,  he  visited  the  principal  places  on     southern 
both  sides  of  the  river.     He  then  returned  to  the  Ohio,  pass-  ^^western! 
ed  through  Kentucky,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  York ; 
and  arrived  in  Boston  to  participate  in  the  ceremony  of  laying 
the  corner-stone  of  the  monument,  to  commemorate  the  battle 
of  Bunker's  Hill. 

Leaving   Boston,    he    proceeded   to   Portland,   in  Maine ;    Visits  tne 

from  thence,  through  New  Hampshire,  to  Burlington  in  Ver-  ""eastTr^*^ 

mont.     Passing  down   lake   Champlain  and  the  Hudson,  he      states. 

arrived  asfain  in  New  York,  where  he  united  in  the  celebra-      ^^^^  **• 
.  .  At  New 

lion  of  American  independence.  York 

Then  taking  his  leave  of  the  eastern  and  northern  states, 
he  returned  to  the  seat  of  government.  He  then  paid  an  af- 
fecting^ visit  to  the  honored  tomb  of  Washincrton. 

On  his  departure  from  the   seat  of  government,  the  presi- 
dent in  behalf  of  the  nation,  bade  him  an  affectionate   adieu ; 
and  in  a  new  frigate,  named  the  Brandywine,  in  memory  of  He  take,^  hia 
the  battle  in  which  he  was  wounded,  he  was  safely  conveyed    departure, 
to  his  native  land. 

Lafayette's  whole  progress  through  the  United  States  had 
been  one  continued  triumph,  the  most  illustrious  of  any  which 
history  records.  The  captives  chained  to  his  triumphal  car, 
were  the  affections  of  the  people  ;  his  glory,  the  prosperity 
and  happiness  of  his  adopted  country. 

During  Mr.  IMonroe's  administration,  America  enjoyed  pro- 
found peace.     Sixty  millions  of  her  national  debt  were  dis-      ^1=^-. 
charged.     The  Floridas  were  peaceably  acquired,  and  the         to 
western  limits   fixed  at  the   Pacific   ocean.     Internal  taxes     1825. 
were  repealed,  the  military  establishment  reduced  to  its   nar-     National 
rowest  limits   of  efficiency,  the  orjiranization  of  the  army  im-    P^^o^P^^^y 
proved,  the  independence  oi  the  South  American  nations  re- 
cognized, progress  made  in  the  suppression  of  the  slave-trade, 
and  the  civilization   of  the  Indians  advanced.     The   voice  of 
party  spirit  had  died   away,  and  the  period  is  still  spoken  of, 
as  the  "  era  of  good  feeling." 

Mr.  Monroe's  second  term  of  office  having  expired,  four  Fourcandi 
among  the  principal  citizens  of  the  republic  were  set  up  as  can-  ^gg^jj/°J^ 
didates  for  the  presidency,  and  voted  for  by  the  electoral  col- 


372 


ELECTION    OF    JOHN    QUINCY    ADAMS. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  III. 

CilAP.     II. 


1825. 
No  choice 
by  the  col- 
lege of  elec- 
tors. 
Representa- 
ives  choose 
Mr.  Adams. 


naugural  ad- 
dress of  John 
Quincy 
A.dams 


Treaty  with 
Colombia. 


1§26. 

July  4. 
Simultane- 
ous death  of 
presidents 
Adams  and 
Jefferson. 

1831. 

July  4. 

Ikalh  of  Mr. 

Monroe. 


Frw»  mason 


lege.  These  were  John  Quincy  Adams,  Andrew  Jackson 
Henry  Clay,  and  William  H.  Crawford.  The  electors  were 
divided,  and  no  choice  being  made  by  them,  a  president,  ac- 
cording to  the  constitution,  was  to  be  chosen  by  the  house  of 
representatives,  from  the  three  candidates  whose  number  of 
votes  stood  highest.  These  were  Messrs.  Adams,  Jackson,  and 
Crawford.  Mr.  Adams  was  chosen.  This  was  the  first  elec- 
tion by  the  house  of  representativ^es,  in  the  case  contempla- 
ted by  the  constitution,  where  there  was  no  one  of  the  can- 
didates preferred  by  a  majority  of  the  electors.  Many  fears 
had  been  expressed,  that  whenever  such  a  case  could  occur, 
it  would  be  attended  with  a  dangerous  excitement ;  but  the 
event  of  fixing  on  a  first  magistrate  was  passed  over  by  the 
American  congress  in  a  manner  which  showed  their  just 
sense  of  the  solemnity  of  the  obligation,  which  bound  them  to 
preserve  inviolate  the  constitution  of  their  country. 

Mr.  Adams,  in  his  inaugural  address,  declared  that  the 
course  he  should  pursue,  was  that  marked  out  by  his  prede- 
cessor :  there  remained,  however,  he  remarked,  one  effort  of 
magnanimity  to  be  made  by  the  individuals  throughout  the  na- 
tion, who  had  heretofore  followed  the  standards  of  political 
party  ; — it  was  that  of  discarding  every  remnant  of  rancour 
against  each  other,  of  embracing  as  countrymen  and  friends, 
and  of  yielding  to  talents  and  virtue  alone,  that  confidence, 
which,  in  times  of  contention  for  principle,  was  bestowed  only 
upon  those  who  bore  the  badge  of  party  communion. 

A  treaty  of  commerce  and  navigation,  with  the  republic  of 
Colom.bia,  was  ratified  in  1825,  on  the  basis  of  the  mutual  ob- 
ligation of  the  parties  to  place  each  other  on  the  footing  of  the 
most  favored  nation. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1826,  died,  John  Adams  and  Thomas 
JefTerson.  That  these  two  political  fathers,  who  had  con- 
tributed more  than  any  other  Americans  living,  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  independence,  should  thus  depart  together,  amidst 
the  rejoicings  of  its  fiftieth  anniversary,  struck  to  the  hearts 
of  the  American  people  an  indescribable  feeling  of  awe  and 
astonishment. 

Another    anniversary  witnessed  the  death  of  another  ex- 
president,  James  Monroe.     His  history  is  his  praise. 

Free-masonry  claims  to  be  an  ancient  institution.  Towards 
the  close  of  the  last  century  it  became  popular  in  this  coun- 
try ;  and  many  of  our  best  men,  among  whom  were  Washing- 
ton and  De  Witt  Clinton,  were  "  free  and  accepted  masons.'* 
But  a  change  took  place  in  the  tone  of  society.  Sunday 
schools  and  temperance  meetings  were  more  congenial  to 
public  sentiment,  than  the  midnight  festivities  of  the  Masonic 
lodge.  Free-masonry  has  now  in  this  country  but  few  ad- 
vocates.    This  result  has  yet  another  cause. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  William  Morgan,  who  was  preparing 
to  publish  a  book,  purporting  to  disclose  the  eecrets  of  Free 


morgan's  *bduction.  373 

mJisonry,  was  taken,  on  the  11th  of  September,  under  color  PART  IV. 
of  a   criminal  process,   from   Batavia,  in   Cenessee    county  peiuod  hi. 
New  York,  to  Canandaicrua,  in  Ontnrio  county,  examined  and    f^HAP.  il 
discharged  ;  but  on  the  same  day  he   was  arrested  for  debt,   ^--*^^''"'*^ 
and  coniined  in  the  county  jail,  by  the  persons  who  brought     1§26 
the  first  charge  against  lum.     They  discharged  the  debt  them-     ^viUiam 
selves,  and  on  his  leaving  the  prison,  in  the  evening,  he  was  Morgan  for- 
seized,  and  forced  into  a  carriage,  which  was  rapidly  driven  ciMy  earned 
out  of  the  village,  and  he   was  never  seen  by   his  friends,  J'eriouslydi 
again.  posed  oC 

The  indignation  of  the  community  was  roused,  by  this  out- 
rajre,  to  an  intense  decree :  particularly  in  the   section  of  the  P^^Ui^i^^if^ 

o   '  .  ^       1      n  •         Ti      1  nation  caua- 

country  where  it  occurred,    liumor  was  contnuially  harrow-   cd  by  Mor- 

ing  up  the  feelings  of  his  family  and  friends,  by  false  stories  g'i"'s.  ^^^ue 
calculated  to  mislead  inquiry,  of  his  having  been  seen,  dis- 
guised, and  under  fictitious  names,  in  foreign  countries,  or  in 
remote  parts  of  the  Union.  Notwithstanding  that  those  who 
belonged  to  Masonic  societies,  were  attempting  in  these  and 
other  ways  to  throw  discredit  on  the  story  of  his  abduction  ; 
yet  there  was  from  among  the  pecpls  a  A^oice  not  to  be  disre- 
garded by  the  rulers,  which  pronounced  that  Morgan  had  been 
foully  murdered.  l§26-7 

The   Legislature  of  Nev/  York  appointed  a  committee   of  cmmittec 
investigation,  of  which  John  C.  Spencer  was  chairman.  of  investiga- 

They  reported  that  William  Morgan  had  been  put  to  death.        ^lon. 
The  years  that  have  elapsed  since  his  mysterious  disappear-     \q27. 
ance  have  confirmed  their  decision.     The  persons,  who  were    Their  re- 
suspected  of  being  the  principal  actors  in  the  tragedy,  fled       port, 
from  their  homes  and  took  refuge  under  fictitious  names,   in 
distant  places,  and  all  are  said  to  have  been  cut  off  from  the 
land  of  the  living,  by  disaster  or  violence. 

Morgan's  abduction  excited  a  strong  prejudice  against  all 
Masonic  societies  ;  and  a  political  party  was  formed,    called     Anti-ma 
Anti-masonic,  whose  avowed  object  was  to  abolish  Free-ma-  ^""^^  ^^^^^' 
sonry  throughout  the  United  States,  on  the  ground  that  secret  Oppose  all 
societies  in  a  free  government,   were  not  only  unnecessary,  masonic  so- 
but  even  dangerous  to  its  existence.     They  averred  that  ma-      cicties 
sonry,  as  was  shown  by  the  case  of  Morgan,  claimed  a  right  . 

over   the   lives   of  its  members ;  and  as  taking  human  life   grounds  of 
with  intention,  and  without  the  sanction  of  civil  authority  is  opposition. 
murder;  therefore,  this  society  must  be  regarded  as  especially 
at  variance  with  law,  human  and  divine. 

The  Anti-masonic  party  once  organized,  was  by  its  leaders 
made  to  subserve,  not  only  its  original  purpose,  but  others, 
such  as  electioneering  for  favorite  candidates  to  office  ;  and  '^^p^J^^.. 
js  a  fair  example  of  what  the  politicians  of  the  day  under- 
stand by  "  making  political  capital"  of  any  subject  of  popular 
excitement.  The  Anti-slavery  party,  wliich,  as  a  political  Anti-sla- 
anion,  arose  about  the  time  that  the  Anti-masonic  party  de- 
clined, had  its  origin,  in  feelings  equally  honorable  to  human 


very. 


374 


BLACK    HAWK  S    WAR. — THE     CHOLERA. 


PART  IV. 


182§. 

The    tariff 
l»ill  amend- 
ed. 

The  north 
pleased. 

The  south 
offended. 


1§29. 
March  4. 
Jackson's 
first  inaugu- 
ration. 


Origin  of  the 
state  rights, 
or  nullifica- 
tion party. 


Webster's 
great  speech 
against  nulli- 
fication. 


1§32. 

April. 
Commence- 
ment of 

Black 
Hawk's  war. 


Tune   9. 

OUolera  at 

ic^uebec. 


Jufie  26. 

At  New 

York. 


South  Carolina, 
powerful  party 


nature ;  and  there  is  reason  to  apprehend  that  it  will  in  a  lim 
ilar  manner  be  perverted. 

The  tariff  question  again  agitated  congress,  and  the  debates 
terminated  in  the  passage  of  a  law  laying  protective  duties  on 
such  articles  of  import  as  competed  with  certain  manufactured 
and  agricultural  productions  of  the  United  States,  hy  this 
tariff  bill,  additional  duties  were  laid  on  wool  and  wool- 
ens, iron,  hemp  and  its  fabrics,  lead,  distilled  spirits,  silk 
stuffs,  window-glass  and  cottons.  The  manufacturing  states 
received  the  law  with  warm  approbation,  while  the  southern 
states  regarded  it  as  highly  prejudicial  to  the  interests  of  the 
cotton  planters ;  and  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  the  flags 
on  the  shipping  were  displayed  at  half-mast,  and  a  state  con- 
vention was  demanded. 

The  presidential  election  having  been  decided  by  the  col- 
lege of  electors.  General  Andrew  Jackson,  of  Tennessee,  was 
inaugurated  president,  and  John  C.  Calhoun,  of  South  Caro- 
lina, vice-president  of  the  United  States. 

Though  the  tariff  bill  found  but  few  friends  in  the  south- 
ern states,  the  citizens  of  most  of  them  were  in  favor  of 
seekinjr  for  its  repeal  by  constitutional  measures.  Even  in 
the  head-quarters  of  the  opposition,  was  a 
who  were  styled  the  Friends  of  the  Union, 
and  were  hostile  to  any  disorganizing  measures.  A  small 
majority,  however,  now  first  styled  the  "  state  rights"  party, 
and  afterwards,  the  "  nullifiers,"  were  working  themselves  up 
to  that  high  pressure  of  exasperation,  which  is  ever  followed  by 
rashness  of  conduct.  In  congress,  their  doctrines  were  ably 
set  forth  by  Mr.  Hayne  of  the  senate,  but  they  were  met  and 
confuted  by  Daniel  Webster,  in  a  speech  which  convinced 
the  understanding,  and  thrilled  through  the  heart  of  every 
patriot  in  the  Union. 

Since  the  war  with  the  Seminoles  in  1818,  the  Indian 
tribes  had  remained  in  peace.  In  April,  of  this  year,  the 
Winnebagoes,  Sacs,  and  Foxes,  inhabiting  the  upper  Missis- 
sippi, recrossed  that  river  under  their  chief,  Black  Hawk,  and 
entered  upon  the  lands  which  they  had  sold  to  the  United 
States,  and  which  were  occupied  by  citizens  of  Illinois. 
These  Indians  being  well  mounted  and  armed,  scattered  rap- 
idly their  war  parties  over  that  defenseless  country,  breaking 
up  settlements,  killing  whole  families,  and  burning  their  dwel- 
lings. Generals  Atkinson  and  Scott,  were  charged  with  the 
defense  of  the  frontier. 

The  disease,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Asiatic  cholera, 
made  its  appearance  in  Canada,  on  the  9th  of  June,  among 
some  newly  arrived  Irish  emigrants.  It  followed  apparently 
along  the  valleys  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  Champlain  and  Hud- 
son, and  on  the  26th,  several  cases  occurred  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  A  great  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  left  th© 
place  in  dismay,  but  notwithstanding  the  reduction  of  number* 


STATE    RIGHTS    OR    NULLIFICATION    PARTY.  375 

the  ravages  of  the  disease  were  appalling.  It  spread  with  PART  IV. 
great  rapidity  throughout  the  states  of  New  York  and  Michi-  period  in 
gan  ;  and  along  the  valleys  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  to  the  ^"-^p-  "• 
Gulph  of  Mexico.  From  New  York  it  went  south  through  ^-^-^v-**^ 
the  Atlantic  states,  as  far  as  North  Carolina.  It  was  a  sin-  1§32. 
gular  characteristic  of  this  excruciating  and  quickly  fatal  mal-  Progress  of 
ady,  that,  though  not  apparently  contagious,  it  followed  the  through  the 
great  routes  of  travel,  both  on  the  land  and  water.  New  Union. 
England,  with  a  few  exceptions,  escaped  the  scourge. 

In  obedience  to  orders  from  the  War  Department,  the  gar- 
risons on  the  seaboard,  from  Fort  Monroe,  in  Virginia,  to  New 
York  harbor,  were  withdrawn  and  placed  under  the  command       juiy. 
of  General  Scott,   lo  be   employed  in  the  Indian  war.     Pro-     General 
ceeding  with  haste,  as  the  case  was  urgent,  the  general  em-    ^j^^"  ^^' 
barked  liis  troops  in  steamboats  at  Buffalo.     The  season  was  troops  for  the 
hot,   and  the  boats   were   crowded.     The  cholera  broke  out  ^^idian  war. 
among  the  troops.     Language  cannot  depict  the  distress  that  The  cliolera 
ensued,    both   before   and   after  their  landing.     Many  died  ;  breaks  out  in 
many  deserted,  from  dread  of  the  disease,  and  perished  in  the    ^^^  ^^'^^' 
woods  either  from  cholera  or  starvation.     The  exertions,  suf- 
ferings, and  danger,  of  General  Scott,  during  this  period,  were 
greater  than  they  ever  were  on  the  field  of  battle  ;  and  it  thus 
becam.e   impossible   for  him  to  reach  the  seat  of  war  at  the      ^"8-  2- 
time  intended.     General   Atkinson,  by  forced  marches,  came  Atkin^on^do 
up  with  Black  Hawk's   army  on  the  second  of  August,  near  feats  the  In 
the  mouth  of  the  Upper  Iowa.     The  Indians  were  routed  and       '^'^^'^ 
dispersed,  and  Black  Hawk,  his  son,  and  several  warriors  of 
note  made  prisoners. 

After  having  been  detained  at  fortress  Monroe  for  several 
months,  the  chief  and  his  son  were  carried  through  the  prin-  Black  Hawk 
cipal  cities  of  the  United  States,  and  the  next  year  sent  back  ^"^  '^**  ^* 
to  their  people,  convinced  of  the  folly  of  further  resistance 
against  so  powerful  a  nation. 

Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollton,  near  Baltimore,  the  last  sur- 
viving signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  died  on  the 
i4th  of  November,  in  the  ninety-sixth  year  of  his  age.  So 
deep  was  the  reverence  felt  for  this  relic  of  the  revolution  that 
many  a  pilgrimage  is  even  now,  made  to  the  mansion  house 
where  he  spent  his  virtuous  life. 

The  state  rights,  or  nullification  party,  having  a  majority  in 
South  Carolina,  held  a  convention  at  Columbia,  from  whence     Nov.  19. 
they  issued  an  ordinance  in  the  name  of  the  people,  in  which   A  ^onven- 
they  declared  that  congress,  in  laying  protective  duties,  had    Columbia, 
exceeded  its  just  powers  :  and  that  the  several  acts  alluded  South  Caro- 
to,  should,  from  that  time,  be  utterly  null  and  void  ;    that  it  ^"g'  ,5^^"^  f* 
should  be  the  duty  of  the  legislature  of  South  Carolina,  to  mous  nullifi 
adopt  measures  to  arrest  their  operation,  from  and   after  the  cation  ordi- 

•1  ^  /^      ^  111  n:inf.P 

1st  of  February,  1833  ;  that  the  courts  oi  that  state  should 
not  question  the  validity  of  that  ordinance,  nor  suflfer  an  ap- 
peal to  the  courts  of  the  United  States  ; — that  any  one  hold- 


nunce. 


376 


THE    ORDINANCE. JACKSON  S    PROCLAMATION. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  III. 


1832. 

Ordinance 
declares  that 
tiie  United 
States    sliall 
notuse  force, 
on  penalty  of 
the  with- 
drawal of 
South  Caro- 
lina. 

The  conven- 
tion call  on 
the  members 
of  the  Union 


Nov.  24. 
The  Union- 
ists in  South 
Carolina 
meet  and 
protest. 


Nov.  27. 
State  au- 
Chorities   ap- 
prove the 

nullification 
cmlinance. 


Dec.  10, 

President 
Jackson's 
proclama- 
tion- 


First,  he 
fehows  the 
nulli6cis 
thcdr  error. 


ing  an  office  under  the  state,  should  take  an  oath  to  obey  that 
ordinance  ;  or  if  otherwise,  the  office  should  be  filled  up  as  if 
the  incumbent  were  dead  ;  that  no  person  thereafter,  should 
be  elected  to  any  office  whatever,  either  civil  or  military,  un- 
til he  had  taken  the  oath  not  only  to  obey  the  ordinance,  but 
such  acts  as  the  legislature  might  thereafter  pass  to  carry  the 
same  into  operation. 

Finally,  the  instrument  declared,  that  the  people  of  South 
Carolina  would  not  submit  to  force,  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States,  but  that  they  should  consider  any  act  of  congress,  au- 
thorizing the  employment  of  a  naval  or  military  force  against 
the  state,  as  null  and  void ;  and  in  that  case,  the  people  would 
hold  themselves  absolved  from  all  political  connection  with 
the  other  states,  and  would  forthwith  proceed  to  organize  a 
separate  government,  and  do  all  other  acts  and  things,  which 
sovereign  and  independent  states  have  a  right  to  do. 

The  convention  also  put  forth  an  "  Address  to  the  people  of 
the  United  States,"  in  which  the  doctrines  of  nullification 
were  avowed,  and  the  hope  expressed,  that  the  other  states 
would  give  up  the  protective  system,  as  the  secession  of  South 
Carolina  would  inevitably  produce  a  dissolution  of  the  Union. 

The  friends  of  the  Union  in  South  Carolina,  also,  held  a 
convention  at  Columbia,  on  the  2ith  of  November.  They 
adopted,  and  published,  a  solemn  protest  against  the  ordinance 
Meetings  were  held  in  almost  every  part  of  the  United  States, 
and  resolutions  passed,  expressive  of  entire  reprobation  of  the 
principles  avowed  by  the  nullifiers. 

The  legislature  of  South  Carolina  convened  at  Columbia, 
on  the  27th  of  November.  Governor  Hamilton,  in  his  open- 
ing message,  expressed  his  approval  of  the  ordinance.  He 
recommended  that  the  authorities  of  the  state,  and  of  the  city 
of  Charleston,  should  unite  in  requesting  the  president  to 
withdraw,  from  the  arsenal  at  Charleston,  the  United  States 
soldiers,  who,  for  several  years,  had  been  stationed  there,  by 
request  of  those  authorities,  to  defend  their  arms  and  ammu- 
nition, in  case  of  a  slave  insurrection.  He  recommended,  also, 
that  the  militia  should  be  re-organized ; — that  the  executive 
should  be  authorized  to  accept  of  the  services  of  12,000  volun- 
teers ; — and  that  provision  should  be  made  for  procuring 
heavy  ordnance,  and  other  munitions  of  war. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  President  Jackson  published  a 
proclamation,  warning  the  nullification  party  of  the  consequen- 
ces which  would  ensue,  if  they  persisted  in  the  course  they 
had  commenced.  After  a  series  of  reasoning  to  convince 
them  of  their  error,  he  added,  "  I  consider,  then,  the  power 
to  annul  a  law  of  the  United  States,  assumed  by  one  state,  in- 
compatible with  the  existence  of  the  Union, — contradicted 
expressly  by  the  constitution, — unauthorized  by  its  spirit, — 
inconsistent  v/ith  every  principle  on  which  it  was  founded, 
and  destructive  of  the  great  object  for  which  it  was  formed." 


AN    AMERICAN    PRESIDENT    MEETS    A    CRISIS.  377 

In  conclusion,  the  president  told  thorn,  that  the  laws  of  the  PART  IV. 
United  States  must  be  executed,  that  he  had  no  discretionary  I'JDIUod  in 
power  on  the  subject ;  that  those  who  told  them  they  might  c"-^p-  "• 
pcaccahhj  prevent  their  execution,  deceived  them  ;  that  nothing  '---■^v'""**-' 
but  a  forcible  opposition  could  prevent  their  execution,  and  1§32. 
diat  such  opposition  must  be  repelled,  for  "  disunion  by  armed  f\^^^^\{^ 
force,"  he  said,  "  is  treason."  Finally,  he  appealed  to  the  Uieir  danges. 
patriotism  of  South  Carolina,  to  retrace  her  steps,  and,  to  the  Appeals  to 
country,  to  rally  in  defense  of  the  Union.  tVraUy!^ 

No  act  of  General  Jackson  was  ever  more  popular  than 
this   proclamation.     There  was  a  party  strongly  opposed  to    ^"'/V^r^It 
his  measures,  who  held  that  his  talents  were  rather  for  war  president's 
than  peace  ;  and  that,  in  the  indomitable  energies  of  his  will,     conduct, 
he  pursued  his  objects  as  the  keen  sportsman  his  game,  heed- 
less what  fences  he  broke  down  in  his  way ;  but  on  this  oc- 
casion, this  party  vied,  in  commendation,  with  the  larger  and 
ruling  party,  by  whom  his  administration  was  uniformly  ap- 
proved ;   and  from  every  quarter  he  received  from  the  people, 
proffers  of  mihtary  service. 

Governor  Hamilton  being  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
South  Carolinian  army.  Colonel  Hayne  succeeded  him.     He 
issued  a  proclamation,  counter  to  that  of  General  Jackson,  in     Dec.  20. 
which  he  put  forth  the   doctrines  of  disunion,  in  their  most     Colonel 
offensive  form  ;  calling  on  the  people  to  disregard  the  "  vain    ^g^^^^ge 
menaces"  of  the   president,  and  "  protect  the  liberties  of  the 
state."     The  legislature  also   continued  to  authorize  the  em- 
ployment of  volunteers,   who   were  "  to  hold   themselves   in 
readiness  to  take  the  field,  at  a  minute's  warning." 

The  unionists,  feeling  how  unhappy  must  be  a  contest, 
which  would  separate  families,  where  the  son  might  be  called 
on  to  shed  the  blood  of  the  father,  and  the  brother  that  of  the 
brother,  now  aroused,  and,  encouraged  by  the  decided  tone  of  o^^he'un?"- 
the  president,  they  took  one  equally  decided  ;  and  held  meet-  ists 
ings  in  various  parts  of  the  state,  in  which  they  declared,  "  we 
will  not  be  forced  to  bear  arms  against  the  United  States,  be 
the  consequences  what  they  may." 

General  Jackson  followed  his   word  with  his   deed.     He  Jackson  pre 

caused  Castle  Pinckney,  a  fortress  which  commands  the  inner  ^f^t^a^  qL 

narbor  of  Charleston,  as  well  as  the  town  itself,  to  be  put  in      rations 

complete  order  for  offensive  or  defensive  operations.     Fort  _  ^°u^'}^'__ 
..     ',    .  r>,  n-       1-11  Ti       •        r        1  •  South  Cju»- 

Moultrie,  on  Sullivan  s  island,  was  likewise  strongly  garrison-       lina, 

ed,  and  General  Scott  placed  in  command ;  while  several 
ships  of  w^ar,  under  the  orders  of  Commodore  Elliot,  were 
anchored  in  the  bay :  and  it  is  said  that  he  sent  private  assu- 
rances to  the  leading  nullifiers,  that  unless  they  desisted,  he 
should  take  the  field  in  person,  and  appear  in  South  Carolina, 
at  the  head  of  a  large  army. 

The  nullification  party  did  not  decide  to  meet  the  nation  in 
arms,  with  General  Jackson  at  its  head.      The   crisis  which  A  change  09 
had  caused  so  many  forebodings,  was  adjourned,  and  the  au- 
26 


378 


THE    INDIAN    QUESTION. 


Feb.  12. 
Mr.  Clay's 
compromise, 


PART  IV.   thurities  agreed  not  to  oppose  the  collection  of  duties  until  the 

PERIOD  iiL  1st  of  March,  and  before  that  period  arrived,  measures  were 

CHAP.  ni.     taken  which  restored  tranquillity. 

v^-'-v-'^*^  On  the  r2th  of  February,  Mr.  Clay  introduced  a  bill  into 
the  senate,  which  had  for  its  object,  a  compromise  between 
the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  north,  and  the  cotton  plant- 
ers of  the  south.  It  reduced  the  duties  on  certain  articles, 
and  limited  the  operation  of  the  tarifl",  to  the  30th  of  Sepieni- 

Tariffbill.  ber,  1842.  It  being  considered  a  bill  for  revenue,  it  was  not 
acted  upon  in  the  senate,  until  after  the  house  of  representa- 
tives had  adopted  it,  when  it  passed  rapidly  through  that  body, 
was  signed  by  the  president,  and  became  a  law  on  the  3d  of 
March.  It  gave  general  content  to  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  with  whom  the  union  is  so  dear,  that  whatever  or  who- 
ever endangers  it,  is  looked  upon  with  suspicion  and  displea- 
sure ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  whatever  nourishes  and  consoli- 
dates it,  is  regarded  with  approbation  and  complacency. 

[naugura-         q^^    Jackson   was  re-elected,  and   Martin  Van  Buren  of 

/larch '4th.    New  York,  made  Vice-president. 


May  20. 

Death  of  La- 
fayette. 

Extreme 
difficulty  of 
the  Indian 

question 


tt  anses 
from  their 
■wde  of  war- 
fare. 


CHAPTER  IIL 

La&yette.     The  tribes  east  of  the  Mississippi  go  to  the  far  west. 

General  LafayettEj  full  of  years  and  honors,  died  on 
the  20th  of  May,  1833,  and  was  mourned  as  the  common 
father  of  his  native  and  his  adopted  country. 

The  position  of  the  remaining  aboriginal  tribes  gave  the 
rulers  great  uneasiness  If  the  Indians  would  subject  them- 
selves to  the  laws  of  civilized  society,  at  least  so  far  as  to 
declare  war  before  they  made  it,  and  then  to  make  it  only 
with  those  in  arms,  they  might  have  their  reservations,  and 
enjoy  them  within  the  limits  of  the  states.  But  so  long  as 
they  were  subtly  contriving  war,  when  they  were  seemingly 
most  bent  on  peace, — their  declaration  made  only  by  the  war- 
whoop,  and  signed  by  the  scalping-knife — so  long,  it  would  bs 
vain  to  expect  that  their  neighborhood  could  be  tolerated  by 
civilized  man :  for  the  father  and  the  husband  would  look  be- 
yond treaties  written  on  parchment,  to  the  law  of  nature 
which  bids  him  protect  and  defend  his  helpless  ones.  If  the 
government  in  good  faith,  sought  to  preserve  the  Indian 
tribes,  they  refusing  to  change  their  mode  of  warfare,  the 
only  consequence  would  be,  that  they  would  at  length,  by 
their  murderous  atrocities,  oblige  the  rulers,  in  defense  of  the 
lives  of  their  own  people,  to  send  their  armies  and  destroy 
them.  Such  had  been  the  fate  of  former  tribes,  and  such,  un- 
less something  was  done  to  avert  the  catastrophe,  was  likely 
to  be  that  of  those  still  remaining.     To  devise  some  expedi- 


THE    SOUTH-WESTERN    INDIANS.  379 

ent  to  save  them,  and  protect  their  own  people,  was  the  diffi- 
cull  problem  wliich  the  government  had  to  solve. 

That  General  Jackson  saw  the  subject  much  in  this  light,  is 
apparent  from  his  earliest  message  to  congress.      He  remarked 
that  the  fate  of  the  Mohegan,  the  Narragansett  and  the  Dela-     1830 
M'are  was  fast  and  inevitably  approaching  the  Choctaw,  the   j.^T'"'^f** 
Cherokee,  and  the  Creek,  if  they  remained  within  the  limits     mossage 
of  the  states.      He  said  that  regard   to  our  national  honor   respecting 
brought  forward  the  question  whether  something  could  not  be  ^^^    "  ^*"* 
done  to  preserve  the  race.     As  a  means  to  this  end,  he  sug- 
gested  that  an  ample  district  west  of  the   Mississippi,  and 
without  the  limits  of  any  state  or  territory,  might  be  set  apart 
and   guarantied  to   the  Indian   tribes,   each  to  have  distinct 
jurisdiction  over  the  part  designated  for  its  use,  and  free  from 
any  control  of  the  United  States,  other  than  might  be  neces-  iheirremov^ 
sary  to  preserve  peace  on  the  frontier.     There  the   benevo-  to  the  west, 
lent  might  teach  them  ;  and  there  they  might  form  a  nation 
which  would  perpetuate  their  race,  and  attest  the  huinanity 
of  the  American  government. 

But  the  grand  difficulty  of  the  project,  which  would  have 
appalled  a  more  timid  mind,  President  Jackson  met  in  a  man- 
ner  altogether  characteristic.     "  The   emigration,"   said  he, 
"  should  be  voluntary,  for  it  w^ould   be  as    cruel  as  unjust  to  rj.^^  Indians 
compel  the  aborigines  to  abandon  the  graves  of  their  fathers,  must  go,  but 
and  seek  a  home  in  a  distant  land."     Congress  sanctioned  the  they  must  go 
project  which  former  able  statesmen  had  advocated,  and  em-  ^"""^"^ 
powered  the  president  to  carry  it  out ;  and  he  fearlessly  under- 
took, what,  perhaps,  no  human  ruler  ever  did  before,  and  what 
none  but  the  Almighty  can  effect,  to  combine   freewill  with 
necessity.     To  oblige  the  Indians  to  emigrate  voluntarily  for 
their  own  good,  became  thenceforth  his  settled  policy. 

With  the    Chickasaws   and  Choctavvs,    however,    treaties     1§31, 
were  inade  by  which  they  exchanged  lands,  and  quietly  emi-     2  &  3. 
grated  to  the  country  fixed  on,  which  was  the  territory  next  "^''^  Chicks- 
to  Arkansas.     The  United  States  paid  the  expenses  of  their    choctaws 
removal,  and  supplied  them  with  food  for  the  first  year.  remove. 

When  Georgia  ceded  to  the  United  States,  April  2,  1802,     I §02. 
all  that  tract  of  country  lying  south  of  Tennessee,  and  west     ?'^'^'^^^*. 
of  the  Chatahouchee  river,  the  government  paid  in  hand  to  ^^  United 
that  state  $1,250,000,  and  further  agreed,  "at  their  own  ex-    States  the 
pense,  to  extinguish,  for  the  use  of  Georgia,  as  early  as  the  ^^[ab'ama 
same  could  be  peaceably  obtained  upon  reasonable  terms,  the 
Indian  title  to  the  lands  lying  within  the  limits  of  that  state." 

Undei  this  contract,  the  United  States  had,  by  sundry  trea- 
ties  with  the  Creek  and  Cherokee  tribes  of  Indians,  who  oc-  Govemmen 
cupied  the  territory,  extinguished  the  Indian  title  to  25,980,000     fulfill  the 
acres,  and  delivered  the  peaceable  possession  of  it  to  Geor-  ^^s^^osTibSf 
gia.     Of  the  Indians  who  inhabited  the  purchased  territory, 
some  of  them  removed  westward  of  the  Mississippi,  some  of 
them  took  refuge  with  the  brethren  of  the  same  tribes  in  Ala- 
26* 


380 


THE    CHEROKEES    REMOVED. 


PART  IV. 

PEllKM)  III. 
CHAP.  IV. 


Indians 

within  Geor- 
gia an  inde- 
pendent 
state. 

The  Geor- 
gians deter- 
mine to  be 
rid  of  them. 


l§31-2. 

Discredita- 
ble affair  of 
the  mission- 
aries. 


1§38. 

The  Chero- 

kees  at 

length 

removed 


bama  ;  but  the  great  masses  of  Indian  population,  on  leaving 
the  territories  they  had  given  up,  only  condensed  themselve.* 
closer  on  the  large  and  fertile  domain  within  the  state  ot 
Georgia,  which  they  had  reserved  to  themselves  ;  and  from 
thenceforward  they  refused  to  sell,  cede  to  the  government 
of  the  United  States,  or  give  up,  on  any  consideration,  anjr 
more  of  their  land. 

In  the  meantime,  the  constantly  increasing  white  popula- 
tion was  pressing  nearer  and  nearer  upon  the  Indian  reserva- 
tion, within  which,  the  tribes  exercised  a  sort  of  independent 
dominion,  by  which  a  retreat  was  furnished  for  runaway 
slaves,  and  fugitives  from  justice,  a  set  of  vagabonds  ever 
ready  for  violence.  This  condition  of  their  state  was  viewed 
by  the  people  of  Georgia  as  intolerable  ;  and  the  legislature,  in 
due  time,  extended  its  laws  and  jurisprudence  over  the  whole 
Indian  territory.  The  Cherokees  considered  this  measure  as 
an  infringement  of  their  ancient  rights,  and  a  violation  of  re- 
cent treaties  ;  and  they  appealed  to  the  general  government  fo? 
redress. 

The  w^ell-known  policy  of  President  Jackson  was  to  remove 
them ;  and  the  Georgians,  thus  encouraged,  sought,  by  a 
couise  of  proceeding,  contrary  to  law  and  right,  to  make  their 
position  untenable.  They  put  in  prison  two  missionaries 
whom  they  suspected  of  dissuading  the  Indians  against  the 
removal.  President  Jackson  would  do  nothing  to  check  these 
discreditable  proceedings,  from  a  tenderness  to  state-rights ; 
which,  fortunately  for  the  union,  he  did  not  feel  in  the  case 
of  South  Carolina. 

Tiius  annoyed  by  the  state  government,  and  beset  by  agents 
from  Washington,  a  treaty  was  obtained  from  a  i^ew  of  the 
chiefs  by  which  the  removal  of  the  tribe  was  to  take  place. 
The  fairness  of  this  treaty  was  denied,  and  the  Indians  were 
averse  to  leaving  their  own  and  their  fathers'  pleasant  land. 
The  difficult  and  perilous  task  of  bringing  the  Cherokees  to 
consent  to  this  arrangement  was  intrusted  to  General  Scott. 
His  firm  and  conciliatory  measures,  effected  their  removal 
without  bloodshed.  Much  had,  however,  been  previously 
done  to  gain  the  confidence  and  allay  the  animosity  of  the 
Indians,  by  the  able  ofhcers  who  had  preceded  General  Scoti 
in  this  important  service. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


1§23. 

September. 

A  treaty 

made  with 

the   Semi- 

uoles. 


The  Florida  War. 

Measures  equally  wise  were  not  pursued  with  the  Semi- 
noles  inhabiting  East  Florida.  In  September,  1823,  sooi» 
after  the  occupation  of  the  peninsula,  a  treaty  was  made  at 


THE    SEMINOLES    UNWILLING    TO    REMOVE.  38l 

Fort  Moultrie,  South  Carolina,  between  the  United  States  PART  iV. 
and  the  Seminoles,  by  which  those  Indians  relinquished  period  iu 
their  claims  to  large  tracts  of  land  in  Florida,  reserving  to  ^"-^p-  '^• 
themselves  a  portion  for  a  residence.  Subsequently  disputes  ^--""^^^^"^ 
arose  respecting  the  construction  of  this  treaty  ;  the  Indi- 
ans claiming  that  it  gave  them  undisturbed  possession  of  their 
reservation  for  twenty  years. 

Colonel  Gadsden,   as   agent  for  the  United  States,  made 
another  treaty  with  the   Seminoles,  at  Payne's   Landing  in     1§32. 
Florida,  when  it  was  stipulated  that  they  should  cede  their      ^^^y  ^• 
reservation,  and  remove  beyond  the  Mississippi.   A  delegation  of  PayrSs 
of  their  chiefs,  appointed  by  the  treaty,  was  sent  at  the  ex-     Landing 
pense  of  the  United  States,  to  examine  the  country  assifjned  ,^'^^^  agree 

1  11  •  1      1  1       ^        1     •'^      1     ^^^  to  a  removal 

them,   and   also  to  ascertam  whether  the  Creeks,  who  had   condition- 
already  emigrated,  w^ould  unite  with  them,  as  one  people.     If       ^^^v- 
the  Seminoles  were  satisfied  on  these  points,  then  the  treaty 
was  to  be  binding. 

The  Indian  delegation,  after  examining,  took  it  upon  them 
to  conclude  a  treaty  with  the  American  commissioners,  ren- 
dering absolute  the  one  made  at  Payne's  Landing. 

To  this  transaction  the  nation  at  large  objected,  and  averred    Treaty  of 
that  the  delegation  had  exceeded  their  powers,  and  that  they  confirmation 
should  have  reported  to  the  tribe  the  result  of  their  observa-  chiefs,  and 
tions,  and  taken  their  vote  ;  but   as  it   was,  unfairness  and  disputed  by 
treachery  were  charged  upon  the  parties  who  thus  prema-   ^  ^^^^-^o^^ 
turely  completed  the  agreement. 

The  Indians  were,  by  the  stipulations  of  the  treaty,  to  re- 
move within  three  years  after  its  ratification;  and  to  com- 
mence their  emigration  as  early  as  possible  in  1833.  Their 
removal  was  not,  however,  then  attempted. 

But  President  Jackson,  although  he  might  for  a  short  time 
delay,  was  not  a  man  to  change  his  purposes,  or  swerve  from 
their  full  execution  ;  and  in  regard  to  the  Seminoles,  he  now 
determined  to  delay  no  longer. 

He  made  General  Wiley  Thompson  the  government  agent     1834. 
for  superintending  the  proposed  change,  and  sent  him  to  Flori-     General 
da  to  prepare  for  the  emigration.     Captain  Russel,  of  the  army,      seS^tcT" 
accompanied    him  as   disbursin'g    officer.      Thompson    soon     Florida, 
found,  and  reported  to  the  government,  that  most  of  the  Indi-     ^^*-  ^^• 
ans  woie  unwilling  to  leave  their  homes.     They  plead  tha.  the 
treaty  of  Fort  Moultrie,  suffered  them  to  remam  for  twenty 
years  ; — and  said  that  though  the  lands  beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi might  be  good,  the  Indians  there  were  bad. 

On  reporting  this  to  the  war  department,  Thompson  was 
told  that  the  Seminoles  were   to    be   removed   for  their  own     ^ 
benefit,  and  could  not  be  permitted  to  remain ; — that  the  mill-   Thompson 
tary  force  in  the  neighborhood  of  these  Indians  would  be  in-  directed  in 
creased  ;  and  he  was  directed  to  inform  the  Seminoles  that  the  '^^removal 
annuilies  which  they  received  under  the  treaty  of  Fort  Moul- 
trie would  not  be  paid  until  they  consented  to  emigrate.     He 


382 


THE    SEMINOLES    INFLUENCED    BY    OSCEOLA. 


PART  IV. 


1834. 

Dec.  23. 


1§35. 

Jan.  7. 

March  10. 

General 
Cimch  ad- 
vises the  ex- 
ecutive to 
delay. 


The  order 
for  immedi- 
ate removal 
is  peremp- 
tory. 

April  22. 


Osceola. 


June   J. 

General 
Thompson 
treats  him 
with  indigni- 
ty. 

Is  deceived 
bv  him. 


The  Semi- 

nolcs  take 

vengeance 

«ii  their  own 

people  who 

favor  the  re- 

m'^val. 


was  also  required  to  communicate  freely  with  General  Clinch 
of  the  army,  who  owned  a  plantation  not  far  from  the  Indian 
reservation. 

President.Jackson  also  sent  a  conciliatory  "  talk"  to  the  chiefs 
who  assembled  to  hear  it.  They  discussed,  with  General 
Thompson,  their  intended  departure,  seemed  much  gratified 
with  the  president's  talk,  and  their  principal  chief,  Osceola, 
with  others,  parted  apparently  in  perfect  good  humor.  But  the 
agents  must  have  doubted  their  suicerity,  for  General  Thomp- 
son requested  the  government  to  send  more  troops.  Genera] 
Clinch,  however,  wrote  to  the  war  department,  humanely  in- 
quiring if  it  would  not  be  better  to  let  them  jemain  until  the 
next  spring,  provided  they  would  consent  i<-  remove  peaceably 
and  quietly  on  the  first  day  of  March.  "  I  belieA^e,"  said  he, 
"  the  whole  nation  will  readily  come  into  the  measure,  and  it  is 
impossible  not  to  feel  a  deep  interest,  and  much  sympathy 
for  this  people." 

The  answer,  although  it  contained  professions  of  regard 
for  the  Seminoles,  yet  bore  the  government's  peremptory  order 
to  proceed  without  delay  to  their  removal. 

The  Indians,  in  the  meantime,  acknowledged  the  validity 
of  the  treaty  of  Payne's  Landing,  and  agreed  to  carry  it  into 
effect ;  but  when  the  agents  took  the  preparatory  steps  foi 
their  removal,  the  deep-seated  repugnance  of  the  people  to 
leave  their  homes,  and  the  graves  of  their  fathers  was  again 
manifested. 

It  was  believed  that  they  acted  much  under  the  influence 
of  Osceola  or  Powel.  This  chief  owed  his  elevation  solely 
to  his  personal  qualities.  His  father  was  an  Englishman, 
his  mother  a  Seminole,  and  he  thus  mingled  the  Saxon  with 
the  Indian  blood.  His  bearing  w^as  proud  and  gloomy.  On 
the  3d  of  June,  General  Thompson  held  a  conference  with 
the  Indians,  in  which  Osceola,  took  a  tone  that  displeased 
him,  and  he  manacled  the  chief,  and  confined  him  to  prison 
for  a  day.  Osceola  seemed  penitent,  signed  the  treaty  to 
remove,  and  was  released.  Afterwards  Tliompson  entrusted 
him  with  several  pieces  of  service ;  and  he  passed  through 
different  parts  of  the  peninsuki,  appearing  cheerfully  engaged 
in  aiding  General  Thompson  to  accomplish  his  plans.  But 
he  dissembled,  and  was  concerting  with  the  Indians  a  deep 
and  cruel  revenge. 

It  fell  first  on  the  heads  of  those  Indians  who  were  true  to 
the  whites.  Mathla,  a  chief,  was  killed  because  he  had  been 
engaged  in  making  the  obnoxious  treaty ;  and  some  hundreds 
of  the  Seminoles  fled  to  Fort  Brooke,  at  Tampa  Bay,  bring' 
ing  the  first  account  of  the  real  designs  of  Osceola  and  his 
party.  In  the  meantime,  the  Indians  opposed  to  the  removal, 
had  disappeared  from  their  usual  places  of  residence. 

Alarmed  at  these  symptoms,  the  government  ordered  troops 
from  the  southern  posts  to  repair  to  Fort  Brooke.     The  com- 


Dade's  battle-field.  383 

mand  was  given  to  General  Clinch,  who  was  at  Camp  King,  PART  IV. 
distant  one  hundred  miles,  or  about  half  the  way  from  Tampa  period  hi 
Bay  to  St.  Augustine.  ^"^^-  '''■ 

Major  Dade  marched  from  Fort  Brooke  to  join  him,  at  the   ^■^^'^^'^'"^^ 
head   of  one   hundred  and  seventeen  men,  accompanied  by     1835. 
captams  (jrardner  and  r  raser.  Major  Dade 

About  eighty  miles  of  the  toilsome  journey  had  been  accom-    begins  his 
plished,  when,  on  the  morning  of  the  2Sth,  Major  Dade  rode     j^'^^^^'^os 
ill  front  of  his  troops,  and  cheered  them  with  the  intelligence  js  ambushed 
that  their  march  was  nearly  at  an  end;  and  he  kindly  assured  ijy  the  Indi- 
them,  that  they  should  have  three   days'  rest  at  Camp  King.        ^^^' 
A  volley  was  fired  at  the  moment  from  hundreds  of  unseen  j^^  -^  killed, 
muskets.     The  speaker,  and  those  he   addressed,  fell  dead,  wiihihree- 
The  whole  advance  Avas  killed  on  the  first  fire;  at  the  second,  quarters  of 
Captain  Fraser  and  many  others.     So  entirely    was    the    foe 
concealed  that  many  rounds  were  fired  at  them  by  the  survi- 
vors before  an  Indian  was  seen.     The  savages  then  rose,  and 
surrounding  the    Americans,    came    in    close    contact,  using 
knives  and  bayonets.     A  field-piece,  which  Major  Dade  had 
ordered,  was  now  brought  into  the  action,  and  the  Indians 
drew  off. 

Thirty  were  all  that  remained  of  Dade's  army.  They  im- 
proved the  respite  afibrded  them  to  construct  a  triangular 
breastwork  of  trees,  which  they  felled. 

While  they  were  thus  engaged,  where  w^as  Osceola,  who 
had,  doubtless,  led  the  attack?     It  is  supposed  that  he  went  Camp  King, 
the  twenty  miles  from  Dade's  battle  field  to  Camp  King,  to 
perform  a  work  there. 

On  that  day,  General  Wiley  Thompson,  with  a  convivial 
party,  were  dining  at  a  house  within  sight  of  the  garrison. 
As  they  sat  at  table,  a  volley  from  a  hundred  muskets  v.  as 
poured  through  the  doors  and  windows.  General  Thompson  Death  of 
fell  dead,  pierced  by  fifteen  bullets.  Of  the  others,  some  were  Thompson, 
killed  at  the  first  fire,  others,  attempting  to  escape,  were  mur- 
dered without  the  house.  Osceola,  at  the  head  of  the  Indi- 
ans, had  rushed  in,  and  himself  scalped  the  man  who  had 
once  placed  fetters  upon  the  limbs  of  the  Seminole  chief. 
The  Indians  then  retreated,  unmolested  by  the  garrison. 

In  the  afternoon,  a  mounted  company  of  one  hundred  Indi- 
ans, (doubtless,  Osceola  and  his  party,  now  returning  triumphant 
from  the  massacre  at  Camp  King) attacked,  with  whoop  and 
yell,  the    inclosure    of  the   thirty    survivors.     The   Indians  ^^ 

charged  only  once,  for  they  were  repulsed  by  the  cool  bravery  g^pj^,,  of  ^^ 
of  the  devoted  men.  Many  of  the  Indians  fell,  but  fresh  tragedy, 
numbers  continually  appeared ;  and  one  by  one,  bravely  fight- 
ing, the  officers  and  soldiers  fell,  till  there  was  none  to  resist. 
The  narrator,  Ransom  Clarke,  was  wounded,  and  that  soldier 
only  escaped  death  by  feigning  it;  and  then,  almost  by  mira 
cle,  working  his  way  through  the  woods.     He  eventually  died 


384  GENERAL    CLINCH's    BATTLE. 

PART  IV.   of  his  wounds  ;  and  thus  every  one  of  Dade's  army    was 
PERIOD  III  killed  in  that  battle. 

CHAP.  IV.        A  deep  sensation  pervaded  the  country  at  the  news  of  this 

^^'""^v'^^o^  massacre.     At  Fort  Brooke,  the  garrison  labored  to  improve 

1§35.      their  fortifications,  the    elated   Seminoles   hav'ng  threatened 

'T'^f  ^P '"^°"  them  with  extermination.     The  terrified  inhabitants  /locked 

Brooke      ^r  refuge  to  the  forts. 

alarmed.         The  head-quaters  of  General  Clinch  were  at  Fort  Drake,  a 
few  miles  north  of  Camp  King.     Three  companies  of  regulars 
under  Major  Fanning,   and   a  body  of  volunteers   from  the 
neighboring  country  under  General  Call,  constituted  bis  force. 
Dec.  29.     With  these  he  set  out  on  the  day  succeeding  the  massacre,  foi 
Clin^hTets  ^^^  Withlacoochee  river ;  Osceola's  principal  settlement,  being 
out  to  seek  to  the  south  of  that  stream.     Their  guide  who  had  promised 
Osceola.     1^  bring  them  to  a  point  where  the  fording  was  good,  deceived 
them.     They  found  a  deep  and  rapid  stream,  with  no  means 
of  crossing  but  one  canoe.     Colonel  Fanning  had,  however, 
p.  succeeded  in  getting  the  regular  troops  across,  and  General 

Reaches  the  Call  had  begun  to  bring  over  the  volunteers.     Osceola  and  the 
Withlacoo-    Seminoles,  with  whom  the   guide  was,  doubtless,  in  league, 
were  posted  in  the  swamps  and  underbrush  around.     An  en- 
Is  attacked  counter  ensued,  in  which  the  regulars  with  a  few  volunteers, 
by  Osceola,   charged,  and  drove  the  Indians  three  times.     After  the  battle 
began,  the  volunteers  upon  the  opposite  bank  would  not  cross 
the  river,  notwithstanding  the  earnest  entreaties  of  General 
Call  and  the  other  officers,  who  themselves  crossed  over,  and 
rendered  efficient  service. 
1§36.  After  the  battle,  General  Clinch  recrossed  the  river  and  re- 

General     turned  to  Fort  Drane,  having  lost  four  men  killed,  and  sixty 
Clinch  re-    wounded.     The   volunteers  returned  to  their  abodes,  lea^dng 
^^D^rane   ^'  General  Clinch  to  guard  their  homes,  and  protect  the  country 
with  very  inadequate  means. 

Emboldened  by   success,   and   united  in  their  plans,  the 

Seminoles  now  appeared  simidtaneously  in  the  neighborhood 

of  almost  every  settlement  in  Florida.     Houses  were  burned, 

crops  destroyed,  negroes  carried  oif,  and  families  murdered  in 

every  direction. 

Feb.  t:  General  Scott  was  now  invested  with  the  chief  command 

Scott  armes  "^  ^^^®  peninsula,  and  he  arrived  on  the  7th  of  February  at 

atSt.  Au-    St.  Augustine.     The  inhabitants  were   not  strong  enough  to 

gustine.      keep  a  communication  open  with  the  other  settlements  ;  and 

reconnoilering  parties  of  lifty  or  sixty  were  attacked  and  driven 

back  with  loss. 

Feb  11.         A  letter  from  St.  Augustine,  dated  the  eleventh  of  the  month, 

A  lett  ;r  of   ^Yma  describes  the  situation  of  the  inhabitants.     "  The  whole  of 

froirfst.  Au-  the  country  south  of  this  place  has  been  laid  waste  during  the 

gustine.      p^st  week,  not  a  building  of  any  value  is  left  standing.    There 

is  not  a  single  house   remaining  between  this  city  and  Cape 

Florida,  a  distance  of  two  hundred  aiid  fifty  miles  j  all,  all,  have 

been  burned  to  the  ground." 


MOVEMENTS    OF    GENERAL    G\INES.  386 

In  the  meantime  General  Clinch  was  hardly  pressed  by  PART  IV. 
the  savages  at  Fort  Dranc,  and  General  Scott  learning  his  peiuod  m 
critical  situation,  immediately  ordered  all  the  regular  troops  chap.  iv. 
under  his  command,  except  one  company  left  for  the  defense  ^^-'■^v-*^-/ 
of  St  Augustine,  to  march  to  his  relief. 

A  simuhaneous  movement  occurred  on  the  oj>poshe  side  of     1S36. 
the  peninsula.     General  Gaines,  the  conmiander  of  the  south-   Movement 

T    •    •  ,-     1        TT    •      1    c^  1  •  r    1         of  (jcncral 

western  division  of  the   United  States  army,  hearing  ot  the     Gairj«\s. 
massacre,  and   conceiving  Florida  to  belong  to  his  military 
department,  hastened  to  the  scene  of  action,  with  such  of  the 
regular  troops  as  he  could  bring  together,  and  seven  hundred 
Louisiana  volunteers  under   Colonel  Persifor  Smith.     They     ^^^  jj 
landed  at  Tampa  Bay,  on  the  11th  of  February,  and  took  up    Army  at 
their  line  of  march  on  the  1 3th  for  Fort  King.     General  Gaines  Tampa  Bay 
/eached  it  without  being  molested  by  the  Indians,  and  taking    Be-^ins  ita 
eight  days  provisions  from  Fort  Drane,  set  out  on  the  morning      march, 
of  the  26th  for  the  banks  of  the  Withlacoochee  in  search  of  the 
Seminoles.      He  reached  that  river  near   General    Clinch's     j^  ^t  ^Ife 
battle-ground,  and  while  reconnoitering,  was  fired  upon  from  Witiilacoo- 
the  opposite  bank.     Thus  admonished  of  the  presence  of  his       <^hee. 
enemy,  he  employed  his  men  in  preparing  a  small  breastwork 
to  command  the  crossing  place.     On  the  29th.  he  was  attacked     ^^^  ^^ 
at  ten  in  the  morning,  on  three  sides  of  his  camp  at  once.     General 
General  Gaines'  force  was  between  ten  and  eleven  hundred.  Games'  bat- 
and  the  Indians  were  supposed  to  number  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred.    The  engagement  lasted  two  hours,  and  ended  in  the 
repulse  of  the  assailants  with  considerable  loss. 

But  General  Gaines  had  little  the  air  of  a  victor,  for  he  re- 
mained surrounded  by  the  savages,  and  in  danger  of  starvation. 
A  courier   from  him   had  the   good  luck  to    reach   General 
Clinch  with  the  intelligence  ;    and  that  officer,   in  the  ex-  c^^"J^gj.g 
ercise  of  a  liberal  spirit,  procured    a  supply    from  his  own  out  to  go  to 
plantation.     On  further  information,  he  set  off  at  the  head  of  Gaines' re 
six  hundred  men,  and  a  body  of  militia,  who  seemed  happily         ^®  * 
to  have  changed  the  timid  character  manifested   in  the  early 
part  of  the  war. 

On  the  5th  and  6th  of  xMarch,  Osceola  amused  General   March  5th 
Gaines  with  pretences  of  desiring  to  treat  for  a  cessation  of    ^^^  ^^|^- 
hostilities.    He  came  to  his  camp  with  a  flag,  and  told  him  that  holds  a  par 
he  would  furnish  him  with  provisions  of  which  he  knew  he  was        ley. 
in  want.     This  was  too  true,  for  his  army  was  living  at  the 
time  on  no  better  food   than  horses   and  dogs,  and  these  in 
great  scarcity.     Osceola  said,  however,  that  General  Clinch 
was   approaching  with  a  large  force  ;  and  that  the  Seminoles 
wished  the  war  to  close  ;  but  on  being  desired  to  embark  for  .     . 

the  west,   he  refused.     While  he  thus  held  the  general  in   ^hg  mean- 
parley,  his  warriors  had  been  moving  their  women  and  chil-   time  with- 
dren,  and  the  tribe  were  already  on  their  way  to  the  south ;      "'"^^• 
where  among  the   everglades  and  hammocks,  the  officers  and 
soldiers  have  sought  them  through  bogs  and  fens, — ir  danger 


386 


BATTLE    OF    OKEE-CHOBEE. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD  III. 

CHAP.    IV. 


1§36. 

Change  of 
commander. 


1837. 

Oct.  21. 
Seizure  of 
Osceola. 

His  death, 
January, 

1§3§. 


Dec.  20. 


Dec.  25. 

Battle  of 

Okee-Cho- 

bee. 


Death  of 

Colonel 

Thompson 

ind   Colonel 

Gentry. 

Killed  and 

wounded, 

138. 


from  serpents,  and  other  venomous  reptiles,  tortured  by  poi- 
sonous insects,  and  often  the  victims  of  the  climate. 

General  Clinch  arrived  at  the  camp,  and  relieved  the  army 
of  Gaines  from  the  danger  of  starvation.  General  Scott  was 
about  to  put  a  plan  in  operation,  by  which,  Osceola,  in  his  first 
position,  would  have  been  surrounded  ;  but,  like  startled  birds, 
the  Indians  had  flown.  General  Gaines  returned  to  New 
Orleans.  General  Scott  left  St.  Augustine  on  the  third  of 
May,  having  been  ordered  to  the  country  of  the  Creeks,  leaving 
General  Call  in  command,  General  Clinch  having  resigned. 

General  Jesup  arrived  to  take  the  command  soon  after  the 
departure  of  General  Scott.  In  October,  Osceola,  under  pro- 
tection of  a  flag  with  about  seventy  of  his  warriors,  came  to 
the  American  camp.  General  Jesup  believed  him  to  be 
treacherous,  and  caused  him,  with  his  escort,  to  be  forcibly 
detained,  and  subsequently  placed  in  a  prison  at  Fort  Moul- 
trie, S.  C,  where,  a  few  months  after,  he  died  of  a  complaint 
in  the  throat. 

The  head  of  the  confederacy  thus  taken  away,  General 
Jesup  believed  that  the  war  would  soon  be  brought  to  a  close. 
A  delegation  of  Cherokees  was  sent  to  the  Seminoles  to  per- 
suade them  to  peaceable  arrangements.  But  in  December, 
Colonel  Taylor,  the  commanding  officer  of  Fort  Gardner, 
south  of  the  Withlacoochee,  received  from  General  Jesup, 
the  intelligence  that  the  Seminoles  would  not  negotiate,  but 
were  determined  "  to  fight  it  out ;"  and  consequently  the 
commanding  general  directed  Colonel  Taylor,  fotthwith,  to 
act  olTensively.  He  immediately  set  out  with  a  thousand 
resolute  men,  well  officered  and  equipped. 

They  marched  four  days  through  wet  swampy  grounds, 
covered  with  long  saw-grass,  and  occasionally  diversified  with 
hammocks  or  island-spots  of  luxuriant  and  tangled  vegetation. 
On  the  fifth  day,  the  Indians,  whom  they  sought,  attacked  them 
at  the  entrance  of  the  Kissimmee  river,  into  lake  Okee-Cho- 
bee.  Notwithstanding  their  fatiguing  march,  the  troops  en- 
gaged them  with  perfect  coolness.  The  brunt  of  the  battle 
fell  at  first  on  the  sixth  regiment.  Colonel  Thompson,  their 
commander,  with  many  others,  was  wounded,  but  he  kept  the 
field  until  pierced  by  the  third  bullet,  he  said,  "  keep  steady 
boys — charge  the  hammock,  remember  what  regiment  you 
belong  to,"  and  then  fell  dead.  Colonel  Gentry,  of  the  Mis- 
souri volunteers,  was  also  killed,  with  three  other  valuable 
officers  and  twenty-two  privates.  One  hundred  and  eleven 
officers  and  soldiers  were  wounded.  The  Indian  loss  could 
not  be  ascertained.  They  were,  however,  routed  and  dis 
pcrsed,and  about  a  hundred  afterwards  gave  themselves  up  to 
be  carried  to  the  west. 

In  the  whole  history  of  the  United  States,  no  warfare  is 
related,  which  on  the  whole,  is  comparable  with  the  Florida  war, 
for  danger  and  difficulty  ;  and  no  military  services  are  record- 
ed which  required,  on  the  whole,  such  Spartan  self-devotion. 


SUFFERINGS  AND  DANGERS  OF  THE  FLORIDA  WAR.  387 

Colonel  Wortli,  one  of  the  most  active,  daring,  and  en-  PART  IV. 
ergetic  ofllcers  in  the  army,  has  been  in  Florida  more  than  a  periuu  iil 
year,  and   there   seems  at  present  a  prospect  that  the  war    chap,  iv, 
will  soon  close.     At  different  times,  parties  of  tlie  Indians  have  <--«*-v^^^ 
surrendered  themselves  to  the  American  otncers,  and  have  been     l§-tl. 
sent  to  the  west ;  but  the  number  of  these  is   perhaps   not 
much  greater,  than  those  of  the  brave,  the  patient,  and  faithful 
of  our  own  army,  who  have  perished  on  the  battle-fields,  or 
m  the  swamps  of  Florida.* 

The  occasion  on  which  General  Scott  was  sent  to  the  Creek  The  Creeks 
country,  was  an  outbreak  among  the  Indians  of  that  nation, '"  ^^^  south- 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  Seminolcs.     Osceola  had  sent  the  war-  ^oTAlaljama 
belt  to  all  the  red  men  as  far  as  the  Winnebagoes,  in  the  coun-  become  hos- 
try  of  the  upper  Mississippi;  and  it  was  not  surprising  that    --I'^^ 
even  the  influence  of  the  head-chiefs  among  the  Creeks,  should 
fail  to  repress  the  strong  sympathy  which  the  body  of  the  tribe 
felt  for  the  kindred  race. 

Early  in  May,  they  opened  their  horrible  warfare  upon  the      May  l. 
defenseless  and  unsuspecting  inhabitants,  near  the  Chatahou-  T^^fu""^' 
chee  in  Alabama,  setting  fire  to  houses,  and  murdering  fami-    habitants 
lies.    The  sur^'ivors  fled  in  terror  to  Columbus,  on  the  Georgia 
side  of  that  river. 

On  the    15th  of  May,  the  Indians  attacked  a  steamboat 
which  was  ascending  the   Chatahouchee,  eight  miles  below 
Columbus,  killed  her  pilot  and  w^ounded  several  others.     She       _. 
was  run  ashore,  and  the  passengers  had  the  good  fortune  to  They  attac* 
escape  with  their  lives,  while  the   Indians  burned  the  boat,  and  burn  two 
The  passengers    of  another  steamboat,  which   the  savages  steamboats 
attacked  and  fired  at  the  wharf  of  Roanoke,  had  not  the  same 
fortunate  escape.     They  were  all,  save  the  engineer,  consumed 
in  the  flames  of  the  burning  vessel.     The  barbarians  then  set 
fire  to  the  town,  and  destroyed  it. 

The  governor  of  Georgia  raised  troops  and  took  the  field  in 
person  :  General  Scott  arrived  on  the  30th  of  May.  Their  oJe^rpowM 
combined  efforts  quelled  the  Creek  hostilities,  and  peace  was  ed 
restored  early  in  the  summer.  But  the  feeling  of  desperation 
w^hich  pervaded  the  minds  of  the  Indians,  and  the  reluctance 
with  which  they  submitted,  appeared  from  a  fact  remarkable 
in  the  history  of  the  natives.  The  Indian  mother  loves  her 
children  with  the  utmost  tenderness.  Yet  in  several  instances 
the  Creek  mothers  put  their  offspring  to  death,  rather  than 
Aat  they  should  become  prisoners  to  the  pale-faces. 

In  18.31,  Mr  Rives  negotiated  with  the  minister  of  Louis  ISJ?!. 
Philip,  king  or"  toe  French,  a  treaty  by  which  that  nation  ^^[ip^tT^ 
agreed  to  give  2c  000,000  of  francs  to  indemnify  the  United  l§36. 
States  for  spoliations  on  American  commerce,  made  under  the  General 
operation  of  the  decrees  of  Napoleon.  The  French,  however,  procures^itd 
had  neglected  to  pay  the  money ;  but  General  Jackson  took  such    fulfillment. 

*  1S42. — The  government  have  now  proclaimed  that  the  Florida  war  is 
closed.  It  is  believed  that  the  whites  who  wish  to  make  money  by  sup- 
plying the  army,  have  basely  practised  to  prevent  peace. 


338 


THE    PRESIDENTIAL    VETO. 


PART  IV. 
PERIOD   III. 

CHAP.    IV. 


1§37. 

January. 

Michigan  a 

.stale. 


The  Jackson 

and  Anti- 
Jackson  par- 


1§30. 

The  presi- 
dent mani- 
fests hostili- 
ties to  the 
U.  S.  Bank. 

1832. 
He  vetoes 
the  bill  for 
tie    renewal 
of  its  char- 
ter. 

1833. 

(Dec.  CG. 
Mr.  Clay's 
two  resoln- 
tions,  censur- 
ing Jackson 
for  subvert- 
ing the  Con- 
ttilution,  by 
assuming  to 
rent  the  pub- 
lic purse. 
They  pass 
the  Senate. 
Are  after- 
wards ex- 
punged.) 


1§33. 

1o 

1836. 

Opposition 
in  tiie  senate. 

Tlie  elo- 
quence of  the 
senate. 


prompt  measures  and  so  decided  a  tone,  that  in  1836  the  de 
mand  was  Uquidated  agreeably  to  the  treaty. 

In  September,  1835,  Wisconsin  was  made  a  territory,  and 
Arkansas,  a  state. 

Congress  also  passed  a  law  admitting  Michigan  to  the  Union, 
provided  a  convention  of  delegates  should  agree  to  relinquish 
certain  lands  in  dispute,  between  that  territory  and  Ohio.  The 
delegates  refused  the  condition;  but  another  convention  being 
called,  accepted  it,  and  ^Michigan  was  admitted  to  the  Union, 
the  twenty  sixth  state ;  the  original  number,  thirteen,  being  now 
exactly  doubled.    The  boundaries  were  extended  on  the  north. 

The  old  parties  were,  during  Mr.  Monroe's  administration, 
broken  up.  From  the  peculiar  character  of  Mr.  Jackson,  it 
was  to  have  been  expected  that  he  would  have  warm  friends 
and  bitter  enemies  ;  and  at  this  time,  there  are  those  who  re- 
gard him  in  his  civil  capacity  as  a  second  Washington,  to 
whom  the  country  is  scarcely  less  indebted  than  to  the  first ; 
while  his  opponents  have  pronounced  his  administration  "  a 
calamity  greater  than  war,  famine,  and  pestilence  combined." 

The  latter  attribute  the  revulsion  of  1837,  from  which  the 
country  has  not  yet  recovered,  to  the  overthrow  of  the  nation- 
al bank,  caused  by  the  hostility  of  General  Jackson.  This 
was  manifested  in  his  first  message  to  congress  in  1830. 

In  1832,  the  directors  of  the  bank  applied  for  a  renewal  of 
its  charter.  After  much  debate,  congress  passed,  by  a  con- 
siderable majority,  a  bill  granting  their  petition.  This  bill, 
General  Jackson  defeated  by  the  presidential  veto. 

The  funds  of  the  goverment  had  been  deposited  in  the  na- 
tional bank.  In  1833,  General  Jackson  signified  his  pleasure 
that  they  should  be  withdrawn.  Mr.  Duane,  the  secretary  ol 
the  treasury,  considering  it  as  his  duty  to  keep  the  public  purse 
according  to  the  wishes  of  congress,  and  deeming  the  national 
bank,  the  safest  place  of  deposit,  refused  to  withdraw  the 
money.  Mr.  Jackson  dismissed  him  from  office,  and  appoint 
ed  Mr.  Taney,  who  immediately  withdrew  the  deposites.  The 
public  treasure,  was,  by  an  act  of  congress  passed  in  1835 
placed  in  certain  selecte'd  state  banks,  known  at  the  time  as 
the  "  pet  banks."  These  were  encouraged  to  discount  freely 
as  it  might  accotnmodate  the  people. 

It  was  during  the  recess  of  the  senate,  that  Mr.  Taney  was 
appointed  to  the  office  of  secretary  of  the  treasury,  and  it  was 
not  till  the  close  of  a  seven  months  session,  that  the  preside; 
brought  his  nomination  before  that  body,  who  then  rejected  it 

The  government  at  this  period,  presented  the  spectacle  ot 
violent  hostility  between  the  executive  and  the  majority  ol 
the  senate,  headed  by  such  powerful  and  eloquent  men  as 
Henry  Clay,  Daniel  Webster,  Mr.  Preston,  and  others.  On 
the  part  of  President  Jackson,  Silas  Wright  of  New  York,  mei 
them  with  ingenious  argument,  and  gHntleiu;inly  coolness  ;  while 
on   the  same  side   Mr.  Benton,  of  Mi.- sou ."i.   was  earnest  and 


ADMINISTRATION    OF    VAN    BUREN.  S^H 

vehement.  The  debates  in  the  senate  at  that  period,  were  PART  IV. 
exciting  and  attractive  to  such  a  degree,  that  the  room  for  spec-  period  m 
tators  was  crowded  at  an  early  hour.  Ladies,  who  assemlDled  chap.  iv. 
from  every  part  of  the  Union,  were  so  much  fascinated,  that  ^-^-v^^ 
tRey  were  often  in  waiting  tnree  hours,  m  order  to  secure  seals. 

So  prosperous  had  been  the  condition  of  the  country,  that     1836. 
a  surplus  revenue  had  accumulated.     One  of  the  most  sin-  $37i"nUHon8 
gular  facts  of  American  liislory  is,  that  this  surplus  revenue    of  surplus 
was  given  up  to  the  people,  and  distributed  among  the  several 
states,  in    proportion    to    their  respective    representation    in 
congress.     The  law  to  this  effect  passed  Jan.  3,  1836.      The 
payments  were  to  be  made  in  four  instahnents.     The  whole 
amount  to  be  thus  divided  was  $37,468,859.     Three-fourths 
of  this  amount  was  actually  paid  ;  but  the  pecuniary  revulsion 
occurring,  the  remaining  fourth  was  otherwise  appropriated. 

Mr.  Jackson's  second  term  being  about  to  close,  he  expressed 
his  determination  to  retire.  He  was  succeeded  by  Martin  Van  1837. 
Buren,  who,  during  the  last  four  years,  had,  as  vice-president,  Mfu-un  Van 
presided  with  great  ability  in  the  senate  ;  where,  as  a  leader  3f*^"  ^"^^ 
of  the  Jackson  party,  he  had  sat  in  silence,  and  borne  the  ac-  Johnson  i»^ 
cusations  and  sneers  of  the  opposition  with  unexampled  self-  '^"Sur<-'-ted. 
possession.     Richard  M.  Johnson  was  made  vice-president. 

After  the  public  money  went  into  the  state  banks,  facilities 
too   great  before,   were  increased,   whereby  men  might,  by     ,^„- 
pledging  their  credit,  possess  themselves  of  money.     A  per-        ^^ 
iect  madness   of  speculation  was  now   rife   throughout   the     i§3'7. 
land.     The  good  old  roads  of  honest  industry  were  grass-     Mania  of 
grown,  while  men  were  hurrying  into  fortunes  on  the  steam-  ^'^^i^gj^ 
cars  of  speculation.    City  lots  were  the  rage.     The  old  cities 
were  extended  on  paper  to  limits  that  they  will  not  reach  in 
centuries  ;  and  new  ones  were  surveyed,  and  some,  where 
deep  waters  flowed,  or  rocky  mountains  rose.    Yet  they  were 
mapped  out,  laid  down  in  reg-ular  city  lots,  and  duly  numbered. 
And  such  were  bought  and   sold.     Fortunes  were  made  in 
an  hour,  and  by  a  single  bargain.     This   alarming  state  of 
things,  must,  as  was  well  foreseen,  have  its  crisis.     It  came 
in  1837. 

Before  this  crisis,  every  one  was  making  money.     Now  all  The  reml 
were  losing.     Like  a  routed  army,  one  fell  back  upon  another  ^^^^at^dis^-* 
till  there   was  an  universal  dismay.     A  delegation  of  mer-    °  tress, 
chants  from  New  York  went  to  Washington  in  behalf  of  the   ^^ ^y  ?• 
city.     They  presented  to  the  president  a  memorial  in  which  ofmerchants 
they  represented,  Avith  force  and  eloquence,  the  miseries  in  apply  to  Mr. 
which  their  population  were  involved;  and  begged  the  president     '^^    ^^^^ 
i)nmediately  to  remit  the  regulations  contained  in  the  "  specie 
circular,"  and  to  convene  the  national  legislature.      IMr.  Van 
Buren  did  not  regard  the  occasion  as  warranting  either  meas- 
ure, and  rejected  the  petition. 

The  "  specie   circular"  was    a   treasury    order  issued  in 
1S35,  whose  object  was  to  secure  the  public  in  the  sale  of 
27 


390  PECUNIARY    DISTRESS. 

PART  IV.  lands,  from  the  effects  of  the  speculating  mania  *,  and  it  required, 
PERIOD  III.  iiiiii  specie  should  be  paid  for  the  government  dues.     This 
CHAP.  IV.    YiQ,d  produced  an  effect  to  take  the  gold  and  silver  from  the 
^^^^''""'^'"^^  vaults  of  the  banks,  and  carry  it  to  the  west,  where  specula- 
1837.     tors  paid  it  for  public  lands.     ^Merchants  were  obliged  to  pay 
circular"^  the  duties  on  their  imports  in  specie ;  but  wheie  was  it  to  be 
obtained  ?     The  government  would  not  pay  it  out  to  its  credi- 
tors ;  and  a  man  who  had  an  authenticated  demand  against  the 
treasury  of  the  United  States  could  not  get  specie,  while,  if 
he  owed,  he  was  obliged  to  pay  in  gold   and  silver.     This 
caused  a  state  of  even  dangerous  exasperation  in  the  cities. 
The  banks  had   been   pressed  to  sustain  their   friends  and 
M     10      supporters  till  they  had  gone  beyond  the  limits  of  prudence 
The  banks    ^^^  their  issues,  and  those  of  the  city  of  New  York  only  held 
stop  specie    out  till  the  hope  was  gone  that  something  would  be  done  by 
payment,     government,  and  then  stopped   specie  payment.     Their  ex- 
ample was  of  necessity  followed  in  every  part  of  the  Union. 
Mr.  Van  Bu-       'f  ]^g  banks,  where  the  public  funds  were  deposited,  shared 
a  special     the  common  fate,  and  the  questions  now  arose  how  was  the 
session,      government  to   meet  its   current    expenses,   and    what   next 
should  be   done   with  the  public  purse  ?     To  decide  these 
Conffiess     ^l^^estions  Mr.  Van  Buren  issued  his  proclamation,  convening 
meet.        congress,  which  accordingly  met  on  the  4th  of  September. 

In  his   message,   the  president  recommended   a  mode  of 
keeping  the  public    money,  which   was   eventually  brought 
<Siib-treas-  before  congress,  in  what  has  been   called  the  "sub-treasury 
bill."     It  did  not  pass,  being  by  its  opponents  regarded  as 
1§36.     putting  the  public  treasure  wholly  in  the  power  of  the  execu- 
Law  respect-  tlve.     Its  unpopularity  was  probably  the  principal  cause  of 
nig  tiie  sur-  ]y[j..  Van  Buren's  losing  the  next  presidential  election.     An 
^  "nue!^^"    instalment  of  the  surplus  revenue,  which,  by  an  act  of  con- 
gress, 1 836,  was  to  have  been  distributed  among  the  several 
183T.     states,  was  reserved  for  the  exigences  of  the  government,  and 
Aninstal-     treasury  notes  were  to  be  issued.     But  no  measure  of  relief 
ment  of  the  iq  t^^  people  was  attempted  ;  and  the  friends  of  the  adminia 
venue  re"    tration  contended  that  the  case  did  not  call  for  the  interference 
'claimed,     of  government,  but  for  a  reformation  in  the  indindual  extrava 
gance  which  had  prevailed,   and  a  return  to  the  neglected 
ways  of  industry. 
1§J?5,         Among  the  causes  of  pecuniary  distress,  was  <x  destructive 
DestmctiVe  ^^'^>  ^ith  which,  in  1835,  the  commercial  capital  had  been 
i:8  in  New  visited.     Five  hundred  and  twenty-nine  buildings  were  burned. 
The  loss  was  estimated  at  seventeen  millions  of  dollars.     The 
mercantile  houses,  on  whom  with  the  insurance  offices,  it  chief- 
ly fell,  did  not  generally  fail  at  the  time  ;  for  they  were,  with 
commendable  humanity,   sustained  by  the  orhers  ;    but  the 
property  was  gone  ;  and  the  loss,  though  in  a  measure  equal- 
ized at  the  time,  at  length  fell  heavily  on  all. 

On  the  13  th  of  August,  the  banks  resumed  specie  payment, 
The  specie  circular  had  been  virtually  repealed. 


HARRISON  S  ELEVATION  AND  DEATH.  39l 

Althoiigli  England  had  governed  the   Canadas  witli  great  i^a.rt  iv. 


moderation,  yet  in  183 7  a  party  arose,  who,  claiming  indepen-  period    m. 
dence,  passed  from  sedition  to  armed  revolt.     A  portion  of    ^-'iap.  iv. 
the  American  population  regarded  the  cause  of  tlie  revolters,  ^--^^x^^^-/ 
as  that  of  liberty  and  human  rights  ;  and,  on  the  frontier,  se-  1837-8. 
cret  associations  were  formed  to  aid  them  in  warlike  measures.     Jevoit"^ 
A  daring  party  of  700,  headed  by  Van  Rensselaer  of  New  /."/^^"JJ^ 
York,  took  possession  of  Navy  Island  on  the  British  side  of       zers. 
Niagara  river,  two  miles  above  the  falls,  and  fortified  it  so  ^avyj^s^^^'i 
strongly,  as  to  resist  an  attack  of  Sir  Francis  Head,  the  British 
commander.     They  also  hired  the  small  steamboat  Caroline,     J^*^J/ 
to  bring  munitions  from  the  American  shore.    The  evening  of  the  Affair  oi^  the 
day  on  which  she  began  to  ply,  150  armed  men  from  the  Canada    Caroline 
side,  in  five  boats  with  muffled  oars,  proceeded  to  Schlosser,  cut 
the  Caroline  loose  from  her  mooiings,  and  setting  her  on  fire,  let    n^r  „  m  , 
her  drift  over  the  falls.     A  man  named  Durfee  was  killed.  invented  in 

A  patent  was,  in  1837,  granted  to  S.  F.  B.  Morse  for  the  I832,piiten- 
Magxeiic  Telegraph;  one  of  the  most  astonisliing  and  bene-  ^^S'.^"  j^^'^*' 
ficial  of  human  inventions. '  laidin  i«m. 

The  president  of  the  U.  S.  and  the  governor  of  the  state  of 
New  York  both  issued  proclamations  enioininor  strict  neutralit^'. 
Navy  Island  was  evacuated  ;  and  Van   Rensselaer  arrested  at    ,*^:*®' 
the  suit  of  the  United  States.    A  Mr.  M'Leod  was  also  arrested     ^tlon™* 
and  tried  by  a  United  States  court,  for  the  murder  of  Dui-fee, 
but  was  acquitted. 

The  census  of  1840,  gave  as  the  number  of  inhabitants  in     1840. 
the  United  States,  17,068,666.  ^^'^  ^^"'"' 

In  the  presidential  election  of  1840,  a  large  majority  was 
given  to  William  Henry  Harrison  of  Ohio,  whose  social  and 
public  virtues  had  been  rendered  conspicuous  by  the  various  ^''"^^^^^^g", 
official  stations  of  a  long  and  useful  life.f     The  good  man  tory,  i8i i  V 
loved  his  country,  and  was  pleased  that  his  country  loved  him      ^^^^-^ 
m  return.     On  the  4th  of  March  he  was  inaugurated  as  pres-    ^841. 
ident   of  the   United  States.      John  Tyler,   of  Virginia,   was   ina^ugura- 
made  vice-president  at  the  same  time.     Gen.  Harrison's  inau-  tion  of  Har- 

1  1  1  11  •     •         f     1  •    1  J.  nson  and 

gural  speech  was  long,  and  characteristic  oi  the  uprightness  Tyler, 
of  his  mind,  and  the  reverential  trust,  with  v\^hich  he  reposed 
himself  and  his  country  upon  the  Great  Supreme.  From  the 
capitol  he  went  to  the  presidential  mansion.  Thousands  flocked 
around  him  with  congratulations  and  proffers  of  service,  whose 
sincerity  he  was  not  prone  to  doubt,  for  he  was  himself  sin- 
cere. The  sunshine  of  pubhc  favor  thus  fell  too  brightly  upon 
a  head,  white  with  the  frosts  of  age.  His  health  failed,  and  April  4. 
he  expired  just  a  month  from  the  day  of  his  inauguration.  Hardso^n. 

Mr.  Tyler,  by  the  constitution,  became  president  on  the  de-   ^^^  ^yier 
cease  of  the  incumbent.     He  repaired  to  Washington,  took  succeeds. 
the  oath  of  office,  and  issued  an  address,  as  agreeable  to  the 
patriotic  sentiments  of  the  people,  as  the  appointment  of  a    j^-atlonai 
day  of  public  fasting,   subsequently  made,  was  to  their  reli-       fast. 
gious  feelings. 


392  THE    PROPOSED    FISCAL    BANK. 


CHAPTER  y. 

Mr  Tyler's  Administration. — Mobs. — Disturbance  in  Rhode  Island.— 
Anti-Rentism. — Mormonism,  &-c. 

PART  IV        Monetary  affairs  were  at  this  period,  the  all-exciting  topic. 
pEKioD  in.  ^^^^   Whig  party  were   opposed   to  Mr.  Van    Buren's  Inde- 
CHAP.  V.    pendent  Treasury,  and  in  favor  of  a  National  Bank,— modified, 
v^^*-v--^^  however,  to  suit  the  purposes  of  the  public  revenue.     They 
I  §41.    believed   that  such  a  bank  would   be  more  convenient  and 
^ationai^^  more  economical  to  the  government,— and  that  it  would  at  the 
ions  of  the  same  time,  facilitate  the  business,  and  promote  the  prosperity 
Whigs.     j^£  ^j^g  country,  over  which,  it  was  the  government's  duty,  as 
they  maintained,   to  exercise  a  parental  cai-e ;  and   they  as- 
serted that  the  attempt  to  bring  back  a  specie  circulation  v/as 
a  dangerous  experiment  upon  the  currenc3^ 

The  Democratic  party,  on  the  other  hand,  maintained  that 

Opinions  of  any  connection  of  government  with  banks,  or  with  the  mone- 

^^crat^c^°"  ^^^y  affairs  of  individuals,  was  foreign  to  its  purposes,  and 

party,      embarrassing  to  its  operations ;  and  that  experience  had  shown 

it  to  be  a  fruitful  source  of  bribery  and  corruption.     To  avoid 

these  evils,  they  believed  that  the  government  should  keep  its 

{March  11.  own  money,  maintaining  its  value,  by  operating  with  specie 

Sails  from  jtself,  not  with  its  reoresentative. 

Newlork,         ^^'  .      .  ,,    /  ,  .  ,  ■.     i         •  ,. 

the  Steamer      The  majority  01  the  voters  at  that  time  adopted  the  views  of 
lOQ^paSeri-  ^^^^  Whigs  ;  and  at  the  presidential  election  chose  Messrs.  Har- 
gers.  Never  rison  and  Tyler,  with  an  understanding  that  they  would  favor 
moreo      ^  National  Bank.     General  Harrison,  aware  of  the  point  on 
which  his  election  had  turned,  issued,  March  l7th,  his  procla- 
mation, calling  an  extra  session  of  Congress  to   convene  on 
Congress    ^^"'^  ^^^^  ^^  May,  to  consider  "sundry  weighty  and  important 
oonvene.    matters,  chiefly  growing  out  of  the  revenue  and  finances  of  the 
country."     When  this  Congress  met,  Mr.  Tyler  was  president. 
A  Sii^^ssed -^^  had  formerly  been  opposed   to  a  National  Bank,  but  he 
to  distribute  had  professed  himself  a  Whig,  and  accepted  his  nomination, 
puWic^li^nds  knowing  the  views  and  expectations  of  the  voters. 
\o  the  seye-      Congress    repealed  the   Sub-Treasury  law  on   the   6th   of 
August.     Three  days  earlier,  the  House  of  Representatives 
had   passed  an  act,   establishing  a   National  Bank  for  fiscal 
operations,  the  scheme  of  which,  was  understood  to  emanate 
from  Henry  Clay,  the  leader  of  the  Whig  party.     Mr.  Tyler, 
to   the   deep    chagrin  of    that   party,    defeated  the  measure 
August  16.  by  the  presidential  veto.     Endeavoring  to  make  a  compromise 
^*t(f  of  Na-  ^^^^^^    ^^^^    president,    the    mortified    Whigs    got   up   another 
tionai  Bank,  scheme  for  a  bank,  and  passed  it  through  Congress  under  the 
Sept. 9.     name  of  a  "Fiscal  Corporation  of  the   United    States."     A 
'*'veto°"'^  second  time  Mr.  Tyler  defeated  them  by  his  veto.     From  this 
period  to  the  close  of  his  administration,  he  stood  in  the 


NORTH-EASTERN    BOUNDARY.  J593 

anomalous  position  of  having  the  two  gveat  political  parties  part  iy. 
both  against  him.  By  a  third  veto,  he  liindered  the  passage  of  period  hi. 
a  Tariff  Bill.  A  law  to  modify  the  existing  Tariff  was,  however,  chap.  v. 
passed  on  the  30th  of  August.  The  able  cabinet  selected  by  ^--^^-^^-^^^ 
Harrison  had  all  remained  in  oflice  up  to  the  period  of  the  -^^.f  .*• 
second  veto,  when  all  resigned  except  Mr.  Webster,  the  make  a  thud 
secretary  of  state.      His    country  needed  him  in  the  office,    .  ^^^°-.,. 

i"..  ,»,  .    -^  .,  August  30. 

and  remammgv  he  lound  occasion  to  render  her  essential  ser-  a  Tariff  bin 
vice.  P^^'^^- 

In  consequence  of  the  pecuniary  distresses  of  former  years, 
many  merchants  had  been  obliged  to  fail  in  business.  Con- 
gress now  passed  a  Bankrupt  Law,  uniform  in  its  action  ^Y^^^  ^^• 
throughout  the  states,  by  which,  on  the  surrender  of  their  '  Law*^ 
property  to  their  creditors,  bankrupts  could  be  free  from  the 
legal  disabilities  of  past  debt.  This  act  having  served  it?, 
temporary  purpose,  and  no  doubt  given  rise  to  many  frauds, 
was  afterwards  repealed. 

In  the  unwarrantable  stretch  of  credit  which  had  existed, 
states  over-zealous  for  internal  improvement  had  partici- 
pated ;  and  when  the  revulsion  came,  some  of  these  found 
themselves  unable,  v/ithout  direct  taxation,  (to  which  the  rulers 
daied  not  promptly  resort,)  to  meet  their  engagements ;  and 
the  holders  of  their  bonds,  many  of  whom  were  foreigners, 
could  not  obtain  the  interest  when  due.  These  states  were 
said  to  have  repudiated  their  bonds,  and  this  repudiation  for  Repudia- 
a  time  cast  great  obloquy  upon  the  whole  nation.  With  re-  ^^°" 
turning  prosperity,  however,  these  states  resume  payment ;  and 
it  is  believed,  that  no  such  thing  as  an  actual  repudiation  of  a 
just  debt  will  be  permanently  made  by  any  state. 

The  old  United   States  Bank,  after  having  been  refused  a 
charter  by  the  general  government,   received  one  from  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania.     The  president,   Nicholas  Biddle,  the 
Napoleon  of  finance,  did  much  to  sustain  the  struggling  mer-    f^^\\url  ot 
chants    of   the    cities,   by  great  foreign    operations ;    but   at    'he  old  u. 
length  going   beyond    his    depth,    he   and    his    bank   failed.       '    ^^^ 
Many  banks  and   commercial   houses  w^ere   involved  in   the 
ruin ;  and  many  widows,  orphans,  and  others,  lost  their  whok 
fortunes. 

A  disagreement  between  the  United   States  and  England     -  ^    ^ 
had  long  existed  in  regard  to  the  North-Eastern  boundary.   Asnburton 
Much  excitement  prevailed  between  the  inhabitants  of  Maine   ,  treaty, 
and  New  Brunswick,  —regions  adjoining  the  disputed  line, —and  £  united 
measures  were  taken   on   each  side,  which  threatened  w^ar.  a?e'^^\u- loj 
Lord  Ashburton  was  sent  from  England  as  a  special  envoy  to 
settle  this  dispute  ;  and  Mr.  Webster,  with  great  diplomatic 
ability,  arranged  with  him  the  terms  of  a   treaty,  by  which  ^^oft"  h*)^*^ 
the  important  question    of   the  North-Eastern    boundary  is 
finally  and  amicably  settled. 

Serious  riots  occurred  in  the  spring  of  1844  in  Philadelphia. 
They  grew  out  of  a  jealousy  on  the  part  of  native  Ameri 


894  ALARMING    DISORDERS. 

PART  IV.  (Vfii-^  Protestants,  that  the  foreign  Roman  Cathohc  population 

PERIOD  III,  intended  to  gain  the  control  of  the  common  schools,  and  change 

CHAP.  V.    the  established  order  of  instruction,  especially  in  regard    to 

"— *"'^''^'"*^  the  use  of  the   scriptures.     The  Native  American   party  at- 

1§44.    tempted  to  hold  a  meeting  for  debate  in  Kensington,  a  suburb 

Riot?n  piiii-  <5f  Philadelphia,  inhabited  by  Irish  Catholics.    These  assaulted 

adeiphia.    the  Natives  with  brickbats  and  other  missiles,  thus  beginning 

that  violation  of  law,  by  which  eventually  they  suffered  so 

severely. 

Law  once  violated,  confusion  and  anarchy  prevailed.     Fire- 
arms were  used  on  both  sides.     The  governor  repaired  to  the 
.    .       scene  of  action,  and  bodies  of  the  mihtary,  with  field-pieces, 
burned!^^  were  stationed  in  tlie  streets.     It  was  not  until  the  third  day 
Killed  14     ^^^*  Order  was  restored.     Thirty  dwelling-houses,  a  convent, 
wounded  40.  and  three  churches  were  burned.     Fourteen  persons  had  been 
killed  and  forty  wounded.     These  disgraceful  scenes  were  re- 
June?,     newed  on  the  7th  of  June.     The  governor  called  out  5,000  of 
Killed  and'  t'hc  mihtary,  and  at  this  time  50  persons  were  either  killed  or 
wounded  50.  wounded. 

Rhode  Island  now  became  the  theatre  of  an  attempt  to  set 
aside  existing  authorities.  The  "  suffrage  party,"  by  whom 
it  was  made,  did  not,  however,  regard  the  matter  in  this  light. 
They  formed,  though  by  illegal  assemblies,  what  they  consid- 
ered a  constitution  for  the  state ;  and  then  proceeded  to  elect 
under  it  a  governor  (Mr.  Dorr)  and  members  for  a  legislature. 
Dorr's  at-  Their  opponents,  called  the  "  law  and  order"  party,  acting 
^^^^^'  under  existing  authorities,  elected  state  officers,  Mr.  King  being 
made  governor. 

It  was  the  intention  of  Mr.  Dorr,  and  his  more  violent  ad- 
herents, to  get  forcible  possession  of  the  state  buildings ;  and 
on  the  18th  of  May,  he  went  with  an  armed  force,  and  took 
the  state  arsenal.     No  lives  were  lost,  as  his  directions  to  fire 
on  those  who  opposed  his  progress  were  not  obeyed.     Gov. 
I^ng  meantime  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  military.     Sev- 
June  25.     eral  persons  were  arrested,  and  Dorr  fled.     H»  afterwards  ap- 
Chepachet.  peared  at  Chepachet  with  some  two  or  three  hundred  men ; 
l^j.^      but  a  superior  government  force  being  sent,  they  dispersed. 
Dorr  sent'to  I^orr  afterwards  returned,  was  tried,  convicted  of  treason,  and 
the  state's  sentenced  to  the  state's  prison.     Meantime  a  new  constitution 

prison.  Ill  11-r  -rx  11 

was  by  legal  measures  adopted.     In  1845,  Dorr  was  released 
1 8 J.5      from  prison,  but  he  was  not  restored  to  his  civil  rights,  on  ac- 
Is  reiease'd.  count  of  his  refusal  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  new 
constitution. 

The  war  steamer  Princeton,  lying,  Feb.  28,  1844,  in  the 
l§4't.    Potomac, —-Capt.  Stockton,  the  commander,  havino-  on  board, 

Feb  28  •      •      1  '  o  ' 

Explosion   as  invited  guests,  the  president  of  the  United  States,  heads 

PHnceton.   ^^  department,  ladies,  and  others — a  wrought-iron  gun,  whose 

great  size  made  it  a  curiosity,  on  being  fired  the  thii'd  time, 

ki?ied3^    burst ; — and  the    horrible    explosion   instantly  killed  Messrs. 

wounded  12.  Upshur  and  Gilmer,    secretaries    of    state  and  the    navy, — 


1N43. 

April  18. 


THE    ANTI-RENTERS.  395 

^hree  distinguished  Q;entleme!i — Com.  Kenuon,  David  Gardiner,  part  iv. 
^Isq.,  and  tlie  Hon.  Virgil  Maxcy,  — besides  several  of  the  crew,  pkriod   m. 

An  alarming  tendency  to  anarchy  has  been  experienced  in  tlie     ^^^^-  "^^ 
mti-reut  disturbances  in  the  state  of  New  York.     In  the  earl}^  >-^-v^^^ 
listory  of  this  state  we  have  seen,  that  under  the  Dutch  gov- 
jrnment,  certain  settlers  received  patents  of  considerable  por- 
tions of  land, —  of  which  that  of  Van  Rensselaer  Avas  the  "aost  (j^^^gggj^^j. 
extensive,  —  comprehending  the  greater  part  of  Albanj'-  and  wyck48in. 
Rensselaer  counties.      These  lands  were   divided  into   farms     ^bro;'id.^) 
containing  from  160  to  100  acres,  and  leased  in  perpetuity,  on 
the  following  conditions.     The  tenant  must  each  year  pay  to 
the  landlord  a  quantity  of  wheat,  from  22^  bushels  to  10,  with 
four  fat  fowls  and  a  day's  service  with  horses  and  Avagon.     If 
the   tenant  sold   his   lease,  the  landlord  was  entitled  to  one- 
quarter  of  the  pui-chase-money.     The  "  patroon"  was  also  en- 
titled to  certain  privileges  on  all  water-power,  and  a  right  to 
all  mines. 

In  process  of  time,  the  tenants  began  to  consider  these  legal 
conditions  as  anti-republican, —a  relic  of  feudal  tyranny.     The 
excellent   Stephen  Van   Rensselaer,   who  came  into    posses- 
sion of  the  patent  in  1785,  had,  in  the  kindness  of  his  nature,     |  cj^o 
omitted  to  exact  his  legal  rights  ;  and  8200,000  back  rent  had  stephenv'an 
accrued,  — which  he,  dying  in  1840,  appropriated  by  will.     The  ^^j-gg^^^^ 
tenants  murmured  when  called   on  to  pay  it,  and  sheriffs,  in    June  26. 
attempting  to  execute  legal  precepts,  were  forcibly  resisted. 
An  ineffectual  attempt  to  put  down  these  disorders  was  made    1§11. 
on  the  part  of  the  state  authorities,  by  a  military  movement,  ''  ^gbg^rff" 
called  in  derision  "the  Heldeberg  war."  War.'^ 

In  the  summer  of  18-14,  the  anti-rent  disturbances  broke  out 
with  great  violence  in  the  eastern  towns  of  Rensselaer,  and  on    1§44« 
the  Livingston  manor,  in  Columbia  county.     Extensive  associ-  dis^uised^as 
ations  were  formed  by  the  anti-renters  to  resist  the  laws.  They     Indians, 
kept  armed  and  mounted  bands,  disguised  as  Indians,  scouring 
the  country ;  and  the  traveller  as  he  met  them,  issuing  from 
some  dark  wood,  with  their  hideous  masks  and  gaudy  calicoes, 
was  required,  on    penalty  of  insult,  to  say,  "  Down  with  th(j 
rent."     These   lawless   rangers   forcibly  entered  houses,  took 
men  from  their  homes,  and  tarred  and  feathered,  or  otherwise 
maltreated  them.     In  Rensselaer  count3%  at  noonday,  a  man  smith  kiUea 
was  killed  where  about  50  "Indians"  were  present,— some  of  ^"    ^ 
whom  were  afterwards  arraigned,  when  they  swore  that  they 
knew  nothing  of  the  murder.     Sometimes  1,000  of  these  dis- 
guised anarchists  were  assembled  in  one  body.     Similar  dis- 
turbances occurred  in  Delaware  county.     At  length  Steele,  a  Steele  killed 
deputy-sheriff,  was  murdered  in  the  execution  of  his  official      ware, 
duty,  and  his  murderers  were  apprehended. 

Meanwhile  Silas  Wright  was  chosen  governor  of  the  state.  l§46* 
Much  does  his  country  owe  him  for  the  wisdom  and  firmness  ^°^^^"^'' 
of  the  measures  by  which  public  order  was  restored.  On  the  measures 
27th  of  August  he  proclaimed  the  county  of  Delaware  in  a 


396  THE    MORMOiNS. 

PART  IV.  state  of  insurrection.     Resolute  men  were  made  sheriffs,  and 

PERIOD  III.  competent  military  aid  afforded  them.     Leading  anti-renters 

CHAP.  V.    ^vere  taken,  brought  to  trial,  and  impiisoned.     The  murderers 

'^-^"^^"^-^  of  Steele  were  condemned  to  death,  — but  their  punishment  was 

1§47.    commuted  to  that  of  perpetual  confinement. 

snlswJilht      On  the  27th  of  Jan.  184'7,  Gov.  Young,  the  successor  of 

died.)      ^Iy  Wright,  by  his   proclamation,  released  fi'om  the    state's 

Anti"i^ent   prison  the  whole  number,  eighteen,  who  had  been  committed 

ihe^plTson  ^^r  anti-rent  offences.     There  has  been  a  fresh  outbreak   of 

of  Peter    these  troubles  in  Columbia  county. 

Sheldon.)        j^  congress,  March  3d,  1845,  an  act  was  passed  admitting 
1845.    two  states  into  the  JJmon,  — Iowa,  its  western   boundary  the 
lowa'^and    liver  Des  Moines,  and  Florida,  comprising  the  east  and  west 
Florida,     parts,  as  defined  by  the  treaty  of  cession. 

One  of  the  most  extraordinary  impostures  of  the  age  is  that 
Dec'^23     called  "  Mormonism."     The  leader,  Joseph  Smith,  was  an  ob- 
Jo.  smkii    scure,  uneducated  man,  of  New  England  origin.     Under  pre- 
ron"vt!  Isfs  tence  of  special  revelation,  he,  somewhat  after  the  fashion  of 
—removed  Mahomet,  produced  the  stereotype  plates  of  the  "  Book  of 
N.  Y.!"827'  Mormon,"  by  whicli  he  persuaded  numbers,  that  he  was  the 
the^°?a"e?  hispired  founder  of  a  new  religion,  which  was  to  give  to  his 
ana  pre-'   followers  the  same  pre-eminence  over  all  other  people,  as  the 
^Ipfrltion.r  J^ws  had  over  the  Gentiles.     His  peculiar  code  is  as  yet  ill 
understood,  but  there  is  little  room  to  doubt,  that  it  gives  his 
followers  liberty  to  commit  every  crime.     Like  the  systems  of 
socialism  which   prevail  in  France,  and  have  been  attempted 
in  this  country,  Mormonism  degrades  and  demoralizes  women. 
Yet  such  numbers  of  both  sexes  were  found  to  join  and  aid 
1§3§.    this  delusion — throwing  their  property  into  common  stock — • 
Oct.^6^.      that,  on  their  arrival  at  the   Far  West  in  Missouri,  the  Mor- 
FarWest.   mons    numbered    5,000,    of   whom    700    were    armed    men. 
Charged  with  various   crimes,  among  others    an   attempt  to 
assassinate  Gov.  Boggs,   they   were   expelled  the  state  by  a 
military   force   commanded    by  Gen.    Atkinson.     They    then 
purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Illinois,  on  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  Mississippi.     There,   on  a  beautiful  slope,  they  built 
Mormons  at  "  Nauvoo,"  where,  amidst  their  dwellings,  arose  a  pompous  tem- 
Nanvoo.     pie,  decorated  and  furnished  according  to  directions  found  in 
the  "Book  of  Mormon." — Robberies  and   assassinations  be- 
came frequent  in  their  vicinity  ;  and  although  secrecy  and  mys- 
tery  accompanied  them,   the  neighboiing  people   were  con- 
vinced, that  the  Mormons  were  the  perpetrators.     Yet  so  had 
they  spread,— using    bribery    and   intimidation,  that,  in   the 
county  courts,  no  cause  could  be  obtained  against  a  Mormon. 
1§44.    Popular  fury  was  aroused,  nor  could  tlie  state  authorities  re- 
jo^^smith  strain  its  current.     The  chief  of  the  Mormons,  with  his  brother, 
and  "his  bro-  had  been  arrested  by  Gov.  Ford,  of  Illinois,  and  lodged  in  jail 
a?cart,ii!uje  '^^  Carthage.     A    hundred  men  in  disguise  broke  into  their 
111.      '  prison  and  murdered  them. — In  1845,  so  formidable  a  combi- 
nation existed  against  them,  that  the  Mormons  sold  their  pes- 


MEXICAN    HOSTILITY.  397 

sessions  in  Illinois,  and  their  city,  Avliicli  had  contained  not  less  part  iv 
than  10,000  inhabitants,  was  deserted,  and  they  were  wending  i-kriod  in. 
their  way  to  a  region  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains.     Yet  their    ^"^^-  ^^■ 
numbers  were  still  such,  that  they  furnished,  in  the  spring  of  -'^'^^''''^-'' 
1846,  500  volunteers,  — who  were  conducted  by  Col.  Allen  and  ^J?,'^?,"^* 

.  *;  The  Mor- 

Lieut.  Smith  to  Santa  F6,  and  afterwards  joined  Gen.  Kear-  mons  lenvi 

ney.     The  Mormons  are  now  settled  in  the  great  valley  of 

Upper  California,  near  the  Salt  Lake  ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 

that  the  evils  which  they  have   suftered,  will  lead  them  to  California, 

abandon  their  errors.    Theirs  is  the  Anglo-Saxon  blood.    They 

claim   that  their  religion  has  its  foundation  in  Christianity  ; 

and  tliey  may  hereafter  be  led  to  examine  and  conform  to  its 

precepts. 


Nauvort. 

l§46-§. 

Remove  to 


CHAPTER    V]. 

Texas. — Mexico. — Causes  of  Annexation  and  the  Mexican  War. 

We  have  already  seen  that  the  French  adventurer  La  Salle     l^^SS. 
discovered  Texas.     On  account  of  his  discovery,  the  French    coverVd^* 
claimed  the  country  to  the  Rio  Grande,  as  forming  a  part  of     Texas 
Louisiana.     The  Spaniards  of  Mexico  remonstrated,  and  sent 
thither  an  armed  force,  but  the  French  had  already  dispersed. 
The  first  effectual  settlement  in  Texas  was  that  of  San  Antonio    1692. 
de  Bexar,  made  by  the  Spaniards  in  1692.     A  few  missionary    f^Jj^dti 
stations  were  subsequently  established. 

But  the  Mexican  authorities  seemed  not  so  desirous  to  oc- 
cupy this  country,  as  to  keep  it  a  desolate  waste,  that  thus  an 
impassable  barrier  might  be  maintained  between  them  and 
their  Anglo-American  neighbors.  Tiiis  desire  to  avoid  con- 
tact by  means  of  an  intervening  desert,  was  so  strongly  felt 
by  the  Mexicans,  even  in  1847,  as  to  break  off  neg-otiations  for 
peace,  when  Gen.  Scott  was  at  the  gates  of  their  capital  with  a 
victorious  army.  The  aversion  thus  manifested,  the  Mexicans  at 
first  derived  from  their  mother  country.  At  the  time  when  Mex- 
ico was  colonized,  Spain  stood  at  tiie  head  of  Roman  Catholic  icth  cen 
countries,  —  regarding  all  heretics  in  exterminating  abhorrence,  '^"'"y- 
and  cutting  them  off"  by  the  inquisition  and  the  sword.  As  the 
Reformation  proceeded,  England,  the  land  of  our  forefathers,  ^'J^®" 
took  the  lead  of  Protestant  nations.  But  while  we.,  mingling 
with  the  world,  changed,— Mexico,  shut  up,  retained  her  native 
avei-sions  ;  and  these,  coupled  with  the  national  pride  and  jeal- 
ousy of  the  Spanish  character,  may  be  marked  as  the  first  and 
predisposing  cause  of  the  late  Mexican  war. 

Mexico  as  a  colony  belonged  not  so  much  to  the  Spanish  Tyranny  oi 
nation,  as  to  the  Spanish  kings  ;  and  they  governed  and  man-  \n  i^iexico! 
aged  it  by  their  viceroys,  regardless  of  the  well-being  of  the 
people,— but  merely  as  an  estate  to  bring  them  money  ;  yet, 


398  SANTA  ANNA. STEPHEN  F.  AUSTIN. 

PART  IV.  not  i^y  any  methods  by  wLicli  the  mother  country  might  be  ri- 
/ERioD   III.  vailed.     Hence,  while  the  mines  were  industriously  wrought,  no 
CHAP.  VI.    commerce  was  permitted  to  the   Mexicans  ;  nor  might  they 
^-'^''"v^^  rear  the  silkworm,  or  plant  the  olive  or  the  vine.     But  after 
1778-9.  Spain  saw  that   the   English    colonies,    less  oppressed    than 
low?sorne  ^^r  own,   had  revolted,  and  were   likely  to  establish   their 
foreign     independence,  she  moderated  her  rioror,  so  as  to  allow  some 
Mexico,     trade  with  foreign  nations,  but  under  severe  duties  and  re- 
strictions.    Thus,  kept  from  the  means  of  improvement,  Mex- 
1810.    ico  remained  unchanged.    After  Ferdinand  VII.  had,  in  1810, 
^'ToUs  '^^'  ^'^^^^^^  ^"^^^^^    ^^'^^    Spanish  nation    under  the  power  of   Napo- 
leon,  the  Mexicans  revolted.     But  the  people  were  not  uiii- 
181^.     ^^^  ' — '^^^  after  the  bloody  war  of  eight  years,  called  the  first 
Loyalists    revolution,    the    royalists    prevailed.       The    second    revolution 
prevail,     ^^^jg  begun  in  1821,  by  the  Mexican  general  Iturbide.     Un- 
der him  the  Mexicans  threw  off  the  Spanish  yoke.     But  he 
iti^Mde**  made  himself  a  monarch.     The  people  wished  for  a  i-epublic ; 
(He  is  shot  and  they  deposed  Iturbide,  banished,  and  on  his  return  con- 
at  Padiiio.)  (ienii^e(i  ^nd  executed  him. 

Another  leader  arose,  —  Santa  Anna,  —  v/ho  has  proved  him- 

1824.    ^^^^  ^^^®  ^^  ^^^^  most  remarkable  men  of  the  present  day.     In 

Federal     1824,  ?i  federal  constitution  was  formed  under  his  auspices,  by 

oTMexico!^  which  Mexico,  like  our  republic,  was  divided  into  states,  with 

each  a  legislature,  and  over  the  whole  a  general  government. 

In   1803,    the  United   States,   in  purchasing  Louisiana  of 

„      France,  obtained  with  it  the  disputed  claim  to  Texas;  but  in 

Texas  ce-   1819,  they  ceded  it  by  treaty  to  Spain  as  a  part  of  Mexico, 

ded  to      Florida  being  then  granted  by  that  power  to  the  United  States. 

1821.    "^^^o  years  thereafter,  Stephen  F.  Austin  led  a  colony  from 

Angio-Ame-  the  United  States  to  Texas,  and  made  a  settlement  between 

"^^foonde^d.^^  the  rivers  Brazos  and  Colorado.     The  Spanish  authorities  in 

Mexico,  desirous  of  defence  against  the  destructive  incursions 

of  the  fierce  and  hostile  Comanches,  had,  contrary  to  their 

ordinary  policy,  made  laws  favoring  American  immigration, 

yet   only  under  the  condition  that  the  immigrants  merged  their 

religion  and  their  language  into  those  of  Mexico. 

MosjES  Austin,  a  native  of  Durham,  Connecticut,  applied  for, 
and  received,  in  1819,  a  grant  of  land  with  permission  from  the 
Mexican  authorities  to  plant  a  colony.     He  dying,  Stephen  F. 
Austin,  his  son,  according  to  his  parting  request,  carried  out 
his  plans,  and  thus  became  the  leader  of  American  coloniza- 
tion in  Texas.     Austin's  enterprise  being  joined  by  others,  who 
Mexican    ^^^^  himself  sought  to   better  their  fortunes,  his  colony  soon 
clergy-      flourished  to  such  an  extent,  that  it  attracted  the  attention  of 
^^^        the  Mexican  clergy.      They  found  that  the  law,   which  re- 
quired the  settlers  to  make  oath  that  they  were  Catholics,  and 
to  establish  Spanish  schools,  had  been  regarded  by  them,  but 
as  an  unmeaning  formality  ;  and  they  felt  the  vitmost  alarm 
that  a  colony  of  foreign  heretics  was  planted  among  them,  — and 
of  course  a  desire  that  they  should  either  submit  to  their  na- 


[ 


ERIOO      111 
CHAP.  VI. 


TEXAN    REVOLUTION.  399 

tional  laws  or  be  rooted  out.  Here  were  sown  the  seeds  of  part  iv 
future  war  ;  for  these  heretics  were  the  brotliers  of  American 
citizens,  and,  though  expatriated,  they  were  children-born  of  the 
repubhc. — Farther  jealousies  arose  from  futile  attempts  at  in- 
dependence, which  were  made  by  a  few  of  the  settlers  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Nacogdoches,  and  from  propositions  made  on 
the  part  of  the  United  States  government  to  purchase  Texas. 
In  whatever  was  done,  the  Mexicans  fancied  some  plot  against 
them,  in  which  the  American  nation  at  large  was  concerned. 
They  even  surmised  that  the  settlers  in  Texas  were  sent  but  as 
a  cover  to  a  concealed  purpose  of  the  xVmerican  authorities  to 
take  their  territory,  and  destroy  their  nationality. 

Texas,  under  the  constitution  of  182-4,  was  united  in  one 
state  with  the  neighboring  province  of  Coahuila.     The  Spanish   .|g«o 
Mexicans  of  this  province  outvoted  and  pursued  an  oppressive  There  weie 
policv  ao-;iinst  the  Texans.     Stephen  F.  Austin  was   sent,  by  ^^out  10,000 
them  to  the  city  of  Mexico  to  petition  against  these  grievances,  in  Texas  at 
and  for  the  piivilege  of  forming  Texas  into  a  sepp.rate  state.  ^Slfg^o/^ihe" 
the  Mexican  cono-ress  treated  him  with  nejxlect.     He  wrote  a  Revolution.) 
letter  to  the  Texans, advising  them  at  all  events  to  proceed  m 
forming  a   separate   state   government.     The  party  in   Texas 
opposed  to  Austin,  sent  back  his  letter  to  the  Mexican  authori-  prlJonef'^S 
ties,  — who  made  him  prisoner  as  he  was  returning,  sent  him     s'aUiUo  ^ 
back  to  Mexico,  and  threw  him  into  a  dungeon. 

Meanwhile  Santa  Anna,  ambitious  and  cnifty,  though  with 

seeming  simplicity,  subverted  the  constitution  of  1824,  and  in 

the  name  of  hberty,  made  himself  the  military  tyrant  of  the 

Mexicans.     They  would  better  bear  this,  if  he  employed  their 

force  against  the  Anglo-Americans ;  and  he  sent  General  Cos 

into  Texas,  to  place  the  civil  rulers  there, in  subjection  to  the 

military.     Meantime  Austin  returned,  and  was  placed  at  the     1835. 

head  of  a  central  committee  of  safety.     Appeals  were   made  Texan  Rct 
111  1      rn  11  X  olution  be- 

through  the  press  to  the  iexan  people,  and  arrangements  set      gms 

on  foot    to  raise  men  and    money.     Adventurers    from  the 

American  states  came  to  their  aid.     The  object  of  the  Texans 

at  this  time  in  preparing  for  war,  was,  to  join  a  Mexican  party. 

now  in  arms  against  the  military  usurpation  of  Santa  Anna, 

and  thus  to  maintain  the  constitution  of  1824. 

The    Lexinrjton  of    the    Texan   revolution,    was  Gonzalez.    ^}-  2- 
.  oiii  IP   11       Bwrtle  of 

Mexican  forces  had  been  sent  to  that  place  to  demand  a  held-   Gonzalez. 

piece.     The  Texans  attacked  and  drove  them  from  the  ground  tree's, 

with   loss.     Santa    Anna    had    now  caused   the   fortresses  of  Texan  500 

Goliad,  and  the  Alamo,  or  citadel  of  Bexar,  to  be  strongly  for- 

tiiied ;    the  latter  being  the    headquarters  of    General    Cos.    ^J^^f^J^f^jj^ 

The  Texans  on  the  8th  of  October,  took  Goliad  with  valuable     Texan  i 

munitions.     On  the  28th,  they  obtained  a  victory  near  Bexar.       ^^^^^  " 

Texan  delegates,  November   2 2d,  met  in   convention  at  St. 
Felipe,  and  established  a  provisional  government. 

On  the  11th  of  December,  their  forces,  under  General  Bur- 
leson took,  after  a  bloody  siege  and  a  violent  struggle,  the 


400 


TEXAN    INDEPENDENCE. 


PART  IV. 


PERIOD      HI. 
CHAP.    VI. 


1§36. 

March  6. 

assacre  of 
the  Alamo. 
Killed  150. 


(David 
Crocket  was 
killed  here.) 


March  2. 
Texans    de- 
clare inde- 
pendence. 


1§36. 

March  27. 
Massacre  at 

Goliad 
Killed  400. 


April  21. 

Battle  of 
San  Jacin- 
to. 
Mex.  force 
1 ,600. 

Tex.  783. 

Mex.  loss, 
53(1  k.,  208  w, 

Tex.  loss, 

8  k,,  17  w. 


strong  fortress  of  the  Alamo,  and  the  city  of  Bexar  ;  Genera. 
Cos  and  his  army  were  made  prisoners,  and  not  a  Mexican 
in  arms  remained.  But  Santa  jinna,  ever  active  and  alert,  was 
gathering  his  forces ;  and  in  February,  1836,  was  approaching 
with  8000  men. 

Unhappily,  divisions  now  prevailed  in  the  Texan  counsels, 
while  the  small  and  insufficient  garrison  of  the  Alamo  was 
attacked  by  this  powerful  army,  headed  by  a  man  who 
added  to  the  smoothness  of  the  tio^er,  his  fierceness  and  cru- 
elty.  Travis,  who  commanded,  had  only  150  men.  They 
fought  all  one  bloody  night,  until  he  fell  and  all  the  garrison 
but  seven  ; — and  they  were  slain,  while  crying  for  quarlei- ! 

Meantime  a  Texan  convention  had  assembled  at  Wasliington, 
on  the  Brazos,  which,  on  the  2d  of  March,  declared  inde- 
pendence. They  liad  desired,  said  the  delegates,  to  unite  with 
their  Mexican  brethren  in  support  of  the  constitution  of  182-i, 
but  in  vain.  Now  appealing  to  the  world  for  the  neces- 
sities of  their  condition,  they  declared  themselves  an  Inde- 
pendent Republic,  and  committed  their  cause  to  the  Supreme 
Arbiter  of  nations. 

Colonel  Fannino:  commanded  at  Goliad.  He  had  besouo-ht 
the  Texan  authorities  to  reinforce  him ;  and  he  had  been  di- 
rected by  them  to  abandon  his  post,  and  save  his  garrison  by 
retreat.'*  The  Mexicans,  by  their  superior  force,  overpowered 
him.  He  surrendered  on  condition  that  he  and  his  men  should 
be  treated  as  prisoners  of  war.  Santa  Anna  ordered  their 
execution ;  and  four  hundred  unarmed  and  unresisting  men. 
unsuspicious  of  harm,  were  drawn  out.  One  of  the  fated 
soldiers  exclaimed,  "  They  are  going  to  shoot  us  ;  let  us  turn 
and  not  be  shot  in  the  back.'*  In  another  instant  the  fire  was 
given,  and  the  prisoners  fell  dead.  Fanning  was  shot  the  next 
day  ; — and  his  body  denied  a  burial.  These  men  were  Amer- 
ican-born. Fanning  had  been  an  officer  in  the  army  of  the 
United  States.  American  hate  and  sympathy  kindled  as  the 
shocking  massacre  was  told.  Annexation  followed  in  time,  and 
the  Mexican  war. 

On  the  21st  of  April,  the  main  Texan  army,  under  General 
Houston,  met  the  Mexicans  who  were  double  their  number, 
near  the  San  Jacinto.  Furiousl}^  the  Texans  rushed  to  battle 
with  the  cry,  "  Remember  the  Alamo."  They  fought  at  less 
than  half-rifle  distance,  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour,  wholly 
routed  the  Mexicans,  killing  and  wounding  a  number  greater 
tlian  the  whole  Texan  force.  Among  the  prisoners  taken  after 
the  battle,  was  Santa  Anna  himself.  He,  the  perfect  master  of 
dissimulation,  now  makes  the  Texans  believe  that  he  is  so  satis- 
fied of  their  valor   and  goodness,  that  he  will  use  his  poAver 

*  Of  this  fact,  the  writer  was  recently  informed  by  General,  now  Sena- 
tor Houston.  Fanning  had  marched  out  of  the  fortress,  met,  and  con- 
tended with  tlie  Mexicans,  was  taken  and  carried  back,  so  that  the  mas* 
sacre  was  at  Goliad 


ELECTION    OF    1844.  401 

and  influence  in  their  favor.     As  Supreme  Ruler  of  Mexico,  part  iv. 
he,  by   a  treaty,  acknowledged  their  independence,  and  al-  period  m 
lowed  their  western  boundary  to  be  the  Rio  Grande.     This  chap.  vi. 
treaty  was  subsequently  disavowed  by  Mexico,  it  being  made  '«-^"^/"'«w 
while    Santa  Anna  was    a    prisoner.     Although   the   United     1§3T. 
States,   England,   and  other  powers  acknowledged  the  inde-      unfted 

Fndence  of  Texas,  yet  Mexico,  throuo^h  all  her   changes  of  states  rec- 
rulers  ever  claimed  the  countr}^  and  occasionally  sent  troops  Texan  intie- 
to  renew  the  Avar  by  predatory  excursions.     The  Texans  in  ?e";,15"^j' 
1841,  sent  under  McLeod  a  party  of  300,  who  were  partly    in  1842.)' 
Americans,  to  take  possession  of  Santa  Fe,  the  capital  of  New    1841. 
Mexico,  that  city  lying  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Rio  Grande,  ^^^"'fg'^" 
These  ^xere  made  prisoners  by  the  Mexicans,  and  treated  with 
great  cruelty. 

Santa  Anna  meantime  procured  himself  to  be  sent  by  the 
Texans  to  the  U.  States,  w^here  he  so  far  gained  President  Jack- 
son's favor,  as  to  be  sent  by  him  to  Mexico.  Then  turning  his 
back  upon  those  he  had  been  deceiving,  he  paid  his  court  to 
the  Mexicans,  by  disavowing  all  his  treaties  and  promises,  and 
entering  upon  a  course  of  hostility  to  Anglo-Americans.  1842. 

Gen.  Woll,  sent  by  him  to  invade  Texas,  took  Bexar.  A  The  attack 
Texan  army  Avas  collected,  who  Avere  full  of  zeal  to  carry  the  ^^  ^^^^-^ 
war  into  Mexico.  After  various  disappointments,  and  the  re- 
turn of  most  of  their  volunteers,  a  part}-  of  300  crossed  the  Rio 
Grande,  and  proceeding  to  Mier,  they  attacked  it ;  and  al- 
though opposed  by  five  times  their  force,  they  fought  their 
way  into  the  heart  of  the  place.  They  killed  and  Avounded 
double  their  w^hole  number,  Avhen,  although  they  had  lost  only 
35  men,  they  capitulated."^  Although  these  prisoners  Avere 
treated  badly,  yet  their  romantic  history  shoAvs  that  the  Mex- 
ican character  and  feelings  had  somewhat  improved  since  the 
massacres  of  the  Alamo  and  Goliad. 

Texas  early  made  application  to  be  received  into  the  Amer- 
ican  Union.     Gen.  Jackson   objected, — and    afterA\^ards    Mr. 
Van  Buren,  —  on  the  ground  of  existing  peaceful  relations  with 
Mexico,   and   the   unsettled   boundary  of  Texas.     Mr.  Tyler 
brought  forward  the  proposition.      It  Avas  lost  in  congress. 
But  the  mass  of  the  American  people  Avere  in  faA^or  of  Annexation, 
as  Avas  made  manifest  Avhen  it  became  the  test  question  at  the    1844. 
presidential  election  in  1844.     The  Whig  candidates  for  presi-  ^reSlenu 
dent  and  vice-president  Avere  Henry  Clay  and  Theodore  Fre-  J-  k.  Poik 
linghuysen,  who  were  opposed  to  immediate  annexation ;  and  v?ce-P."  g. 
the  Democratic  Avere  James  K.  Polk  and   George  M.  Dallas,  ■'^^of  p"'^^' 
who  Avere  pledged  in  its  favor.     The  latter  Avere  elected  ;  and    1845. 
on  the  4th  of  March,  1844,  they  were  duly  inauorurated.     Af-    March  4. 
ter  the  election,  and  before  the  inauguration,  Texas  was  an-      rated. 

*  They  were,  says  Gen.  Green,  iu  his  Journal  of  tho  Expedition,  be- 
trayed into  the  surrender  by  Fisher,  their  leader,  Avho  had  lost  his  mind 
by  a  gunshot  wound.  Green  says  this  partv  of  300  killed  and  AVounded 
800  of  the  Mexicans  at  Mier. 


402  ANNEXATION    OF    TEXAS. 

PART  IV.  nexed  ; — Mr.  Calhoun,  the  secretary  of  state,  and  Messrs.  Van 

PERIOD  III.  Zandt  and  Henderson,  on  the  part  of  Texas,  having  previous- 

CHAP.  VI.    ij  negotiated  the  treaty  at  Washington.     Mr.  Calhoun  was 

'-'^""^^''"^-^  especially  moved  by  fears  that  England  was  about  to  gain  con- 

1845.  'trol  of  Texas  for  the  purpose  of  excluding  slavery. 

Joint  Reso-      On  the  28th  of  February,  congress  passed  the  joint  resolution 

lution  an-    iq  annex  Texas,  — her  authorities  and  people  consenting,  and  the 

as.        following  conditions  observed  :    1st.  All  questions  of  boundary 

to  be  settled  by  the  United  States  ;  2d.  Texas  to  give  up  her 

(March  1.   harbors,  magazines,  &:c.,  but  to  retain  her  funds  and  her  debts, 

the^Presi-^  '^^-^d,  until  their  dischai-ge,  her  unappropriated  lands ;  3d.  Ad- 

dent'ssigna- ji{JQi;^j^jl  ncw  states,  not  exceedinof  four,  may  be  formed,  loitk 

ture.)  .  P  '' 

slavery,  if  south  of  lat.  36^,  but  if  north,  without. — The  Mexi- 
can minister  at  Washington,  Senor  Almonte,  who  had  before 
announced  that  Mexico  would  declare  war  if  Texas  were  an- 
nexed, now  gave  notice,  th.at  since  America  had  consummated 
"the  most  unjust  act  recoided  in  history,"  negotiations  were 
at  an  end. 

The  Americans  had,  on  their  part,  cause  of  complaint  against 
Mexico.    She  had  bv'en  an  unjust  and  injurious  neighbor.    Such 
had  been  the  unredressed  Avrongs  of  person  and  property  to 
1§30.     which  American  citizens  had  been  subjected  in  Mexico,  that 
Mexican    j^^^^j  q\^q  j^ot  been  a  weaker  nation  and  a  sister  republic,  war 
1§43.    would  have  resulted  during  Jackson's  administration.     Mr.  Van 
It  IS  modi-  Bureq  recommended  measures  leadinor  to  war ; — when  the  Mex- 
icans  resorted  to  negotiation.     In  1839  a  treaty  was  made,  by 
which  they  agreed  to  pay  large  indemnities  to  American  suffer- 
ers.    This  treaty  was  modified  in  1843,  but  its  stipulations 
1§45,    the  Mexican  government  had  mostly  failed  to  observe. 
Annexation       The  assent  of  Texas,  by  which  she  became  a  part  of  the 
American  Union,  was  expressed  in  the  ordinance  of  July  5, 
1845.       Two   days  thereafter,  a  request  was    dispatched  to 
President  Polk  to  send   an  armed  force    to    protect    Texas 
against  the  threatened  invasion  of  Mexico.     The  administration 
(Comman-  judiciously  chose,  as  commander  of  the  forces  to  be  sent.  Col. 

der  at  Okee  "  •' 

Chobee.  Zachary  Taylor.  On  the  30tli  of  July  he  was  ordered  by 
^Brf  acher?^^^®  war  department  to  proceed  to  the  western  frontier,- as  near 
the  Rio  Grande  as  prudence  would  dictate.  Thereupon  he 
marched,  and  took  post  at  Corpus  Christi,  west  of  the  Neuces. 
He  soon  received  a  further  order  informing  him  that  his  forces 
were  to  be  increased  to  4,000,  and  that  he  was,  in  ^ase  of 
emergency,  to  call  immediately  on  the  governoi's  of  the  adjoin- 
ing states  for  volunteers,  they  being  instructed  to  furnish  him. 
A  Mexican  force  in  the  mean  time  had  collected  on  the  west- 
ern bank  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

Although  regular  pacific  negotiations  were  closed,  yet  the 

American  Executive  made   overtures  for  peace   through  Mr. 

Black,  the  American  consul  at  Mexico.     Gen.  Herrera,  one 

'    of  the  wisest  patriots  of  Mexico,  was  now  at  the  head  of  her 

affairs.     He  was  disposed  to  peace,  and  through  his  secretary, 


OREGON.  403 

Senoi  Pena  y  Pena.  ho  gave  private  assurances  that  he  would  fart  iy. 
receive  a  special  commissioner  to  treat  respecting  Texas  ;  but  period  hi. 
the  American  government,  he  said,  must  first  \vithdraw  a  ^hap,  vi. 
fleet  Avith  which  they  menaced  Vera  Cruz.     This  was  done.       ^*^"v-%-/ 

The  ancient   aversion  of  the  Mexicans  had   been,  by  the 
annexation,  wrought  into   jealousy  and  fierce  revenge;  and 
he  who  most  vilified  the    Americans,  and  the  loudest  blus- 
tered for   war,  was   most   the   popular  favorite.     Such   was 
Paredes,  by  whose  party  Flerrera  was  denounced  as  a  trai- 
tor for  suspected  intercourse  with  the  foes  of  the  nation.     He 
was  still  struggling  for  his  place,  when  Mr.  Shdell,  sent  by 
Mr.  Polk,  arrived  in  Mexico,  and  demanded  to  be  received.  M^^siideU 
Herrera  rejected  his  mission  on  the  ground  that  the  Ameri-    rejected, 
can  government  had  sent  him  as  an  envoy  to  settle  the  whole 
difference    between  the  two  nations,   and  not  as  a  commis-  ,jP^^\^^- 
sioner   to   consider   merely    the    Texan   question.       He    had  in  Mexico.) 
brought  the  American  account-book,  when  it  had  been  pro- 
posed   by  the  Mexicans    to    settle  such    items    only  a    ap-    1846. 
peared  upon  their  own.     Herrera,  even  with  this  rejection,  Avas     i^^";  -; 
nut  found  violent  enough  to   please  the  Mexicans,  and  they  made  presi- 
displaced  him  and  elevated  Paredes.     Mr.  Slidell  remained  at      ^^"^'^ 
J;ihipa  until  March,  when  he  made,  as  directed,  overtures  for 
peace  to  Paredes,  which  were,  of  course,  rejected.     The  na-  ^  JfMarch^* 
ture  of  his  then  unopened  instructions,  since  made  pubhc,  seem    Mr.  siuieii 
to  show  that  the  govei'nment  was  not  aware  of  the  bitter  hos-    passports.i 
tility  of  the  Mexican  mind.     Mr.  Slidell  was  to  ofier  money, 
for  a  peaceable  boundary  on   the  Rio  Grande,  and   the  cession 
of  California.  1S45. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  1845,  the  United  States  Senate    Jan.  le. 
ratified  a  treaty  with  China,  which  had  been  there  negotiated     ^^gj^y^^ 
between  Mr.  Cushing,  the  American  Envoy  Extraordinary,  and 
the  Commissioner  of  the  Chinese  Emperor. 

Oregon. — While  such  was  the  aspect  of  Mexican  affairs,  a 
difficulty  arose  between  the  United  States  and  England  re- 
specting  the   northern    boundary  of    Oregon ;    both  nations 
claiming  the  extensive   portion  of  that  country  north  of  the     1792, 
Columbia  river  to  the  Russian  settlements.     The  full  state-  (C:ipt.  Grey, 
ment  of  the  claims  on  either  side,  is  long  and  intricate ;  but  Columbia, 
there  is  no  contradiction  made  to  the  facts,  that  the  Columbia  ^^ri^er^the^^ 
river  and  its  vicinity  belongs  to  the  Americans  by  right  of  the  name  of  inn 
discovery  made  in  1792,  by  Captain  Grey  of  Boston  and  by      ^'"^'^ 
the  exploration  of  Lewis  and   Clark,  in  the   employ  of  the 
American   government,   made   in   the   years    1804-5.     John 
Jacol    Astor  of  New  York,  founded  Astoria,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia,  in  1811.     The  first  house  on  its  waters,  Avas, 
however,  established  on   Lewis  river,  by   the   Missouri  Fur 
Company,  in  1808.     The  Rocky  mountains  which  divide  Ore- 
gon from  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  although  generally  con- 
tinuous and  sometimes  rising  to  the  height  of  16,000  feet, 
have  yet  remarkable  openings  ;  the  most  singular  of  which  is 


404  WAR    IN    PROSPECT. 

PART  IV.  the  South  Pass,  in  lat.  42°  30^  which  Colonel  Fremont,  who 
PERIOD   III.  explored  it  in  1842,  describes  as  being  in  ascent  no  steeper 
CHAP.  VII.    than  the  Capitol  Hill  at  Washington. 

'--•^'^^'^^      In  consequence  of  complaints  made  by  American  settlers. 
Congress  passed  an  act,  April  16,  1846,  that  a  joint  occupa- 
(t  In  the    tion  with  England  of  the  disputed  territory,  formerly  agreed 
^oni\8Knd  tO't  must  after  a  year  cease. 

1827.)  This  difficulty  with  England  became  so  serious  as  to  threat- 

en war.     It  was,  however,  compromised  by  a  treaty  negotia- 
ted at  Washington  between  Mr.  Packenham,  the  British  Min- 
1§46.    ister,  and  Mr.  Buchanan,  the  American   Secretary,  — which 
T^^at'^of  ^^"^^  ^'^^^  northern  boundary  of  Oregon,  the  line  of  lat.  49 
Washing-    deg.  ;  but  gives  to  the  British  the  whole  of  Vancouver's  Isl- 
*°""       and,  and  rights  to  the  joint  navigation  of  the  Columbia  river, 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Mexican  War. — Army  of  Occupation. 


Gen.  Taylor  was  ordered  by  Mr.  Marcy.  Jan.   13,   1846, 
to  take  post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande.     Perhaps  the 
Executive,  in  giving  this  order,  agreed  in  opinion  with  Mr. 
siidelrslet-  Slidell,f  that  "the  desire  of  the  government  (for  peace)  will  be 
ter  from    taken  for  timidity.     The  most  extravagant  pretences  will  be 
'writun,  not  made,  until  the  Mexican  people  shall  be  convinced  by  hostile 
^\)^r^n'    demonstrations,  that  there  must  be  settlement,  either  by  ne- 
isi5.)'     gotiation  or  the  sword."     The  effect  of  the  order  was,  how- 
ever, to  precipitate  the  colHsion  of  arms,  and  to  give  to  the 
Effect  of    Mexicans  the  advantage  of  the  cry  of  invasion.     Many  patri- 
Gen^Tavior  otic  Americans  believed  that  the  Executive,  intent  on  a  war  of 
^Grand       ^^nquest,  directed  this  movement  for  the  express  purpose  of 
bringing  it  on  ;  his  overtures  for  peace  not  being  made  in  good 
faitli ;  and  that  in  so  doing,  he  violated  tlie  constitution,  by  which 
congress  is  the  war-making  power.f     Congress  had,  however, 
of  co'ngress  given  to  the  President,  the  difficult  task  of  defending  Texas, with- 
consume    out  advising  him  of  Avhat  Texas  was,  — having  received  it  into 
ill  debates   the  Union  with  a  disputed  boundary  to  be  afterwards  settled. 
quesUons.)  ^^^^  ^^  Mexico  at  once  scornfully  refused  to  negotiate,  claim- 
ing the  whole, — the  question  then  occurred,  ought  the  Execu- 
tive to  take  the  Mexican  account  of  limits,  or  that  of  Texas,  now 
an  American  state.     Besides,  if  Mexico  was  resolved  not  to 
negotiate,  but  to  take  the  chances  of  war,  she  could  not  ex- 
pect other,  than  that  her  opponent  would  make  whatever  fair 
advantage  she  could,  from  the  coming  contest. 

Gen.  Taylor  moved  from  Corpus  Chiisti  on  the  8th  oi 
March  ;  and  after  toihng  ten  days  through  an  arid  waste, 
he   reached  the  Arroya   Colorado.      Here   he  was    met  by 


(t  Members 


ACTUAL    WAR.  407 

a  party    of  mounted   Mexican   marauders    called    ranclicros.  part  iv. 
They  warned  him  that  lie  had  reached  the  limits   of  Texas,  pkriod  m. 
and    that   to   advance  further   would    be   regarded    by    the   chap.  vu. 
Mexicans  as  invasion.     On  the  25th,  the  army  reached  Point  ^-"'^n-^"^-' 
Isabel,  a  small  Mexican  seaport,  sometimes  called,  from  the    1846, 
Day  on  which  it  stands,  Brazos  St.  lago.     The  Mexican  au-  (March  12. 
thorities  in  leaving  this  place  had  set  it  on  fire  ;  but  Taylor  xa^s^writ'elt) 
with  exertion  saved  most  of  the  buildings.     The  place  was  Mr.  siiJeU 
important  to  him,  as,  from  the  nature  of  the  coast,  this  must  be  sus  beiiv  was 
the  depot  for  his   stores.     Leaving  them  here,  with  450  men  f,',y,^'J~j^"SlJ" 
under  Major  Munroe,  he  advanced,  and  took  post  at  the  mouth  ecfbut  vviir.> 
of  the  Rio   Grande  opposite  to  Mataraoras.     Here  batteries 
were  soon  erected  by  the  Mexicans,  pointing  at  his  camp.     This  March  28. 
he  intrenched,  and  immediately  commenced  a  fort,  whose  guns    encamps 
threatened  the  heart  of  the  city.     Yet  Gen.  Taylor  was  strictly  j^j°[*P,°Qjas 
courteous  to  all.     He  had  come,  in  peace,  he  said,  to  protect 
Texas,  not  to  invade  Mexico ;  but  if  attacked,  he  should  know 
how  to  defend  himself. 

This  attack  he  had  hourly  reason  to  expect.     Paredes  had 
put  in  requisition  the  best  troops  of  Mexico,  headed   by  her  (April  10. 

■r  ^        ^  -      ,  ^         ,       .  1         1        IT      Col.  Cross 

ablest  generals,  and  they  were  gathering    towards   the  Kio     rode  out 
Grande.     On  both  sides  of  the  river,  all  was  warlike  action  ;  gampTuione 
here,  mounting  or  relieving  guards,  and  there,  planting  artil-     and  was 
lery.     Gen.  Arista  now  arrived,   and  took  the   command   at     Mexican 
Matamoras.     The  Mexican  government  made  a  formal  declar-  rancheros.) 
ation  of  war  on  the  23d  of  May.     Gen.  Arista  informed  Gen. 
Taylor  l)y  a  polite  note,  dated  the  24th,  that  he  regarded  hos-   H^g^^j^fg^ 
tilities  as  having   already  commenced  ;  and  on  that  day  the  commence 
flow  of  blood  really  began.       Capt.  Thornton  with    63  dra-  ^ton'^s^clp- 
goons  was  sent  by  Gen.  Taylor  a  few  miles  up  the  river  to  Jure.   Am 
reconnoitre.     They  fell  into  an  ambuscade,  and  finding  them-     V.  ib 
selves  surrounded  by  a  far  superior  force,  they  attempted  to 
retreat,  cutting  their  way.    But  they  were  obliged  to  surrender, 
with  the  loss  of  16  killed  and  wounded. 

The  American  congress  and  people  were  astonished  and 
agitated,  when  Gen.  Taylor's  dispatch  was  received.     Their    ^^^^  ^nd 
army  was  surrounded,  and  in  danger,  from  the  soldiers  who     anxiety. 
had  committed  the  massacres  of  Goliad  and  the  Alamo !     A 
kind  of  monomania  pervaded  the  nation.     The  President  an-  pJesJjgJt's 
nounced   to   congress  that  the  Mexicans  had  "  invaded  our  extra  mes- 
territory,  and  shed  the  blood  of  our  citizens  upon  our  own      '"^^^' 
soil."     Congress  responded,  that  '*  war  existed  by  the  act  of 
Mexico,"  and  in  two  days  passed  a  law  authorizing  50,000  Act  of  con 
volunteers  to  be  raised  for  twelve  months  ;  and  appropriating  ^S  men 
towards  the   carrying  on  of  the  war,  ten  millions  of  dollars,  and  mone^ 
Thus  were  the  means  at  once  provided.     Did  the  administra- 
tion calculate  on  this,  and  therefore  forbear  to  agitate  in  con- 
gress the  subject  of  the  war,  which,  with  an  army  of  less  than 
10,000,  it  had  daily  reason  to  expect  ? — or  was  it  one  of  those 
providential  occurrences,  of  which  this  war  has  been  so  fruitful, 
28 


408  DECLARED    WAR. 

PART  IV.  and  by  which  we  learn,  that  Mexico  was  to  be  chastised  anti 
?ERioi)  III.  that  the  Ahnighty  made  this  nation  his  instrument  ? 
CHAP.  vii.  Declared  war  being  upon  the  hands  of  the  Executive,  the  plaL 
for  its  prosecution  and  results  appears  to  have  been, —  to  tak» 
for  indemnity  and  as  a  permanent  acquisition,  that  part  of  tht- 
Mexican  territory  lying  between  the  old  United  States  and  tht 
Pacific  ;  and  so  to  carry  the  war  into  the  more  vital  and  richer 
parts  of  the  enemy's  country,  that  he  would  be  willing  to  re- 
ceive peace,  and  some  needful  funds,  though  at  the  sacrifice 
of  this  territory,  and  the  relinquishment  of  Texas  to  the  Rio 
Grande. 

The  American  Executive,   aided  by  the  head  of   the  war 
department,  and  by  Genera'.  Scott,  now  sketched  out,  in  two 
(He  Mans-'  days'  time,  a  plan  of  a  campaign,  exceeding,  in  the  vastness  of 
^  fi^i'^'s      the  spaces,  over  which  it  swept  by  sea  and  land,  any  thing  of 
War,"  p.  48.)  the  kind  known  in  history.     This  passed  at  once  into  the  or- 
ders given  by  Mr.  Mr.rcy,  secretary  of  war,  and  Mr.  Bancroft, 
secretary  of  the  navy.     Undei   these   orders  vessels  were  to 
pass  round  Cape  Horn  to  the  coast  of  California,  to  aid  those 
already  there  in  conquering  that  country.     An  "Army  of  the 
West"  was  to  be  assembled  at  Foiu  Leavenworth  on  the  Mis- 
Vast  plan  of  souri,  and  under  command  of  Gen.  Kea.ney,  to  take  New  Mexico, 

a  campaign.  '  i  i       t-.      •^-  •  / 

and  then  proceed  westward  to  the  Facinc,  to  co-operate  with 
the  fleet.  An  "  Army  of  the  Centre,"  to  be  collected  by  Gen, 
Wool,  from  different  and  distant  parts  of  the  Union,  was  to 
rendezvous  at  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  and  thence  to  invade  Coa- 
liuila  and  Chihuahua.  These  armies  were  not  merely  to  be 
ordered  forth.  They  were  mostly  to  be  created  from  the  raw 
material.  The  existing  regular  force  of  the  United  States, 
officers  and  men,  did  not  much  exceed  nine  thousand. 

Gen.  Taylor,  whose  force  was  called  the  "  Army  of  Occu- 
pation," on  finding  that  about  8,000  Mexican  troops  were 
already  collected  to  oppose  him,  not  only  sent  dispatches  to 
the  war  department  for  aid,  but,  as  in  this  case  directed,  to 
the  governors  of  the  nearest  states.  The  generals  on  both 
sides  published  proclamations  ; — Arista  calling  on  the  Mexicans 

Mexican    to  defend  their  inv^aded  homes  and  altars,  and  on  the  Ameri- 
^n^mn?-   ^'^^^  soldicrs   to  desert,  and  accept  ample  rewards  ;    Taylor 

festoes.  exhorti.ig  the  Mexicans  to  embrace  the  opportunity  of  freeing 
themselves  from  tyrants  who  had  subverted  their  constitution, 
and  lett  them  a  prey  to  the  mingled  evils  of  despotism  and 
anarchy  ;  and  who  were  now  seeking  to  make  them  believe  the 
Americans  to  be  their  foes,— thousands  of  whom  had  shed  their 
blood  in  the  defence  of  Mexico  against  Spain. 

Gen.  Taylor  now  received  intelligence  by  Capt.  Walker  that 
a  large  Mexican  force  in  his  rear,  was  interposed  between 
him  and  liis  stores  at  Point  Isabel.  Walker  had  there  been 
stationed  by  Major  Munroe  to  keep  open  the  communication; 

\\Faiker''s   ^^^  ^^  ^^^^  fought  fifteen  minutes  with  his  one  company  of 
battle.     Texan  rangers,  (armed  with  revolving  pistols,)  with  1500  Mei- 


"VICTORIES    OF    THE    RIO    GRANDE.  409 

lean  cavalry, —killed  thirty  and  escaped  ;  and  subsequently  he  tart  iy. 
had  found  his  way  with  six  men  through  the  Mexican  army  period  in. 
to  bring  tliis  information.  ^"^^-  '^"• 

Taylor  did  not  hesitate.     Leaving  his  camp  at  Matamoras  ^-^'^^'"^^ 
with  a  garrison  in  command  of  the  trusty  veteran  Major  Brown,    18.16. 
he  marched  with  the  main  army,  and  reached  Point  Isabel 
unmolested.     The   Mexicans  aflected  to  believe  that  he  had 
abandoned  his  works  and  fled.     They  attacked  the  camp  w^th     ^j^y  j 
their  batteries  soon  after  he  left  it;  and  Major  Brown  opened  Taylor  sets 
his  guns  upon   the  city.     The  firing  was  anxiously  heard  by  °"is°bei?"^ 
Taylor,  and  a  messenger  for  aid  reached  him  from  Major  Brown. 
The  garrison  at  Point  Isabel  being  reinforced  by  500  men,  which  May  3  to  9, 
had  been  supplied  by  Commodore   Conner  from    the    navy,  ^^""por^j'^® 
Gen.  Taylor  announced  to  the  war  department,  "I  shall  march  ^  Brown. 
this  day  Avith  the  main  body  of  the  army,  to  open  a  commu-  'leaVes^Pt? 
nication  with   Major  Brown,  and  throw  forward  supplies  of     Isabel, 
ordnance  and  provision.     If  the  enemy  opposes  my  march,  in 
whatever  force,  I  shall   fight  him."     The  same   evening  he 
marched.     The  next  day  at  noon  he  came  in  full  sight  of  the     May  8. 
Mexican  army,  drawn  up  in  order  of  batde,  and   extending  \\l°  ^rce 
a  mile  across  his  way.     Taylor  halted  his  men,  — bade  them       6,ooo 
refresh  themselves  at  the  pools — then  formed  his  line.     Col.       _1 
Twiggs  commanded  the  right,  and  Col.  Belknap  the  left.      On  jj^^^^^v^°4oo 
either  wing  were  batteries  with  companies  of  light-artillery.  Am.  k.  4,  w 
At  two  o'clock  the  Mexicans  opened   their  fire.     The  light-        ^^' 
artillery,  commanded  by  Ringgold  and  Duncan,  did  great  exe- 
cution.    Ringgold,  much    lamented,    fell  mortally   wounded. 
The  Mexicans,  although  with  choice  of  the  ground,  and  more 
than  double  numbers,  were  forced,  after  five  hours,  to  yield 
to  the  Americans  the  victory  of  Palo  Alto. 

At  two  o'clock  the  next  day  the  army  resumed  its  march. 
Having  advanced  about  three  miles,  the  Mexicans  were  dis- 
covered, skilfully  posted,  with  artillery,  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma.     '^^ay  «• 
A  shallow  ravine  crossing  the  road,  — its  margins  closely  wood-    la  Paima^ 
ed  by  matted  shrubs  of  a  prickly  evergreen,  called  chapparal,  ^^^^^I^qq^ 
afi'orded  them  shelter.     At  four  o'clock  the  Americans  came   Am.  2,'222. 
up.     The  field  was  fiercely  contested.     On  account  of  the   MeTToss 
irregularity  of  the  ground,   the  history  of  this  battle  is  full        6oo. 
of  thriUing  incident.     It  was  here,  that  Capt.  May,  with  his  mortally  44 
dragoons  rode  up  to  a  Mexican  battery,  cut  down  the  men, 
and  took  Gen.  La  Vega  as  he  was  applying  a  match  to  one  of 
the  guns.     Young  Randolph  l^idgely  and  many  others  here 
won  fame  for  themselves   and  their  country.     The  Mexicans 
were  wholly  routed.     Their  camp — its  stores,  equipage,  and 
Gen.  Arista's  private  papers,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Ameri- 
'cans.     Two  hundred  Mexicans  lay  dead  upon  the  field.     The 
flying  were  pursued ;  and  numbers  were  drowned  in  attempt- 
ing to  cross  the  Rio  Grande. 

On  arriving  at  the  camp,  Taylor  and  his  victorious  army 
"arried  joy  to  the  wearied  combatants.     But  the  valued  com- 


410  THE    WAR    SPIRIT. 

PART  IV.  mander  of  the  fort  had  been  killed.     Gen.  Taylor  named  the 
PERIOD   III.  place  where  he  fought  and  fell,  Fort  Brown. 
CHAP.  VII.       Great  Avere  the  rejoicings  and  illuminations  in  the  United 
"-^"v^-^  States  for  these  victories.     Taylor  was  forthwith  made  a  ma- 
jor-general, and  several  of  his  officers  promoted. 
I  «/■«         Gen.  Arista  now  proposed  an  armistice,  which  Gen.  Taylor 
May  18.'    rejected,— not  choosing  longer  to  keep  his  bad  position.     lie 
Taylor  oc-  intended  on  the  arrival  of  heavy  mortars  to  attack  Matamoras. 
amoras.     But  the  military  deserted  it ;  and  the  civil  authorities,  receiv- 
ing assurances  that  private  rights  would  be  respected,  suffered 
the  Americans  to  take  quiet  possession. 

These  successes  having  been  obtained,  the  President  of  the 
United  States  made  another  attempt  to  treat  for  peace.  His 
overtures  were  not  promptly  met  by  Senor  Lanzas,  the  sec- 
retary of  Paiedes,  but  referred  to  a  Mexican  congress  to  be 
held  in  December. 

While  the  news,  of  the  imminent  danger  of  the  army  of  the 
Rio  Grande,  thrilled  through  the  heart  of  the  American  na- 
"juiy!^     tion,  Gen.  Gaines,  the  commander  of  the  southern  division,  full 
iJed  b"^  the  ^^  Patriotic  feeling,  called  out  a  large  number  of  volunteers, 
press  of  un-  additional  to  those  asked  for  by  Gen.  Taylor.     Everywhere 
voi'imtee^s.  ^^^  yo^"g  "^^n  of  the  nation  were  ready,  nay,  in  haste,  to  go 
forth  to  defend  their  brethren,  fight  the  Mexicans,  and  push 
for  the  "  Halls  of  the  Montezumas."*     Gen.  Taylor  was  soon 
embarrassed  by  the  numbers  who  came.     They  were  ill  pro- 
vided with  munitions ;  and  he  not  being  ready  to  move,  they 
w^ere  but  consuming  his  stores.     The  war  department  decided 
that  those  of  the  volunteers,  not  regularly  enlisted,  must  be  dis- 
missed.    This  caused  heartburnings  and  delay  ;    and  although 
great  energy  pervaded  the  quartermaster's  department,  under 
Gen.  Jesup,  yet  so  much  was  to  be  provided  in  this  sudden 
extension  of  the  army,  that  it  was  three  months  before  Gen. 
Taylor  could  move  upon  the  interior.     Meantime,  the  towns 
on  the  lower  Rio  Grande,  were  taken  and  occupied  by  the 
Americans.    Camargo,  made  the  depot  of  provisions  and  stores, 
was  garrisoned  with  2,000  men  under  Gen.  Patterson. 

The  army  being  now  6,000  strong,  its  first  division,  under  Gen. 
^ept.  5.     Worth,  began  its  march  on  the  20th  of  August.     Gen.  Taylor 
Tfwo'r',^7  with  the  rear  column  soon  followed.    On  the  5th  of  September, 
9th  at  Wai-  the  several  divisions  were  concentrated  at  Mann.     Moving  on, 
nut  Springs,  ^i^^^  encamped,  on  the  9th,  at  Walnut  Springs,  three  miles  from 
Monterey.     Here,  on  the  south  and  west  towered  the  high 
peaks   of   the  Sierra  Madre,— while  before  them  stood  the 
walls  of  Monterey  bristling  with  cannon,  and  surrounded  by 
fortresses ; — and   around  them  an   unknown   region — an   in- 
vaded country,  with  thousands  of  embittered  foes.     Most  of 
their  troops  were  untried  volunteers.     But  they  had  officers 

•  Mr.  Prescott's  very  popular  "  History  of  the  Conquest  of  Mexico,"  no 
doubt  increased  the  war  spirit  so  rife  at  this  time. 


CHAP.    VII. 


THE    TAKING    OF    MONTEREY.  411 

educated  either  directly  or  indirectly  at  West  Point,  who,  in   part  iy. 
all  the  complicated  acquirements  belonging  to  military  science,  period    hi 
had  no  superiors.      Especially  had  they  a  commander,  cool 
and  deliberate,— judicious  to  plan,  and  energetic  to  act.     He 
looked  upon  the  mountains,  and  perceived  towards  the  south- 
west, that  they  were  cleft  by  the   small  stream  of  the  San 
Juan,  along  whiclv,  was  the  road  from  Saltillo  to  Monterey.    He 
thought  if  a  new  way  could  be  made  by  which  the  Saltillo    J^^^  20' 
road  should  be  reacned,  the  enemy's  line  of  supplies  would  be     Worth's 
cut,  and  probably  kss  formidable  defences  intervene.     The  '^Jamp^at* 
skill  of  the  American  engineers,  under  Oapt.  Mansfield,  found      noon, 
out  such  a  way ;  and  Gren.  Worth  being  selected  for  the  im- 
portant service,  led  a  colamn  of  650  men  on  the  20th  and  21st, 
by  a  difficult  detour  round  to  the  Saltillo  road.     But  they  did 
not  gain  this  advantage  without  loss.     On  the  morning  of  the  ^ear' Monte 

21st  they  successfully  foupht  a  battle,  in  which  Col.  Hay  and  rey.    Mex. 
1  •    m  "      1-  r       •  -I    J  loss  100. 

his  iexan  rangers  were  distinguished. 

The  Saltillo  road  beinor  rained,   the  first  obstacles    to   be  ^       ^  ^ 

,.      o,'5  .'  ,  1     X-      •  Forts  Fede 

overcome  in  approaching  the   city,  were  two  batteries  on  a  ration  and 
hill.     Up  to  these,  in  face  of  their  fire,  the  'soldiers  marched.  SoWadooar 
They  were  taken,  and    their  guns  turned  on  tlie  third   and 
principal  battery,  — a  fortified,  unfinished  stone  building,  called 
the    Bishop's   Palace,    situated    on  the  steep  hill  Independ- 
ence.    Night  came  on,  and  the  weary  and  hungry  soldiers 
had  to  bide  the  pelting  of  a  storm.    At  three  a  party  headed  by    ^o^^iock 
Col.  Childs,  and  conducted  by  engineers  Saunders  and  Meade,  a.  m.  Bisii 
mounted  the  hill.     A  vigorois  sortie  from  the  fort  was  repel-  ^^'tor^ed!* 
led.      The  Americans    entered  it  with  the  flying  Mexicans, 
and  it  was  theirs.     After  having  taken  this  battery,  and  turned 
it  against  the  city,  the  war-worn  troops,  now  three  days  from 
the  camp,  their  numbers  thinned  by  death,  stood  close  upon 
the  rear  of  Monterey. 

Meantime,  Taylor  had  soujht  to   direct  the    attention  of 
the  enemy  from  this,  his  rea.  point  of  attack,  by  making  a 
feigned   one  in    front.      But   30  fiercely  was  this  movement 
conducted  by  Gen.   Butler,  Capt.  Backus,  and  others,  that    Attack  on 
the  city  was  entered,  though  with  great  sacrifice  of  life ;  for  Monterey  in 
every  street  was  barricadoed,  and  guns  pointed  from  every 
wall.     The   second  day,  a  pa^t  of   the  defences  were  aban- 
doned by   the    garrison,    the  Americans    getting  within   the 
houses,  and  breaking  through  the  walls.     Gen.  Quitman,  who 
headed  this  party,  advanced  tc  the  Plaza.     On  the  morning  of    |  u  ganta 
the  23d,  the  defences  of  the  opposite  side  were  assaulted  and  p'^""?^^. 
carried  by  the  division  of  Gen.  vVorth.    Gen.  Taylor  now  passed  ted  May  15, 
over  to  Worth's  quarters,  whe'e  he  received  the  Mexican  com-  (Com.^^con- 
mander.  Gen.  Ampudia.     He  came  with  a  flag  to  propose  ca-  ner  permits 
pitulation  and  an  armistice,  on  the  ground  that  peace  might    which  he 
shortly  be  expected,— Paredfs  being  displaced,  and  Gen.  Santa  ^^jJ.^j^JoJf^' 
Anna  now  in  power.     Gen.  Taylor  knewf  that  in  consequence    speaking 
of  President  Polk's  hope  of  that  wily  Mexican's  favorable  dis-      ^®^'' 


412  MUSTERING    THE    VOLUNTEERS. 

PART  IV.  position,  he  had  given  an  order  to  the  fleet,  which  Com.  Con- 
■ERioD   III.  ner  obeying,  Santa  Anna  had  passed  unmolested  on  his  return 
from  Cuba.     Taylor  had  not  men  sufficient  to  guard  the  Mex- 
ican soldiers  if  he  kept  them  as  prisoners ;  and  his  own  unsup 
plied  army  needed  all  the  provisions  to  be  found  in  Monterey. 
Without  the  parade  of  compassion,  he  had  its  reality,  and  he 
wished  to  spare,  especially  "  non-combatants."     With  the  ad- 
vice of  his  officers,  he  therefore  agreed  to  an  .irmistice  of  eight 
weeks,  on  condition  of  the  approval  of  the  American  govern- 
its  rejection  nient.  This,  on  correspondence,  was  withheld  ;  and  the  war  was 
brMr.  Polk,  renewed  ; — not,  however,  until  nearly  six  weeks  had  elapsed; 
and  not  sooner  would  Taylor  have  been  prepared  to  act,  had 
he  been  at  liberty. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Army  of  the  Centre. — Gen.  Wool's  rrarch. — Battle  of  Buena  Vista. 

To  Gen.  Wool,  who  had  been  trv^enty-five  years  an  inspector- 
general  in  the  army,  the  administration  wisely  confided  the  prin- 
cipal share  in  mustering  and  preparing  for  the  service,  the  vol- 
unteers, -—on  whom,  for  want  of  reg-ular  ti'oops,  the  military  honor 
and  interest  of  the  republic,  must  in  this  emergency  depend. 
May  29.  ^       His  Orders,  dated   May  29th,  he  received  at  Washington, 
^order's?  ^  From   thence   he  immediately  moved  through  the   states  of 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kentucky^  Tennessee,  and  Mississippi; 
July  16.     — meeting  the  enlisted  volunteeri  at  designated  places  of  ren- 
slooo^nHes  ^ezvous,  and  inspecting  and  adriitting  them,  if  suitable  men, 
traversed,  into  the  army.    These  distances  vere  accomplished,  and  twelve 
menmus-  and  a  half  regiments,  (two  of  civalry,)  making  about  12,000 
tared.      men,  were  inspected,  mustered  into  the  service,  and  sent  to- 
wards their  destined  places,  by  tiie  16th  of  July.    About  9,000 
of  these  recruits,  went  to  the  Rh  Grande  to  reinforce  the  army 
of  Gen.  Taylor.     Those  to  forai  the  "Army  of  the  Centre" 
were  by  different  routes  to  rendezvous  at  Bexar ; — some  going 
the  far  circuit  of  Little  Rock,  in  .Arkansas,  and  some  by  sea  and 
through  La  Vaea.   Gen.  Wool,  after  making  necessary  arrange- 
ments in  ISTew  Orleans  for  the  comfort  and  efficiency  of  his 
August  1.    troops,  moved  to  La  Vaea  on  the  1st  of  August.    From  thence. 
La  Vaea'(on  ^^^^''  sending  his  wagon-trains,  he  accompanied  volunteers  to 
Matagorda  Boxar,  whose  mai'ch  for  40  milts  lay  through  a  country  sub- 
'^^'^      merged  four  inches   by  recent  'rains.     At  Bexar  began  that 
drill  and  strict  discipline  of  the  volunteers  which  made  Gen. 
Wool's  corps,  whether  resting  or  moving,  a  camp  of  instruction ; 
discipiin?  ^"^  which,  together  with  his  greit  care  that  every  article  ne- 
cunpopuiar  ccssary  to  health  and  efficiency  slipuld  always  be  prepared  and 
iTt^Se  Urae.)  ready,  gave  to  it  the  praise  of  beihg  "  a  model  army." 

Gen.  Wool's  destination  ^ras  Qiihuahua,  the  heart  of  one 

\ 


GEN.  wool's  march.  413 

^  the  richest  provinces  of  Mexico.  He  began  his  march  from  part  iv. 
Bexar  on  the  20th  of  September,  his  force  amounting-  to  500  period  hi. 
regulars  and  2,440  vohmteers.  At  Presidio  the  troops  crossed  c"^^-  vm. 
thve  Rio  Grande  on  a  Hying  bridge  prepared  for  tlie  purpose,  ^^^^•-^^''^s^ 
From  this  fertile  spot  they  marched  westward  20  miles,  to  1846. 
Nava,  over  a  dead  level,  —  without  findino-  a  drop  of  water  or    Sept  20. 

1  1     1  •.      •  rm         .  •  ^  •  1        o.-  c   Gen.  Woo» 

a  human  habitation,     ihe   troops,  m  crossing  the  bierras  01  leaves  Bex 
San  Jose  and  Santa  Rosa,  encountered  steep  rocky  ascents  and  ^^  ^gidio'^*'' 
deep  mountain  gorges  ;  and  often,  before  their  300  heavy-la- 
den Avagons  could  pass,  roads  must  be  repaired  or  made.     In  (Nava,  120c 
the  valley  between,  they  found  the  unbridged  torrent-rivers  of  inhabitants 
Alamos  and  Sabino  ;  and  at  every  turn  their  flesh  w^as  wound-  Zf  adobl^or 
ed  by  the  pricklv-pear,  or  the  thorn-leaved  acrave.    Sometimes, ,  unbumt 
as   the  army  appeared,  the   ignorant  people  01   the  country,  are  nearly 
taken  by  surprise,  believed  that  the  robber-bands  of  Mexico  ^edifices!)*^ 
were  upon  them.     The  shrieking  women  would  run  from  their 
houses,  and  embrace  the  crosses  by  the  wayside,— probably 
where  some  friend  had  been  killed,  whose  fate  they  expected 
to  share. 

But  by  the   better-informed.   Gen.   Wool's  approach  was 
hailed  with  joy.     He  protected  the  quiet  and  the  weak  against 
the  strong  and  the  lawless.     Before  crossing  the  Rio  Grande, 
he  had  rescued  the  children  of  a  Mexican  family  from  the  Le- 
pan  Indians,  and  restored  them  to  their  parents.     "  His  army," 
says  Mr.  Mansfield,  "  were  the  armed  watchmen  of  Coahuila  ;"    ^ 
and  as  he  passed  on  through  San  Fernando  and  Santa  Rosa,  Gen.'wooi 
to  Monclova,  his  advance  was  heralded  as  that  of  a  friend ;    ^cio^v"' 
and  he  there  peacefully  unfurled  the  American  flag  over  the 
government-house  of  the  province. 

At  Monclova,  Gen.  Taylor  communicated  to  him  the  cap- 
ture  and  armistice  of  Monterey.     Here  also  he  learned  that  the  der  d^fit  du- 
projected  route  to  Chihuahua,  continuing  along  the  base  of  the  ^^^j^isSce^^ 
Sierra  Madre,  Avas  impracticable  for  his  train  ;  and  he  could  they  are  ki 
only  reach  that  place  with  artillery  by  a  circuitous  road  lead-    damped" 
ing  throuQjh  Parras.     Both  he  and   Gen.  Taylor  believed  that  without  the 
it  would  be  unwise  thus  to  withdraw  his  force  from  the  seat    villages.) 
of  war ; — since  the  conquest  of  New  Leon  and  Coahuila,  already 
achieved,  gave  to  the  Americans  the  command  of  Chihuahua. 

On  the  2yth  of  November,  Gen.  Wool  marched  upon  Par-  j^ov.  28  to 
ras,  —  Gen.  Taylor  advising  him  to  establish  a  post  in  that  fertile     Dec.  5. 
region,  and  collect  provisions,  of  which  his  army  were  in  need,  from^Mon- 
and  which  the  country  about  Monterey  could  not  supply.     On     parfai!* 
this  march  the  army  encountered  a  region  of  calcareous  marl, 
which,  for  many  miles,  was  hke  dry  ashes,  filling  their  eyes 
and  covering  their  garments. 

At  Parras,  General  Wool  was  received  with  all  the  cour- 
tesy due  to  a  distinguished  guest.  The  strictness  of  his  dis- 
cipline was  not  only  improving  his  army,  but,  by  imparting 
the  feeling  of  security  to  a  people,  so  long  the  victims  of  an- 
archy, he  was  wmning  their  affections,  and  giving  them  de- 


414  THE    WOMEN    OF    PARRAS. 

PART  IV.  sires  for  a  better  government.*  Stores  carae  in  abundantly, 
pKRioD  III.  and  the  necessities  of  the  two  armies  were  fully  supplied. 
CHAP.  vni.  In  the  mean  time  Gen.  Taylor  had  proceeded  to  Victoria, 
"--^"v^'**-^  the  capital  of  Tamaulipas,  expecting  to  co-operate  with  Gen. 
I§f6.  Patterson  and  a  naval  force  in  the  reduction  of  Tampico.  But 
Nov.  24.  that  place  had  suiTendered  to  Commodore  Conner  on  the  14th 
surrendered,  of  November.  Gen.  Butler  was  left  in  command  at  Monterey. 
17,  saitiiio.   Saltillo,  the  capital  of  Coahuila,  of  which  the  Americans  had 

(Americans  ^    ,  ,  i  ^  .  /i       -,  h^i  •  i  j 

in  posses-    taken  peaceable  possession  on  the  l7th,  was  garrisoned,  ana 
1t?teiof  commanded  by  Gen.  Worth. 

Coahuila,        The  changeful  Mexicans  having  now  displaced  Paredes,  and 

and^amau-  given  full  power  to  Santa  Anna,  he  had  concentrated  a  force 

lipas.)      of   22,000  at  San   Luis  Potosi.       Gen.  Worth,  60   miles   in 

advance  of  Monterey,  and  200  from  Tuylor  at  Victoria,  now 

received  the  startling  intelligence,  that  this  army  was  imme- 

Dec.  17.     diately  to  be  brought  down   upon  him  ; — he  having  but  900 

trom^GeT  "i^n.     He   sent  a  rapid  express,   entreating  Wool  to  hasten 

Worth,—    to  his  aid  with  his  whole  force.     In  two  hours  Gen.  Wool  was 

leaves  Par-  iu  motion  with  his  entire  column,  and  his  long  train  of  wagons; 

His  m  id    ^^^  ^^^^  ^^'^^  ^^^  condition  of  his  soldiers,  that  only  fourteen 

movement,  were  unable,  on  account  of  ill  health,  to  move.     And  now  the 

gratitude  of  the  protected  people  was  singularly  manifested. 

The  ladies  of  Parras  came  forward,  and  vied  with  each  other 

in  offers  to  take  the  charge  of  these   fourteen  sick  soldiers  ! 

The  best  mansions  of  the  place  received  them,  the  first  women 

were  their  nurses,  and  in  due  time  they  were  all  restored.f 

In  four  days  the  army  marched  120  miles  ; — when  resting  at 
Agua  Nueva,  it  was  twenty-one  miles  in  advance  of  Saltillo,  — 
interposed  between  Gen.  Worth  and  Santa  Anna.  It  had  now 
completed  a  march  of  900  miles  through  an  enemy's  country 
without  a  gun  fired,  or  a  man  lost. 

Gen.  Taylor,  while  at  Victoria,  learned  that  the  city  of  Mex 
Bcott  super-  ico  was  to  be  approached  by  Vera  Cruz  ;  and  that  Gen.  Scott 
^  Tor"!^^    appointed  to  conduct  this  invasion,  would,  as  his  senior,  super- 
sede him  in  the  Mexican  command.     Nor  was  this  all.     It  was 
from  Taylor's  army,  that  Scott's  force  was  to  be  drawn.     Gen. 

*  Already  are  rumors  abroad  that  this  part  of  Mexico  has  invited  an 
American  general  to  lead  them  in  an  attempt  to  establish  an  independent 
government.  But  as  much  the  same  effect  has  been  produced  by  the 
American  army  in  other  parts  of  Mexico,  we  hope  that  no  such  move- 
ment will  be  made  ;  but  that  all  Mexico,  united  by  language  and  reli- 
gion, will  have  learned  how  much  better  is  security  than  anarchy  ; — and 
also,  we  hope,  tliat  republican  America  vi^ill  learn,  on  her  part,  from 
Mexico,  how  wretched  a  condition  is  that  of  anarchy  ; — so  that  she  may 
avoid  it  by  repressing,  while  yet  in  her  power,  all  lawless  outrages. 

t  The  Americans  manifested  afterwards  their  gratitude  to  these  kind 
Mexicans.  They  applying  to  Gen.  Wool  for  aid  on  an  incursion  of  savages, 
he  sent  to  Donaphan,  then  in  the  region  and  under  his  command,  a  request 
which  the  troops  of  that  gallant  chieftain  fulfilled  by  doing  battle  with  the 
Comanches  at  El  Poso,  where  Capt.  Reid  and  Lieut.  Gordon,  with  about 
30  men,  killed  and  wounded  40  Indians, — liberated  19  boys  and  girls, 
and  restored  thein  to  their  parents  at  Parras. 


Ffir 'oF^THT^BTrrL  E 

OF 

Mq-iiinff23'^Fd.l84F. 


A^BnenaVista 


«-%^ 


I 


^^"^"^  ^n<.^-A\rM  il>  Avtillerv,  moving  to  the  attack. 


United  stales  "^^  Infantry, 


By 


Lieut.  Col.  Mansfield,  Corp.  Engineers. 


PERILOUS    POSITION.  411 

Scott  theref()re  ordered  fiora  Gen.  Taylor  most  of  his  efficient  P'^^t  '^ 
troops,  leaving  him,  — till  more  could  be  sent  by  government,  pkriod  hi 
"  to  stand  on  the  defensive."     Taylor,  whatever  might  have  chap.  vm. 
been  his  feelings,  promptly  obeyed  the  order  ;  and  dispatched  ^— •■^v^v^ 
to  Vera  Cruz  the  greater  part  of  his  regular  troops,  and  vol-     l§46. 
unteers,  —  with  generals  Worth,  Patterson,   Quitman,  Twiggs,  (Gen.scott'i 
and  others,  who  had  fought  so  bravely  by  his  side.     This  or-  cen.Taykw, 
der  reached  the  forces  of  Gen.  Wool  also;  and  to  his  great  datex^Nov. 
grief  deprived  him  of  most  of  his  efficient  staff-officers  and     (Dec. 
regular  infantry,  those  whom  he  had  as  soldiers  "  brought  up,"  beahng^Se^ 
and  with  whom   he  had  thought   to  win   glory,  the  soldier's  spaiches  to 
meed.     But  this  deprivation  proved  to  the  two  generals  the    iTma^sa"'! 
source  of  their  highest  fame.     For  with  the  remains  of  their  ^^^'}  ^J  JJ'® 
force,  they  met  and  bore  back,  the  shock  of  the  most  formida-   and  Santa 
ble  army,  wiiich  Mexico  had  ever  sent  to  the  field.  ^Sc^oit^rin"' 

Gen.  Taylor  on  the  way  from  Victoi'ia  to  Monterey  learned      tended 
that  Santa  Anna,  by  decided  demonstrations,  Avas  threatening    ments.) 
him.     Leaving  a  small  garrison  at  Monterey,  he  advanced  south 
with  about  TOO  men  to  the  camp  of  Wool  at  Agua  Nueva.  Their    1§4T. 
whole  force,  officers  and  men,  was  4,690,  and  Santa  Anna  was  Santa  Anna 
approaching  with  more  than  four  times  that  number,  — besides  ^GreaUrle- 
3,000  regular  cavalry  under  Gen.  Minon,  and  1,000  under  Gen.    ^"orce^^ 
Urrea,  sent  in  advance,  to  turn  the  American  position,  destroy 
their  stores,  and  cut  oft"  their  retreat.     This  perilous  situation 
became  knoAvn  to  their  distant  country — to  the  friends  and  fam- 
ilies of  these  Spartan  officers  and  soldiers.     We  knew  that  they 
would  have  fought — but  could  they  have  conquered  ?     Were 
they  victors,— or  had  they  died  for  their  country's  honor? — 
And  were  the  garrisons  of  the  Rio  Grande  to  be  slaughtered, 
and  Scott  to  be  intercepted  by  a  victorious  foe? 

Gen.  Wool  had  remarked  that  the  road  from  San  Luis  Po- 
tosi,  seven  miles  south  of  Saltillo,  and  thirteen  north  of  Agua 
Ntieva,  passed  through  a  mountain  gorge  called  Angostura, 
soticn  of  the  small  village  of  Buena  Vista.     On  the  w^est,  a  net- 
work of  deep  impassable  ravines  came  close  to  the  road,  while 
on  the  east,  the  mountain  sent  off  a  succession  of  spurs,  some  ^se"e(S"a^ 
of  which  came  at  this  point  close  to  the  road.  "  Here,"  he  said,  field— Gen, 
"  is  the  place  which  I  would  select,  if  obliged  to  fight  a  large    ^Zve^Sl 
force  with  a  small  one."     Gen.  Taylor  approved.     The  army 
remained  encamped  at  Agua  Nueva  until  the  afternoon  of  the 
21st  of  February.     Santa  Anna  w^as  approaching.     Gen.  Minon  (^cassius 
had  already  captured  Majors  Borland  and  Gaines  with  a  recon-  M.  ciay  is 
noitering  party. f    The  camp  at  Agua  Nueva  was  broken  up,  and  turedpa^f!, 
Santa  Anna,  believing  that  his  foes  were  flying  in  dismay,  ea- 
gerly pursued,  till  he  was  drawn  to  their  chosen  position.    Gen.  santa  Auaa 
Wool  was  left   bv  Tavlor  the  active  commander  at  Buena '^f'^^'^^i  ^f 

XT'  ^  '^       ^  •  "^         r        1  •  ii-»r'  drawn  to  a 

Vista;    while  he,  anxious  for  his  stores  menaced  by  Mmon,  badpositioa 
went  to  Saltillo. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  Gen.  Wool  drew  up  the  army  for 
battle.     The  gorge  was  the  key  of  the  position.     Here  was 


418  Washington's  birthday 

PART  IV.  placed  Capt.  Washington's  battery.  This  was  the  BiRTHDAt 
PERIOD  III.  OF  THE  GREAT  WASHINGTON,  and  the  battle-cry  was  to  be, 
CHAP.  vin.  "To  the  memory  of  Washington !"  On  a  height  opposite  the 
deep  ravines,  and  contiguous  to  the  gorge,  were  placed  the 
volunteers  of  Illinois  and  Kentucky,  under  colonels  Hardin, 
Bissell,  and  M'Kee.  Bragg's  battery  was  beyond  the  ravines 
on  the  right ;  while  on  the  left,  O'Brien's  battery,  with  most  of 
the  remaining  regiments  were  on  plateau-elevations  between  the 
mountain  and  the  road.  From  their  positions  the  troops  looked 
out  through  the  gorge  to  the  south,  and  beheld,  issuing  from 
clouds  of  dust,  the  long  array  of  the  Mexican  host,— glittering 
with  bm'nished  arms,  and  gorgeous  with  many-colored  drape- 
ries. As  they  come  nearer,  their  delicious  music  charms  for  a 
moment  even  the  stern  ear  of  war !  But  the  shouts  of  the 
Americans  rise  louder, — as  Gen.  Taylor,  whom  they  regard  as 
invincible,  appears  upon  the  field. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  Santa  Anna  sent  to  Taylor  a  useless  sum- 
3  o'clock  mons  of  surrender.  About  noon  the  Mexicans  pushed  for- 
'  begins,  ward  a  party  to  the  heights  on  the  east,  or  American  left.  At 
(See  Capt.  three  o'clock  beo-an  the  battle.    Volunteer  riflemen,  under  Col. 

Carleton's    ,,       ,     ^  '^  -,  i     at      •  mi  ^ 

Battle  "  Bu- Marshall,  met  the  advanced  Mexicans,     ihey  made  no  im- 
^i?eZ^ioss"^  pression  upon  the  American  lines,  while  they  suffered  loss. 
k.<kw.more      Night  came.     The  Americans  remained  under  arms.     Santa 
An^.^w.  4,    Anna's  arrangements  were  those  of  an  able  commander.     A 
^  ^-       strong  column,  headed  by  Gen.  Mora  y  Yiilamil,  he  directed 
to  attack  the  gorge  defended  by  Washington's  battery.     This 
charge  was  in  the  morning  made,  met,  and  repulsed.     Gen- 
erals Pacheco  and   Lombardini,  with    their  thousands,  were 
early  in  the  night  climbing  the  heights  on  the  east.     Two 
hours  after  midnight  they   drove  in  the  American   pickets. 
Major  Mansfield  discovers  their  approach,  and  the  watchful 
Col.  Churchill  is  near  to  give  information  to  Gen.  Lane,  then  in 
Feb.  23.     command  of  the  American  left.     Gen.  Taylor  was  not  upon  the 
^  a!^m?^    field,  for  his  night  had  again  been  spent  in  providing  for  the 
Mexicans    safety  of  his  stores  at  Saltillo ; — and  Gen.  Wool  had  just  left 
Am.  left,    the  plateau,  and  gone  to  the  gorge  to  see  if  all  was  right  there, 
randsimui-  Qq^^    Lane   ordered  forward  the   battery  of  O'Brien,  with  a 

taneously  ,  .  •'  i/-iiT>i 

Washing-   Supporting  regiment  of  Indiana  volunteers  under  Col.  Bowles. 
*the^goTget^ '^'^6  Mexicans  advanced,— their  arms  and  standards  ghttering 
where  they  gorgeously  to  the  sun.     They  gain  the  heights  and  plant  tiieir 
p^uSed.)     heavy  batteries.     Impetuously  they  now  attack  the  Americans, 
and  with  a  tenfold  force.     The  volunteers  stand,  give  back  the 
fire,  and  drive  the  enemy.     Col.  Bowles  orders  a  retreat.     It 
became  a  rout  which  could  not  be  stopped,  though  Capt.  Lin- 
coln, the  aid  of  Wool,  lost  his  precious  life  in  attempting  the 
rally.     O'Brien  stood,  with  Bryan  his  associate,  and  checked 
their  progress,  until  men  and  horses  were  killed  ;  and  when  he 
retreated,  one  gun  could  not  be  removed. 

The  Mexicans  were  gaining  ground.     Their  right  was  turn- 
ing the  American  left.     Gen.  Taylor  arrives.     Col.  Jefferson 


BUENA    VISTA  419 

.>avi5  Avith  his  Mississippians,  comes  forward,  and  calls  to  the  part  iy. 
retreating,  to  form  in  the  shelter  of  his  column.  Col.  Bowles,  pfjuod  iil 
unable  to  rally  his  men,  seizes  the  rifle  of  a  private,  and  enters  ^-^ap.  vin. 
the  ranks.  Forward  press  the  few  against  the  many  ;  nor  pause  ^-^^/^x-^ 
for  danger  or  death,  until,  close  to  the  foe,  their  rifles  give  1817. 
the  unerring  fatal  fire.  A  yell  and  a  rush,  and  the  volunteers  ^^^fi\iJe  mS 
have  crossed  a  ravine,  and  stand  close  to  the  Mexicans,  for-  sissippians, 
cing  them  to  retreat.  Thousands  of  the  foe  are  ready  to  fill  bHu'iJ>^'^rl-* 
the  places  of  the  slain.  But  the  batteries  of  Bragg  and  cover  the 
Sherman  have  now  arrived.  They  pour  a  fire  too  rapid  and  ^[heTeft^' 
deadly  to  be  resisted,  and  the  ground  is  regained. 

Meantime,  bodies  of  the  Mexican  cavalry  had  passed  be- 
tween the  combatants  and  the  mountains,  and  gone  towards  the  -p^^^  ^.^^^^ 
rear,  where  they  menaced  the  camp  at  Buena  Vista.     Gen.    auacked 
Taylor  ordered  Col.  May,  with  his  dragoons  and  other  cavalry,  ^'^    ed^""^ 
to  follow  and  attack  them.     Col.  Yell  of  the  Arkansas  volun- 
teers here  fell  bravely  fighting.     Major  Dix,  a  paymaster,  seized 
the  standard  of  the  flying  Indianians — called  on  them  to  fol- 
low, —and  never  suffer  the  flag  of  their  state  to  leave  the  battle- 
field but  in  triumph.     Many  turned  and  fought.     The  Mex-   ^^imde"^ 
leans,  thus  resolutely  met,  veered  about,  and  being  joined  by  storm  r^ses 
a  fresh  brigade,  they  now  attempted  to  gain  the  road,  from    odofthe' 
whence  they  might  attack  from  the  rear.     The  Mississippians      ^*"^e- 
were  drawn  up.     The  Mexican  cavalry  came  gallantly  on.     The 
Mississippians  stood  and  fired  not.     Surprised,  the  horsemen 
check  their  career — and,  for  one  suicidal  moment,  they  halt. 
The  next — each  unerring  rifle  had  brought  down  its  man.  Sher- 
man's battery  had  arrived,  and  the  foe  were  unable  to  rally. 
Other  American  troops  with  artillery  pressed  closer  and  closer  ; 
and  now-  some  thousands  of  Mexicans  are  in  danger  of  being  jJi^condlfc't 
cut  off  from  the  main  body.     Santa  Anna  dispatches  a  flag  of  of  Santa  An- 
truce  to  Taylor,  desiring  to  know  what  he  wants.     Gen.  Wool,  "flagllj^dl* 
attempting  to   go   with   a  reply,  perceives   the  treachery  of      ceive 
Santa  Anna,  and  declares  the  truce  at  an  end. 

The  American  firing  having  been  suspended  by  order,  the 
endangered  Mexicans  escaped  ;  while,  not  only  did  two  of  the 
Mexican  batteries  continue  their  fire,  but  Santa  Anna  used  the 
time  to  change  the  position  of  another,  in  preparation  for  his 
final  desperate  struggle.  This  was  made  against  the  centre, 
where  Gen.  Taylor  commanded  in  person ; — and  by  Santa 
Anna  himself,  with  his  entire  reserve. 

O'Brien  with  his  battery  again  stood  foremost,  and  colonels 
Hardin,  Bissell,  Clay,  and  MTvee  were  in  the  hottest  of  the  battle. 
But  the  odds  against  tliem  is  overwhelming.     Again  O'Brien,  ■^g'j'e  of  th?' 
now  with  Lieut.  Thomas,  stands  and  checks  the  foe,  till  men  and   whole  ar- 
horses  are  slain,  and  now,  as  he  retreats,  he  leaves  two  of  his  "^[he'  two  ^' 
guns.    Mexican  lancers  drive  the  infantry  into  a  ravine.    M'Kee,    ^^^Jfg'Jg*'^" 
Hardin,  Clay,  and  many  others  fall.     Bragg  and   Sherman, 
straining  every  nerve,  advance  with  their  batteries,  and  in  the 
face  of  death,  maintain  their  ground,  and  save  the  battle.  Wash- 


420  VICTORY. 

PART  IV.  ington's  battery  too,  —often  attacked  through  the  day,  —now  by 

PERIOD  TiT  turning  on  the  Mexican  lancers,  and  protecting  the  American 

CHAP.  viii.  infantry,  saved  a  field,  in  which,  with  such  disparity  of  force, 

^-^'V'^-^  there  were  many  chances  to  lose,  where  there  was  one  to  win. 

1§4T.         Santa  Anna  was  obhged  to  draw  back  his  much  diminished 

forces.     The  second  night  came  on.     Officers  and  men  were  on 

the  alert,  and  horses  in  harness.     The  field  was  strewed  with 

the  lifeless  victims  of  war.     The  American  surgeon",  and  their 

of  BuENA    assistants  administered  to  the  wounded,  whether  friend  or  foe. 

Vista.      Mexican  women  were  there,  to  soothe  the  dying,  or  wail  the 

dead. 

Feb  23-4.        '^^^^  Americans  were  prepared  to  renew  the  contest.     Out- 

santa  Anna  posts  had  made  astonishing  marches,  and  had  reached  the 

Am'^loss,    camp.      Gen.  Marshall,  with  his  mounted  Kentackians,  and 

^•23      Capt.  Prentiss  with  his  artillery,  had  travelled  from  the  Pass 

w.  450.  *  .  *' 

Alex,  loss,  of  Rinconada,  — 35  miles  of  bad  road,  — on  this  one  niglit.  , 
mifs-g'4W)o!'  With  the  earliest  dawn  of  the  morning  Gen.  Wool,— abroad 
to  reconnoitre,  discovered  that  the  enemy  were  in  full  retreat. 
Hastening  with  the  news  to  the  tent  of  Taylor,  they  embraced 
and  wept,— while  the  glad  shouts  of  victory,  rang  over  the 
battle-field. 

Presuming  that  he  should  conquer,  — Santa  Anna  had  de- 
tached regular  forces  under  Minon  and  Urrea,  to  cut  oti  the 
Santa  An-    ^'etreat  of  the  Americans  ;  while  hordes  of  rancheros  were  sent 
na's  prepa-  to    the   mountain    passes    to  kill  every   straggler.       General 
cut  off  the  Urrea,  with  1,000  cavalry,  went  into  the  vicinity  of  Monterey, 
whole  Ame-  where  at  Ramas  a  wao-on-train  was  captured,  and  forty-five 

fican  army.  '^  r  '  J 

wagoners  barbarously  murdered.    Both  these  generals  from  the 

22d  to  the  26th  menaced  the  weakened  outposts  of  Taylor's 

army ;  and  both  were  attacked  and  defeated.     Gen.  Minon, 

on  the  23d,  interposed  a  body  of  1,800  cavalry  between  Buena 

Vista  and  Saltillo,  threatening  the  rear  of  the  army.     He  was 

gallantly  driven  away,  with  the  loss  of  60  of  his  men,  by  Capt. 

AKua^^Vio    ^*^bster,  aided  by  Lieut.  Shover.     Gen.  Urrea  was  defeated 

Mex.  loss,  by  Colonels  Morgan  and  Irvin  on  the  26th,  at  Agua  Frio,  near 

"■  aZ'g!^'  Monterey.     On  the  7th  of  March,  Major  Giddings  with  260 

men,  having  a  train  of  wagons  in  convoy,  was  attacked  near 

Ceraivo!    Ceralvo  by  1,600  Mexicans  ; — the  party  of  Urrea  combined  with 

^^^■J,n^'^^  that  of  Gen.  Romera.     The  Americans  bravely  defended  them- 

1,600.  1  1  11     1      1  "^ 

Am.  260.    selves,  and  compelled  the  enemy  to  retreat. 
MexTioss,       '^^^^  victory   of  Buena  Vista,  without  which   the  guerilla 
k.  &W.45.  warfare  would  have  borne  a  different  aspect,  left  the  Ameri- 
""  cans  after  these  affairs  in  quiet  possession  of  the  noithern  prov- 

inces of  Mexico  proper.  Active  operations  being  here  at  an 
end,  Gen.  Taylor,  after  a  few  months,  returned  to  receive 
high  honors  from  his  countr}^; — and  Gen.  Wool,  *'  without  fear 
and  without  reproach,"  was  left  to  govern  and  protect  the  con- 
quered region. 


Am.  17. 


CALIFORNIA.  481 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Army  of  the  West. — Conquest  of  New  Mexico  and  California. 

A  FLEET  consisting  of  one  frigate  and  nine  smaller  vessels,  part  I7. 
was  already  on  the  coast  of  California,  when  the  war  com-  pkriod  w. 
menced.     Commodore  Sloat,  the  commander,  was  advised  by    chap.  ix. 
the  navy  department,  that  Avar  Avith  Mexico    might  occur,f  ^-^^n/'-^k-' 
that  he  must  be  carefid  to  observe  the  relations  of  peace,  un-    1816. 
less  they  were  violated  by  the  opposing  party  ;    but  if  this  Bancroft's 
should  take  place,  he  was,  witliout  further  notice,  to  employ  ^order  to 
his  fleet  for  hostile   purposes.      Being  led   to   suppose*  that    jUlie  '^C ' 
war  existed,  Com.  Sloat  took  Monterey  on  the  7th  of  July,      ^^^^-^ 
1840  ;  and  raised  the  American  flag  without  opposition.    On  the  (*/.  c.  by  the 
9th,  Francisco,  north  of  Monterey,  was  taken  by  a  part  of  the  ^y 'I'mnont 
squadron,  acting  under  the  orders  of  Capt.  Montgomery,     On  iji  the  Bear 
the  15th,  arrived  a  second  frigate  under  Com.  Stockton.     On 
the  17th,  Com.  Sloat  dispatched  a  party  to  the  mission  of  St. 
John,  to  recover  cannon  and  other  munitions  which  the  enemy     of'com^* 
had  there  deposited.     At  this  place  the  American  flag  had  ^^^o^^^^^^JJ."^^^ 
already  been  planted  by  Col.  Fremont,— who,  with  63  men, 
had  been  sent  out  in  18-4.5  by  the  government,  Avith  the  osten- 
sible object  of  making  peaceful  explorations.     He  had,  as  an  184:2-3. 
officer  of  the  corps  of  topographical  engineers,  been  employed  mont's  ex 
in  the  years   1842-3,  in  exploring  the  great  rivers,  valleys,  prorations 
prairies,  lakes,  and  mountain-passes  on  the  grand  route  to  Or- 
egon ;   and  he  had  manifested,  by  his  keen  observation,  his 
hardy  endurance,  untiring  activity,  courage  and  conduct  among 
the  Indian  tribes — the  incipient  germ  of  the  great  military  com- 
mander.    He  was  opportunely  on  the  ground  at  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Avar,    The  Mexicans  menaced  him,  although  he  had  (t  Fremont 
obtained  leaA-e  of  Gen.  Castro,  the  military  commandant,  to  Am^'^flag)  but 
winter  near  the  San  Joaquin.f     Subsequently  all  Americans  ^'^J^'7?  ^^ 
were  threatened  with  destruction.     Fremont  went  and  aroused     He\hen  * 
the  American  settlers  on  the  Sacramento,     They  added  to  his  tkne\o°th^e 
force,  and  he   swept   out  the   Mexican   authorities   from   the  south  part  of 
northern  interior  of  California.     The   American   Californians.      '"^s""-^ 
July  6,  declared  their  independence,  and   placed  Fremont  at 
the  head  of  their  goA-ernment.     A  few  days  after,  news  came 
that  Avar  existed  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico  ;  Avhen  ^^bo?e^the^ 
the   Californian  colorsf  Avere  joyfully  pulled  down,  and   the  figure  of  a 
American  hoisted.  ^^'^'^'^ 

Com.  Stocktonf  constituted  the  160  men  under  Fremont,  a 
•* navy  battahon."     This  force  sailed  to  San  Diego;   where,    fuUco^m^ 
united  to  the  marines,  their  leaders  marched  upon,  and  occu- j^^^JJ? JIJ^^J^ 
pied  Los  Anoreles,  the  seat  of  o-overnment.    Here  Com.  Stock- sioat  left  far 
ton  proclaimed  himself  governor,  and  established  civil  govern-     jan.  sa.) 


ment.     Leaving  a  small  garrison,  the  commanders  Avent  north. 
In  September,  a  Mexican  force  under  Gen.  Flores  and  Don 
Pico  led  in  a  revolt,  and  attacked  Angeles.    Captain  Gillespie 
29 


422  VOLUNTEERS    OF   THE    WES?T. 

PART  IV.  |^]^(3  American  commandant  capitulated.     Capt.  Mei-fine,  with 

PERIOD   III. marines  from  the  Savannah,  attempting  to  relieve  the  garris^on, 

CHAP.  IX.    -^as  driven  back  to  his  ship.     Com.  Stockton  sailed  for  th-^ 

'-^"^v"'^*-^ southern  ports.     Col.  Fremont,  after  recruiting  his  battalion, 

marched  south  to  co-operate  in  reconquering  the  country. 

1§46         Immediately  after   the  opening  of  the  war,    orders   were 

'ALrmy  of  the  issued   by  the  Executive    for  organizing  an  ''Army   of  the 

re^r*i7dlr  West,"  to  be  commanded  by  Gen.  Kearny  ; — for  the  object  of 

Doniphan,  taking,  — and  placing  under  American  laws.  New  Mexico  and 

[nfantry  145,  California.     This  army  was  to  be  composed  of  mounted  vol- 

^^•.^'■^^^^^^'^' unteers  from  the  state  of  Missouri,  with  one  battalion  of  in- 

407.        fantry,  one  of  light-artillery,  and  one  of  dragoons, 
^ordnance .^       They  began,  June  oth,  to  appear  at  the  rendezvous,  which 
was  Fort  Leavenworth.     The  choice  of  field-officers  for  the 
first  Mis.souri  regiment  was  regarded  by  the  volunteers  as  pe- 
culiarly important ;   because,  in  the  event  of  the  death  of  Gen. 
Kearny,  — on  the  colonel  of  this  regiment,  would  devolve  the 
June  18     command  of  the  army.     The  men  elected  by  the  volunteers 
Doniphan    had  entered  their  ranks  as  privates.     Doniphan  was  chosen 
chosen.     (.qIqi^^j  •    Ruff,  lieutenant-colonel  ;   and  Gilpin,  major."^'      All 
were  for  twenty  days  instructed   by  such    of  their   officers 

'The  ladies  j  j  j 

'of "Liber-  as  had  been  West-Point  students;  and  thus,  the  mihtary 
The^voiun-^  Science  infused  into  this  celebrated  school,  by  Col.  Sylvanus 
leer  officers  Thayer  and  his  associates  and  successors,  now  became  as 
see'''^Doni-  rapidly  transfused  into  the  quick  minds  of  the  volunteers  of 
phan's  Ex-  the  West,  as  were  the  military  arts  into  the  well-formed,  ac- 
bv^Hughes.)  tive  frames  of  this  remarkable  body  of  recruits.f 

General  Kearny,  having  sent  forward  his  baggage,  and 
taken  in  convoy  the  annual  train  of  merchants'  wagons,  now 
June  26-29.  numbering  414,  (going  to  trade  at  Santa  Fe  and  Chihuahua,) 
Army  begin  set  out  with  his  army  on  the  last  of  June.  They  moved  south- 
30th? Reach  Avesterly  across  the  river  Platte,— the  branches  of  the  Kansas, 
'.he  Kansas,  —aloni   the   Arkansas  to   Bent's    Fort; — thence  south  and 

July  12.  1     °  1  oi  T<^ 

if'.each  the  southwesterly  to  banta  Jb  e. 

Arkansas.  j^  great  portion  of  the  region  moved  over  was  prairie  ; — one 
wide,  wild,  unmeasured  level,  or  gently  undulating  field  ; — 
sometimes  green,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  with  tall,  rank 
grass,  —and  sometimes  gay  with  unnumbered  flowers, — perhaps 

*  There  was  some  difficulty  about  officering  the  volunteers — tho  gov- 
ernment preferring  to  select  the  high  officers.  Subsequently  the  Execu- 
tive of  the  United  States  appointed  Col.  Sterling  Price  to  the  command  of 
a  regiment  of  volunteers,  which  were  to  follow  and  reinforce  Kearny. 
The  volunteer  regiment,  however,  held  an  election,  in  which  they  very 
wisely  elected  Col.  Sterling  Price,  to  the  place  previously  assigned  him  by 
government. 

t  Willurd  P.  Hall  was  chosen  from  their  ranks,  as  a  member  to  con- 
gress, and  received  at  Santa  Fe  news  of  his  election.  ButJbe  proceeded 
as  a  private  to  California,  from  whence  he  returned  with  Kearny  by  the 
South  Pass, — then  went  to  Washington,  and  took  his  seat  in  congress.  An- 
other from  the  ranks  of  these  volunteers  was  chosen  into  the  state  legis- 
lature of  Missouri. 


KEARNY  S    MARCH.  423 

blushing,  far  round  with  the  varieties  of  the  prairie  rose,  —   tart  iv. 
or  tinged  orange  with  the  wild  lily  ;  and  sometimes  showing  period    iil 
the  pale  green  and  delicate  white  and  red  of  the  moccasin  ^"ap-  ix. 
flower,  the  "  belle  of  the  prairie."     Along  the  Arkansas  the  ^^^'"v^x-^ 
troops  found  great  herds  of  buffalo ;  and  cheerily  joined  the  hunt,     i§46« 
and  enjoyed  the  feast.     But  they  had  many  hardships.     Tlie  From  June 
ground  was  often  so  soft  and  spongy,  that  the  wagons  sunk ;  ^°Aafrie 
und  the  strength  of  the  men  must  be  added  to  that  of  the     scenes 
horses  to  drag  them  forth.     Again  chasms  must  be  filled,  and 
torrents  bridged;  and  sometimes  the  volunteers  must  lie  down  (^From  Ju- 
at  night  in  places  infested  with  serpents,  horned-frogs,  lizards,  ly  8— rations 
and  musquitoes.     Often  they  made  long  marches  without  wa-     En^to 
ter,  and  sometimes  with  scarcely  any  food.f     Twice  occurred    o"^  half, 
among  their  horses  that  singular  outbreak,  called  "  estampeda."    wards  to 
The  first  was  a  few  miles  below  Bent's  Fort.     Here  the  ani-  **"^  third.) 
mals  were  turned  loose  ;   and  while  feeding  in  the  prairie,  a 
few  of  them  took  fright  at  an  Indian.     The  panic  was  commu-    jyjy  29. 
nicated.    The  keepers  tried  to  stop  the  flight,  but  "  a  thousand  Estampeda 
horses  were   dashing  over  the  plain,   enraged  and   driven  to  "'^'^Fort" 
madness  by  the  iron  pickets  and  the  lariats  which  goaded  and 
iashed  them  at  every  step."     About  sixty-five  of  the  best  w^ere 
irrecoverably  lost.f  .^  g^^ 

As  Gen.  Kearny  approached  the  capital  of  New  Mexico,     Hughes' 
he  heard  rumors  of  a  formidable  military  force, which  the  gov-  ^°"^phan.) 
ernor,  Don  Manual  Armijo,  had  collected  to  oppose  his  pro- 
gress ;  and  he  put  his  array  in  battle  array  to  meet  them  at 
the  caiion  or  pass  of  Galisteo,  fifteen  miles  from  Santa  Fe.    But 
die  governor's   own  heart,  or  that  of  his  troops,  had  failed. 
Kearny  peacefully  entered  the  city,  containing  6,000  inhabit-   August  I8. 
ants,  and,  occupying  the  governor's  palace,  he  planted  above  it,  ^en.  Kear- 
August  18th,  the  standard  eagle  of  Republican  America.    Thus    santa  F^ 
had  the  army  in  fifty  days  accomplished  this  desert  march  of 
nearly  900  miles. 

Neither  Santa  Fe  nor  the  surrounding  country,  offered  any 
cogent  objections  to  receiving  the  government,  which  Gen. 
Kearny  next  proceeded  to  establish  ; — according  to  his  under- 
standing of  directions,  wliich  he  had  received  from  the  war  f®  ^stab- 
department.  On  the  day  after  his  entrance,  he  proclaimed  governm^it 
himself  governor  of  New  Mexico.  "  You  are  now,"  said 
he,  "  American  citizens  ; — you  no  longer  owe  allegiance  to 
the  Mexican  government."  The  principal  men  then  took  the 
oath  required ;  swearing  in  the  name  of  the  Trinity  to  bear 
true  allegiance  to  the  laws  and  government  of  the  United 
States.  Whoever  was  false  to  this  allegiance,  the  people  were 
told,  would  be  regarded  and  punished  as  a  traitor. 

These  measures  gave  rise  to  much  discussion  in  the  Amer- 
ican capitol  when  they  became  known  ;  the  question  being, 
TYhether  the  administration  had   or  had  not  transcended  its  ^ongr?s? 
constitutional    powers,  in  thus  annexmg,  without  any  action 
of  congress,  a  territoiy  to  the  American  Union. 
29 


424 


SAN   PASCAl.. 


PART  IV. 


PERIOD    III. 
CHAP.  IX. 


1840. 

Sept.  25. 
Kenrny 
leaves 

Santa  F6. 


(♦  This  ex- 
press was  the 
celebrated 
Kit  Carson. 
He  was  turn- 
ed back  as 
guide;  his 
mail  being 
sent  forward 
by  Mr.  Fitz- 
patrick.) 


Dec.  6. 

Battle  of 
?AN  Pascal. 


Kit  Carson 

and  Beale 

risk  their 

lives  to  go  to 

Stockton  for 

aid. 


inn.  8  and  9. 
Battles  of 
San  Ga- 
briel and 
the  Mesa. 
Am.  loss 
about  20. 
Hex.  loss 
70  or  80. 


Gen.  Kearny  having  now  taken  possession  of  New  Mexico, 
and  organized  a  government, — of  which  he  made  Charles 
Bent  the  chief  executive, — it  next  became  his  duty  to  proceed 
to  California.  He  appointed  Col.  Doniphan  to  succeed  him 
in  the  province  ;  with  orders,  however,  that  on  the  arrival  of 
volunteers  under  Col.  Price,  Doniphan  should  leave  him  in 
command,  and  proceed  with  his  regiment  and  some  additional 
forces  to  Chihuahua,  and  there  report  to  Gen.  Wool. 

Proceeding  down  the  Rio  Grande,  Kearny  was  met  by  an  ex- 
press* from  Capt.,now  Col.  Fremont.  By  it  he  learned  that 
California  was  already  conquered.  Selecting  100  men  as  his 
escort,  he  ordered  the  return  of  his  main  force  to  Santa  Fe. 
Crossing  the  Rio  Grande  in  latitude  33°,  he  reached  the 
river  Gila,  at  the  copper  mines,  on  the  20th  of  October  ;  and 
following  its  course,  he  arrived  at  its  junction  with  the  Colo- 
rado on  the  22d  of  November,  m  lat.  32°.  When  near  this 
point,  he  learned  that  a  Mexican  army,  headed  by  Flores  and 
Don  Andreas  Pico,  had  retaken  Los  Angeles  and  the  south- 
ern part  of  California,  and  would  bar  his  way  to  San  Diego, 
where  lay  Commodore  Stockton  with  the  naval  force.  He 
paused,  and  dispatched  Mr.  Stokes,  an  English  resident,  with 
a  letter  to  Commodore  Stockton,  who  sent  to  his  aid  Captain 
Gillespie,  with  thirty-six  men.  Meeting  this  reinforcement 
on  the  5th,  the  general,  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  mounted 
his  little  party  on  the  jaded  beasts  they  had  ridden  from  Santa 
Fe,  1050  miles,  and  at  day-dawn  went  forth  to  San  Pascal, 
where  he  engaged  150  mounted  Californians.  The  Ameri- 
cans won  the  field  ;  but  these  more  northern  troops  sold  vic- 
tory at  a  dearer  rate,  than  the  southern  Mexicans.  Kearny 
was  twice  wounded.  Captains  Johnson  and  Moore  and 
Lieutenant  Hammond  were  killed  ; — indeed,  more  than  half 
the  officers  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  with  19  of  the 
men.  When  the  surgeon  appeared,  the  commander  directed, 
"  first  dress  the  wounds  of  the  soldiers,"  and  then  fell,  faint- 
ing with  exhaustion.  Happily  his  wounds  were  not  dan- 
gerous. He  was  besieged  in  his  camp  on  the  hill  of  Saa 
Fernando,  with  scarcely  sound  men  enough  to  remove  the 
wounded.  Kit  Carson  and  Lieutenant  Beale  heroically  vol- 
unteered ;  and  finding  their  way  through  the  enemy's  guards,  to 
San  Diego,  Com.  Stockton  furnished  them  with  180  marines. 
They  thus  relieved  the  suflering  party;  which,  on  the  13th, 
were  cordially  received  by  the  naval  officers  at  San  Diego. 

Stockton  and  Fremont  were  co-operating  in  the  reconquest 
of  the  revolted  portion  of  California;  and  the  Commodore 
now  invited  General  Kearny  to  accompany  him  in  an  expe- 
dition north.  Their  force  was  Kearny's  party,  with  500 
marines.  They  met  and  defeated  at  San  Gabrielj  and  after- 
wards at  Mesa,  a  Mexican  army  of  600,  under  Generals 
Flores  and  Pico. 

In  the  mean  time,  Col.  Fremont  had,  in  the  vicinity  of  Sut- 


keakny's  return. 


425 


ters  fort,  recruited  his  battalion  by  recent  immigrants,  and 
had  made  a  coastwise  winter's  march  of  intense  severily. 
The  Californians,  still  in  force,  kiww^ing  that  he  ap[)roached, 
passed  Los  Angeles  ;  and  12  miles  north,  at  Cowenga,  surren- 
dered to  him,  on  an  honorable  capitulation.  Tliis  proved  the 
final  pacification  of  California. 

The  following  day,  the  American  parties  met  at  Los  An- 
geles. Who  should  be  Governor?  Commodore  Stockton, 
ignorant  of  the  approach  of  General  Kearny,  had  arranged, 
and  had  so  connnunicated  to  Washington,  that  Colonel  Fre- 
mont should  be  left  in  that  oflice,  while  he  prosecuted  further 
conquests  at  sea  ;  and  he  now  proceeded  to  conmiission  him. 
General  Kearny  claimed  the  station  as  his  due,  from  his  or- 
ders and  superior  military  rank.  Fremont,  however,  deter- 
mining to  abide  by  Stockton's  directions  until  he  should  hear 
from  Washington,  disobeyed  his  written  order.  Kearny  left 
him  in  the  gubernatorial  mansion,  and  marched  forthwith  the 
poor  remains  of  his  little  party  to  San  Diego.  Here  he  was 
reinforced  by  the  Mormon  battalion,  which,  under  Colonel 
Cooke,  had  approached  by  a  route  south  of  the  Gila.  From 
San  Diego,  Kearny  sailed  to  Monterey,  where,  in  conjunction 
with  Com.  Shubrick,now  naval  commander,  he  made  a  procla- 
mation as  governor,  annexing  California  to  the  United  States. 

Colonel  Fremont,  learning  at  length  that  his  course  would 
not  be  sustained  at  Washington,  rode  on  horseback  400  miles 
in  three  days  and  ten  hours,  to  make  his  submission  to  Gen. 
Kearny  at  xMonterey.  Colonel  Mason  arrived  with  orders  to 
supersede  Kearny,  and  permit  Fremont  to  pursue  his  explo- 
rations. He  was  forced,  instead,  to  accompany  Kearny  in 
his  overland  journey  by  the  South  Pass,  arrested  by  him  at 
Fort  Leavenworth,  tried  at  Washington  by  a  court-martial, 
and  finally  sentenced  to  lose  his  commission.  President  Polk 
offered  its  restoration,  but  Fremont  would  not  accept  it  at  his 
hands. 

(From  dates  in  the  Rev.  Walter  Colton's  "Three  i''ears  in  California,"  we  learn 
<1851)  that  the  whole  of  that  country  was  under  the  American  flag,  before  those  who 
raised  it  knew  tliiit  war  was  declared  with  Mexico.  The  news  reached  Monterey, 
August  12lh,  I84G,  by  the  American  shij)  Warren,  Commander  Hull.  On  the  I3th  he 
sailed  south,  to  inform  Stockton  and  Fremont  that  actual  war  existed  ;  but  they,  hav- 
ing the  start  by  a  tbrlnight,  could  not  have  received  the  intelligence  until  after  they 
had  taken  possession  of  Los  Angeles  and  the  southern  portion  of  California.) 


PART  IV. 

PEllIOD  III. 
CHAP.    X. 


19th  to  23d. 
Kearny's 
march. 


Jan.  22. 
Com.  Shu- 
brick  arrive* 
at  Monterey 

March  1. 

Kearny's  prc^ 

clamalion 


March  21st  to 

23d. 

Fremont's 

horseback 

journey. 


August  22. 
Fieraont's 

ai-rest. 

1§48. 

Jan.  and  Felx 


CHAPTEE  X. 

Doniphan's  Expedition  to  Chihuahua.— Revolt  in  New  Mexico. 

Three  days  after  Gen.  Kearny's  departure  from  Santa  Fe, 
Col.  Price  arrived  with  his  recruits.  Col.  Doniphan  was  await- 
ing this  event  to  commence  his  march  upon  Chihuahua.  But 
on  the  11th  of  October  he  received  an  order  from  Gen.  Kear- 
ny, dated  "  near  La  Joya,"  to  march  with  his  regiment  against 
the  Navajo  Indians, — their  chiefs  not  having  come  to  Santa 


1846. 

Sept.  28. 
Col.  Price 
arrives  at 
Santa  F6. 

Oct.  11. 
Doniphaa 

ordered 
against  th« 
Navajo  1a 

diaus. 


i26 


THE   NAVAJ0E8. 


PART  IV. 

PEEIOD  III. 
CHAP.  X. 


Nov.  I.'I . 
(Present  at 

Bear 

Springs  189 

Americans, 

500  Nava- 

joes.} 


Nov.  22. 
Treaty 
made. 


Dec.  14-15). 
Doniphaii*s 
army  move 
fram  Val- 
verde. 


Dec.  22. 
it  Dofianna, 
60  m.  from 

El  Paso. 


Fe  to  hold  a  peace-council  with  those  of  other  Indian  nations, 
as  they  had  been  invited,  and  as  they  had  promised  to  do  ; — 
but  instead  of  this,  they  had  made  war  on  "  the  inhabitants 
of  New  Mexico,  now  forming  a  part,  and  under  the  protection 
of  the  United  States." 

Winter  was  approaching,  and  the  abodes  of  the  power- 
ful Navajoes,  the  "  mountain-lords"  of  unknown  regions, 
extended  far  to  the  west.  The  more  thoroughly  to  scour  their 
country,  Col.  Doniphan  divided  his  regiment  into  three  par- 
ties,— one  under  Major  Gilpin,  to  take  a  northern  route  ;  one 
under  Col.  Jackson,  a  southern  ;  while  Doniphan  himself  was  to 
take  a  central  range.  All  were  to  meet  at  Ojo  Oso,  or  the  Bear 
Springs,  bringing  in  the  chiefs,  there  to  hold  a  council.  The 
three  parties  suffered  incredible  hardships  from  cold,  and  met 
thrilling  adventures  among  strange  savages. 

Capt.  Reid,  of  Jackson's  division,  with  thirty  young  men, 
had  volunteered  to  accompany  Sandoval,  a  Navajo  chief,  five 
days  through  mountain  heights,  to  a  grand  gathering  of  the 
men  and  women  of  the  tribe.  Most  of  the  five  hundred,  whom 
they  met  at  the  feast,  had  never  seen  a  white  man.  Reid  and 
his  companions  joined  the  dance,  sung  their  coimtry's  songs 
— and  what  pleased  the  Navajoes  most,  made  an  interchange 
of  costume.  The  head  chief,  Narbona,  though  sick  and 
aged,  came  to  the  camp  of  the  strangers,  lodged  with  them, 
and  favored  their  mission.  Thus  were  the  savages  persuaded 
to  agree  to  what  would  please  those  whom  they  liked  ;  al 
though,  as  spoken  by  Sarcilla  Largo,  a  Navajo  chief,  it 
struck  them  as  very  singular,  that  the  Americans  coming  to 
fight  the  New  Mexicans,  who  had  never  injured  them,  should 
make  a  point  of  preventing  the  Navajoes  from  doing  the  same 
thing,  though  the  New  Mexicans  had  long  been  their  enemies. 
Nevertheless,  if  their  new  friends  really  did  possess  New 
Mexico,  they  would,  they  said,  cease  their  depredations. 
Accordingly,  at  Bear  Springs,  on  the  22d  of  November,  a 
treaty  was  made  in  form,  Doniphan  being  present  ;  and  the 
three  parties,  Americans,  New  Mexicans,  and  Navajoes,  were, 
by  its  conditions,  to  live  in  perpetual  peace. 

Col.  Doniphan  made  the  camp  at  Valverde  the  place  of 
rendezvous  for  the  troops  who  were  to  accompany  him.  feome 
regulars  of  the  light  artillery,  with  ten  pieces  of  cannon,  were 
by  his  direction  to  be  sent  from  Santa  Fe.  In  the  middle  of 
December  he  moved  his  army  in  three  divisions  south,  with 
his  baggage- wagons  and  merchant-trains  in  convoy.  He  now 
crossed  a  dreary  desert  of  ninety  miles,  called  the  "  Journey  of 
the  Dead,"  where  there  was  neither  water,  food,  nor  fuel. 

At  Doilana  the  army  found  refreshment.  Proceeding  in 
the  direction  of  El  Paso,  at  Bracito,  on  the  Del  Norte,  they 
encountered  a  Mexican  force,  commanded  by  Gen.  Ponce  de 
Leon.  He  dispatched  an  officer  with  a  black  flag,  demanding 
of  the  American  commander  to  appear  before  him.    On  refusal. 


THE    PASS    OF    SACRAMENTO.  427 

he  said  in  liauglity  defiance,  "  We  neither  ask  quarter,  nor  fart  iv. 
give  it/'     The  Mexicans  advanced,  firing  three  rounds.     The  pkriod    m. 
Missourians,  falHng  on  their  faces,  Avere  supposed  to  be  dead,     ^hj^p-  x. 
but  suddenly  lising,  they  dehvered  a  fire   so  fatnl  that  the  "^-^"vv.^ 
foe  tied  in  confusion,  leaving  about  200  killed  and  Avounded.     IN 26. 
The  Americans  had  but  seven  wounded,  and  none  killed.  Battie^of 

In  the  delightful  valley  of  El  Paso  del  Norte,  the  troops    yuAcno. 
were  fully  recruited  ;  and  they  were  joined  here  by  the  artillery  ^^^'^\2o')^'^ 
companies  from  Santa  Fe,  under  Clarke  and  VVeightman.    Their    ^'ex.  u/ss 
march  from  El  Paso  was  forth  into  unknown  hostile  regions.    '  w."i'j(k*  ' 
And  now  they  had  learned  that  Gen. Wool  was  not  at  Chihuahua.  ^^"J-  ^^J^^Sq 
No  army  w^as  there  for  their  defence.     Missouri  became  anxious    w.  7,  k.  o. ' 
for  the  fate  of  her  sons.     But  fearlessly  they  pressed  on.    They     ^  «  ^.y 
encountered  as  they  went  from  the  Del  Norte  a  desert  of  sixty-    (ei  Paso 
five  miles  in  extent,  in  wdiich  their  sufFerin^s  became  so  intense   ^]^\^^.  ^o*" 

r  1-  1  111  -1  n         •  1  ■  delicious 

trom  thu'st,  that  the  whole  army  were  m  danger  oi  perishmg.     wines.) 

Many  animals,  and  some  men  gave  out,  and  lay  down  to  die.      p^^  g 

Many  officers  and  soldiers  threw^  all  aside,  and  w^ere  running  with  Army  leave 

•  '  o  "i?|  Paso 

their  last  strength  to  reach  a  lake  ten  miles  distant.     But  that       let'h.  ' 
Providence  which  so  often  preserved  our  armies  durino^  this  war,  preat  dis- 

,.,,..  i^  .  ,'^  '    tress  from 

relieved  their  suiienngs  by  a  shower  so  copious,  that  the  tor-      ihinst. 
rent-streams  came  dashing  from  the  rocks,  to  refresh  and  save 
them.     Having  at  length   reached  the  lake,  (Laguna  de  los 
Patos,)  thej'  remained  to  recruit,  one  day  only,  and  on  the  18th 
resumed  their  march. 

Col.  Doniphan,  as  he  approached  Chihuahua,  learned  that  an    Feb.  sa. 
army  of  4,000  men  had  been  raised  to  oppose  him  by  Don  An-  sac^rImkx 
gel  Trias,  governor  of  the  province;  and  he  met  this  formidable        ^o 
force  strongly  posted,  and  fortified  with  heavy  ordnance,  at  the      4,120. 
Pass  of  Sacramento,  eighteen  miles  from  the  capital.     No  more  ''^"924°'^^'* 
daring  deeds  were  done  during  the  w^ar,  than  those  which  now       — 
distinguished  this  little  army  of  about  a  thousand  brave  men.  k.3uo,w°3oa 
Capt.  Reid's  charge,  when  at  the  head  of  the  cavalry  he  outrode  ^"^-  ^o^^ 
all  his  fellows  in  the  storming  of  the  enemy's  battery,  is  a  speci-     "   ' 
men  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Americans  here  defeated  quad- 
ruple numbers  of  their  enemies,  —  fighting  on  ground  of  their 
own  selection, — under  the  eye  of  Tiias  their  governor,  of  Gen. 
Heredia  their  military  commander,  and  of  Gen.  Conde,  former 
minister  of  war,— a  scientific  man,  who,  says  Col.  Doniphan, 
"planned  their  whole  field  of  defence." 

Having  completely  routed  the  army,  the  city  and  province 
of  Chihuahua  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  conqueror.     Captains 
Reid  and  Weightman,  both  distinguished  in  the  battle,  were    March  2. 
sent  the  following  day  to  take  military  possession  of  the  cap-  enters  chi 
ital.     Col.  Doniphan  having  collected  the  trophies  of  his  vie-    ii'iahu*- 
tory,  entered  the  succeeding  day,  March  2d,  with  the  main 
army ;  and  planted  the  colors  of  his  country,  over  a  city  con- 
taining 40,000  inhabitants,  and  having  in  its  vicinity  some  of 
the  richest  mines  in  Mexico.     In  this  salubrious  climate,  his 
soldiers  enjoyed  six  weeks  of  the  opening  spring ;  then  marched 


428  REVOLT    IN    NEW    MEXICO. 

PART  IV.  \yj  Parras  to  Saltillo,  where  at  length  they  met  Gen.  Wool 

fERioD~iiL  But  Buena  Vista  was  past,  and  their  term  of  service  expired 

CHAP.  X.    on  the  hist  of  May.     By  Comargo  and  the  Rio  Grande,  they 

^-^"^/''^-^  arrived  at  New  Orleans,  on  the  15th  of  June  ;  having  marched 

1§4T.     5,000  miles  since  they  left  the  Mississippi. 

At^Saimio        1^"^  t^^^  mean  time  the  New  Mexicans  had  secretly  conspired 

to  throw  off  the  American  yoke.     Simultaneously,  on  the  19th 

Jan.  19.     of  January,  massacres  occurred  at  Fernando  de  Taos,  where 

^assa^re^of  ^^^.^.^  cruelly  murdered  Gov.   Charles  Bent,  Sheriff  Lee,  and 

and  18      four  others, —  at  ^rroyct  Honda,  where  seven  Americans  were 

°^^^''-     killed, -at  Rio  Colorado  two, -and  at  Mora  four.     Col.  Price, 

the  military  commander  of  Santa  Fe,  received  the  startling  in- 

telhgence  on  the  20lh  ;  when  he  learned  that  a  force,  hourly 

,  incieasino-  approached  him.     He  sent  expresses  to  call  in  his 

Victories  of  ^       i^        i        ^     i  i      t       '.i    ■'^    ^  ^^ 

Col.  Price,  outposts,  and  on  the  23d  marched  with   350  men,— met  the 
cSada*    ^0®  ^"^  ^^^^   24th,  near  the  small  town  of  Canada,  attacked 
and  defeated  him.     On  the  29th,  Col.  Price,  now  reinforced 
Jan.  28.     by  Capt.  Burguin  from  Albuquerque,  again  encountered  tlie  en- 
Embudo.    emy, — and  defeated  him  at  the  mountain-gorge  called  the  Pass 
ai)out  1,500 ;  of  Eiuhiido.     The  Americans  next  had  a  march  over  the  Taos 
Am.  479.     p^-iouj^tain,  through  snows  two  feet  in  depth,  with  a  degree  of 
cold  so  intense,  that  many  had  their  limbs  frozen.     They  pass- 
PuE?LA^DE  ed  unmolested  through  Fernando  de  Taos ;  but  at  Piiehla,  they 
Taos.      j^g^  the  enemy,  stormed  his  fortifications,  and  drove  him  from 
his  position.     The  valuable  lives  of  Capt.  Burguin  and  other 
Jan  22      officers,  were  here  lost.     Capt.  Hendley  was  killed  on  the  22d 
Mora      of  January,  in  an  attack  on  Mora.     That  village  was  destroyed 
on  the  3d  of  February,  by  a  detachment  under  Capt.  Morin. 
The  loss  of  the  Mexicans  in  all  these  engagements  is  supposed 
to  have  been  about  300  killed  ;  the  number  of  wounded  un- 
known.     The  Americans  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  about 
sixty.     Fifteen  Mexicans  were  executed  as  conspirators. 

But  although  the  Americans  had  conquered,  they  now  lived 

in  fear  of  secret  conspiracy.     The  Indians  also,  especially  the 

Camanches,  showed  themselves  hostile.     Along  the  far  line  of 

communication — from  the  settlements  on  the  Missouri  to  Santa 

Fe,  California,  and  Oregon,  robberies  and  murders  were  com- 

'?8°in^om"  ™i<^ted  by   savages,  on  travelling  parties.       The  government 

mand  on  the  therefore  increased  the  number  of  troops  to  be  stationed  in  these 

road^^c^t.  I'Ggions.     One  extra  battalion  has  been  sent  to  New  Mexico. 

Powell  on   One  is  employed  on  the  Santa  Fe — and  one  on  the  Oregon  road. 

^   "^  ^°  ■  Colonel,  now  General  Price,  leaving  in  command  Col.  Walker, 

Return  of   ^^^^hed  Missoui'i,  Sept.  25th  ;  having  lost  in  battle  and  other- 

Geii.  Price,  wise,  more  than  four  hundred  of  his  men. 


TAKING    OF    VERA    CRUZ  429 


CHAPTER    XL 

Scott's  Invasion. — Vera  Cruz. — Cerro  Gordo 

Since  Mexico  refused  to  treat  for  peace,  the  American  Ex-  part  iv, 
ecutivc  determined  to  strike  at  her  capital  through  Vera  Cruz,  period  hi 
Gen.  Scott,  the  first  officer  in  the  American  army,  was  prop-    chap.  xi. 
erly  selected  to  conduct  this  perilous  enterprise.     He  was  no-  ^-*»'^/•-^^ 
tified  by  Secretary  Marcy  of  his  appointment,  on  the  18th  of    i§46, 
November;  and  he  was  directed  to  draw  his  force  chiefly  from    Nov.  is. 
Taylor  ;  that  general  having  i-eceived  notice,  that  troops  would,  cy-Heuerto 
for  this  invasion,  be   witlidrawn  from  his  army  by  the  war     Scoit.) 
department.     On   the    2oth  of  November,   Gen.   Scott  gave, 
with  reluctance,  the  order  already  noticed,  by  which  the  gen- 
erals Taj'lor  and  Wool  were  deprived  of  tiie  greater  portion  of 
their  armies.     With  a  smaller  force  than  that,  with  which  Gen. 
Scott  was  furnished,  it  would  have  been  madness  to  undertake 
such  an  invasion  ;t  nor  would  the  nature  of  the  service  brook  isrscou^s 
the  delay  of  raising  and  disciplining  new  tj-oops.     'J'he  deadly  ^^^^s^'^fj^^C 
summer  climate  of  Vera  Cruz  required  immediate  action. 

Santa  Anna  was  lying  with  22,000  men  at  San  Luis  Potosi.  ^^^^eS^ 
It  would  have  seemed  probable  that  he  would  have  turned  "  Mexican 
towards  Vera  Cruz,  and  uniting  with  forces  in  that  vicinity, 
oppose,  as  he  might  have  done,  with  an  army  of  30,000,  the     184T. 
landing  of  Gen.  Scott ; — rather  than  to  march  against  Gen.  Tay-     BuuieVf 
lor.     But  (as  Scott  learned  after  landing)  Santa  Anna  chose  BueuaVista 
the  latter,  and  was  defeated  at  Buena  Vista. 

To  make  the  preparations,  necessary  for  a  foreign  siege,  Gen. 
Jesup,  the  quartermaster-general,  proceeded  to  New  Orleans, 
to  arrange  with  Gen.  Scott  the  details  of  this   important  ser- 
vice ;  the  magnitude  of  whose  operations,  appears  from  the 
fact  that  163  vessels  were  employed  as  transports.     The  gen- 
eral rendezvous  of  the  several  corps,  which  were  to  compose 
the  invading  army,  was  the  island  of  Lobos,  125  miles  from 
Vera  Cruz.     Necessary  delays,  however,  occurred  ;  and  it  was   s^iotT^m- 
not  until  the  7th  of  March,  that  Gen.  Scott  embarked  with  his    barks  his 
troops  on  board  the  transporting  squadron,   which  was  com-      ^^"^y- 
manded  by  Com.  Conner.     Reaching  Vera  Cruz  on  the  9th,  „  .  _. 
he,  with   admirable  order,  debarked  his  whole  army  on  the .  at  Sacrm- 
west  side  of  the  island   of  Sacrificios.     Having  vainly  sum-       ^^^^ 
moned  the  garrison  to  surrendei-.  Gen.  Scott,  with  the  aid  of 
his  able  engineers,  of  whom  Col.  Totten  was  chief,  planted 
his  batteries;  and  commenced,  on  the  night  of  the  18th,  a  isth,  begin* 
tremendous  bombardment  of  the  city.     The  fleet  lent  its  aid,       ade.' 
although  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  castle.     On  the  morning 
of  the  26th,  Gen.  Landera,  then  in  command  of  Vera  Cruz, 
made  overtures  for  capitulation.     Generals  Worth  and  Pillow, 


430  SCOTT  S    MARCH. 

FART  IV.  and  Col.  Totten,  arranged  with  him  the  articles ; — and  on  the 

PERIOD   III.  night  of  the  27th,  Vera  Cruz,  with  the  strong  castle  of  San 

CHAP.  XI.    Juan  d'Ulloa,— the  principal  commercial  port  and  the  strongest 

'^-^"'^/'^^^  fortress  in  Mexico,  were  surrendered,  with   5,000   prisoners, 

1§-1'?'.    (dismissed  on  parole,)  and  500  pieces  of  artillery.     Two  meri- 

March26-7.  torious  American  officers,  Captains  Alburtis  and  Vinton,  with 

•urrender^s.  ten  privates,  were  killed.     Capt.  Swift,  one  of  the  brightest 

ornaments  of  the  service,  who  had  organized  a  company  of 

sappers  and  miners, — too  eager  in  duty  for  his  impaired  health, 

fainted  at  the  head  of  his  corps,  from  over-exertion  ;   and  died 

in  the  hospital.    The  discipline  of  Gen.  Scott's  array  was  strict, 

and  no  invasion  of  private  I'ights  was  permitted. 

Com.   Perry,  who   succeeded   Conner  in   command   of  the 

Gulf  squadron,  extended  his  operations  after  the  fall  of  Vera 

rca     Hun-  ^^^^-     Alvarado  on  the  south,  was  captured,  and  Tuspan  on 

ter.witiivai- the  north.     The  American  government  about  this  time  adopt- 

^espect  to    6^  t^6  policy  of  drawing  a  revenue  from  the  conquered  ; — lest 

his  superior,  by  too  much  lenity,  in  paying  for  all  needed  supplies,  the  war 

rado.)      should  become  a  pecuniary  advantage  to  certain  classes  of  the 

Mexicans,  and  thus  peace  be  deferred.     Having  now  the  best 

harbors   of  Mexico  in  possession,  Ameiican  revenue   officers 

were  appointed,  and  impost  duties  collected. 

On  the  Stli  of  April,  Gen.  Scott,  leaving  a  garrison  in  Vera 

April  8.     Cruz,  sent  forward  the  advance  of  his  army  under  Gen.  Twiggs, 

Army  leaves  q^  the  road  to  Jalapa.    At  the  base  of  the  p-rand  eastern  chain 

vera  Cruz.      .     ,        ^       i-n  ^  ^  ^  t    •  •  />     i   • 

01  the  Cordilleras,  the  other  divisions  ot  the  army  came  up, 
and  the  commander  established  a  camp  at  Plan  del  Rio.  Then 
lay  before  him  an  arduous  and  difficult  ascent  through  a  moun- 
tam-gorge.     Across  this  way,  and  on  the  heights  which  com- 
manded it,  bristled  the   artillery  of  the  invaded  foe,  12,000 
strong,   commanded  by  Santa  Anna.      He  had  made  great 
efforts   to   keep  up  his   army ;  and  he  here  declared  that  he 
would  die  ficyhtino;  rather  than   "  the  American  hosts  should 
proudly  tread  the  imperial  capital  of  Azteca."     Scott  found 
by  reconnaissance,  that  the  Mexican  position  was  so  strongly 
fortified,  and  so  commanded  by  the  batteries  of  the  lofty  height 
of  Cerro  Gordo,  that  approach  in   front  was  impracticable. 
But,   aided  by   the  skill   of  the  engineers,  Lee  and  Beaure- 
gard, he  turned  to  the  left,  causing  to  be  made  a  new  road, 
by  which,  —  ascending  along  difficult   slopes,  and   over  deep 
chasms,  his  army  might  reach  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  camp. 
BatiiVof    ^^ter  three  days  of  secret  labor,  the  road  was  made.     On  the 
Cerho  Gob- 1 7th  of  April,  the  commander  published  in  a  general  order 
Mex^  force  the  detailed  plan  of  an  attack  for  the  next  day, — showing  how 
12,000      the  battle  was  to  be  gained, — how  the  flying  were  to  be  pur- 
'-Ll    "  sued,  — and  how  the  greatest  advantage  was  to  be  reaped  from 
'^^  &'w^'  t^^^  victory.     All  was  done  as  he  commanded, 
about  i.ibo.      About  noon  the  steep  ascent  was  gained.     The  heights  of 
AnLk.'and  Cerro  Gordo  w^ere  stormed  by  Twiggs'  brigade,  — and  the  ene- 
w. 430.     my's  camp,  by  a  party  led  by  Col.  Harney,  Gen.  Shields,-— 


VICTORY  OF  CERRO  GORDO.  431 

(severely  woimded,)  and  by  Col.  Riley.    At  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  ^^^'^  ^^ 
the  enemy  were   put  to  llight,  —  more  than  a  thousand  iiad  pkriod  iil 
fallen,  either  killed  or  wounded.    Santa  Anna  and  a  part  of  his   chap.  xn. 
army  had  fled,  and  the  eaj^^er  pursuit  had  commenced.     Scott  ^— ^^'^•**-' 
in  his  orders,  given  before  the  battle,  had  directed  that  the     1847. 
pursuers   should   each  take  two  days'   subsistence,  and  that 
wagons  with  stores  should  immediately  follow,  so  that  they 
need  not  return.     On  the  19th,  the  pursuing  squadrons  en- 
tered and  took  possession  of  Jalapa.    On  the  20th,  they  found 
the  strong  post  of  La  Hoya  abandoned.     On  the  22d,  having  woSuak'es 
now  attained  the  summit   of  the  eastern  Cordilleras,  General    the  town 
Worth  displayed  the  American   banner  from  the   unresisting  of  Peroie. 
castle  of  Perote,  the  strongest  fortress  in  Mexico,  next  to  San 
Juan  d'Ulloa.     Thus  by  vigorously  following  up  this  remark- 
able victory,  the  enemy  were  unable  to  recover  in  time  to  make 
a  stand  in  this,  their  strongest  inland  post ;  and  thus,  other 
battles  were  saved. 

Thi  ee  thousand  prisoners  were  taken  at  Cerro  Gordo,  among 
whom  were  four  generals.  Gen.  Scott  dismissed  them  all  upon 
parole,  having  neither  food  to  sustain,  nor  men  to  guard  them. 
Santa  Anna's  equipage  and  papers  were  secured.  Both  here 
and  at  Perote  were  captured  many  large  pieces  of  bronze  ar- 
tillery. From  Perote  onwards,  through  that  great  table  val-  (54  pieces  o! 
ley  between  the  grand  chains  of  the  Cordilleras,  called  the  ^molur'la- 
"  Terras  Frias,"  or  the  cold  country,  the  American  army  had  ken  at  Pe- 
now  no  cause  to  apprehend  serious  resistance.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  15th  of  May,  the  advance  under  Worth  entered 
Puebla,  the  second  city  of  Mexico,  containing  80,000  inhabit- 
ants. Eagerly  did  the  Mexican  men  and  women  look  out  from 
their  balconies,  and  from  the  roofs  of  their  houses,  to  see  these 
mighty  conquerors.  AVar-worn,  and  habited  in  the  sober  hue 
of  the  American  army,  the  Mexicans  accustomed  to  a  gaudy 
uniform,  looked  upon  them  with  disappointment ;  and  could 
find  no  reason  but  one  for  their  success.  "  Their  leaders," 
said  they,  "  are  gray-headed  men." 


CHAPTER    XII. 

State  of  the  Army. — Its  March. — Contreras. — Churubusco. 

The  American  army  having  now  overrun  the  northern  por- 
tion of  the  country,  and  made  a  successful  inroad  which 
threatened  the  capital,  the  Executive  sent  Nicholas  P.  Trist, 
as  an  agent  to  make  the  experiment,  whether  Mexico  would 
now  treat  for  peace.     But  the  olive-branch  was  again  rejected. 

The  interruption  of  the  army's  activity  caused  by  these 
unavailing  efforts  for   peace,   wa?  opportune.      Its   numbeia 


432  THE    VALLEY    OF    MEXICO. 

PART  IV.  -^yere  lessened  by  sickness ;  for  the  climate  though  pleasant 
PERIOD  HI.  proved  so  unliealthy,  that  hundreds  were  in  hospitals,  and 
CHAP.  XII.  many  died.  The  time  for  which  large  numbers  of  the  volun- 
^-^"^""'■""^-^  teers  were  enlisted,  exp-ired  ;  and  many  had  deserted.  Con- 
1§4T.  gress  had,  however,  passed  a  law,  February  1 1th,  1847,  author- 
izing ten  new  regiments ;  and  these  being  raised,  reinforce- 
(700  died  at  ments  were  sent  by  the  way  of  Vera  Cruz ;  and  althoiigh  not 
Perote  180U  'j^  sufficient  numbers  to  admit  of  leavino-  such  o-ariisons  be- 

were  atone  ,.,.  »  *^,.  o^ 

time  ill  hos-  hmd  as  would  keep  open  his  hne  of  supplies,  yet, Gen.  Scott 

^"ebiat  an?'  determined  to  move  forward. 

1700  desert-       Qn  the  lib.  of  AuGfust  he  marched  from  Puebla  with  10,728 

ed  m  little  ,.  ..^^^^-i  • .    ■,  i 

more  than  a  men,  leaving  more  tiian  3,000  m  hospitals,  — and  as  a  garrison 
year.)  under  Col.  Childs.  Keeping  the  several  columns  into  which 
he  had  divided  the  army,  within  supporting  distance,  and  him- 
self accompanying  the  van.  Gen.  Scott  moved  forth  with  his 
little  army ; — like  a  second  Cortez,  to  encounter  the  unknown 
numbers,  which  would  be  brought  against  him  at  tlie  coming 
death-struggle  of  an  infuriated  nation.  The  march  of  the 
Americans  was  now  through  a  beautiful  and  cultivated  region, 
whose  abundant  waters  flowed  pure  and  cool.  Soon  they  be- 
gan to  ascend  the  gradual  slope  of  the  great  Cordilleras  of 
Anahuac,  central  between  the  east  and  western  oceans.  On 
the  third  day,  their  toilsome  march  wound  up  through  steep 
acclivities.  At  length  they  reached  the  summit ;  and  three 
miles  beyond  Rio  Frio,  burst  upon  their  gaze,  all  the  glories  of 
the  grand  valley  of  Mexico.  Spreading  far  round  and  beneath, 
were  its  mingled  lakes,  plains,  cities,  and  cloud-capped  moun- 
tains. The  giant  peak  of  Popocatapetl  was  far  to  their  left ; 
before  them  lay  the  lake  Tezcuco ;  and  beyond  it,  the  domes 
and  towers  of  the  city  of  the  Montezumas.  Many  a  brave 
American,  that  day,  rejoiced  to  behold  those  towers,  who  ne- 
ver reached  them. 

The  mountain-passes  were  here  unguarded ;  and  the  army 
marched  on,  until,  on  the  11th,  the  advance  commanded  by 
August  11.  Qen.  Twiggs,  rested  at  Ayotla,  north  of  lake  Chalco,  and  fif- 
Ayoiia.  teen  miles  from  the  capital.  The  remaining  corps  were  soon 
concentrated  at  small  distances ;  some  on  the  lake's  eastern 
border.  The  first  step  was  to  learn  and  consider  well  the  po- 
sition of  the  city,  and  every  thing  respecting  its  defences.  Its 
ground  plot  had  formerly  been  an  island.  What  was  once 
the  lake  on  which  it  stood,  Avas  now  an  oozy  marsh.  Long 
straight  causeways,  easily  raked  by  artillery,  led  thi-ougli  this 
marsh  to  the  several  gates,  from  the  great  roads  by  which  the 
city  was  approached;  and  much  the  longest  was  that  con- 
nected with  the  road  from  Vera  Cruz.  But  before  reaching 
the  causeways  was  an  exterior  system  of  strong  defences. 

A  bold  reconnaissance  was  made.  By  the  Vera  Cruz 
road,  on  which  the  army  were,  the  city  could  not  be  ap- 
proached, without  first  encounteiing  the  strongest  of  the  ex- 
terior fortifications,  that    of   El  Penon.      "No  doubt,"   says 


ENERGY    AND    COURAGE.  433 

Gen.  Scott,  "it  might  liave  been  carried,  but  at  a  great  and  ^^^^^ 
disproportionate  loss,  and  I  was  anxious  to  spare  the  lives  of  period  m. 
this  gallant  army  for  a  general  battle,  which  I  knew  we  had 
to  win  before  capturing  the  city,  or  obtaining  the  great  object 
of  the  campaign — a  just  and  honorable  peace." 

The  commander  then  moved  his  troops  27  miles;  they  ma- 
king a  new  road,  directed  by  the  engineers,  over  such  sharp  vol- 
canic rocks  and  deep  cha'sms,  as  the  foe  had  not  dreamed  fi^om-^^o^J^* 
could  be  passed ;  when,— having  turned  the  lakes  Chalco  and    gustine. 
Jochamileho,  they  encamped  at  St.  Augustine,  on  the  Acapulco 
road,  eight  miles  south  of  Mexico.     From  the  camp,  looking 
towards  the  city,  the  lirst  defences  on  this  road,  were  the  fort- 
ress of  Antonia  ;  and — a  mile  and  a  half  further  noi'th — the 
strongly  fortitied   hill  of  Churubusco.     These   could   be   ap- 
proached in  front  only  by  a  dangerous  causeway.     By  making   I^JJ^-  ^^^^ 
a  detour  to  the  west,  where  lay  yet  other  dangers,  they  might    makes  a 
be  reached  from  the  left.      Two  movenients,  ordered  by  the  '^^Veras 
commander,  were  simultaneously  made.     Worth  w  ith  Harney's 
cavalry  w^ent  to  menace  Antonia  in  front ;  while  to  the  left, 
Gen.  Pillow's  division,  consisting  of  the  brigades  of   Pierce 
and  Cadwallader,  conducted  by  the  engineers,  Lee,  Beaure- 
gard, and  others,  made  a  road  through  craggy  rocks  of  an- 
cient lava,  —  whose  crevices  shot  up  the  thorn-armed  maguey, 
and  whose  deep  chasms  were  filled  with  water.     To  cover  and 
support  the  w^orking  party,  was  sent  Gen.  Tw^iggs'  division, 
made  up  of  the  brigades  of  Riley  and  Percifer  Smith. 

In  the  afternoon   of  the   second  day,   after  accomplishing 
nearly  three  miles  of  this  difficult  road,  the  troops  found  them- 
selves w^ithin  cannon-range  of  the  enemy's  fortified  camp  at 
Contreras,   commanded    by  Gen.  Valencia,  with   6,000  men, 
surmounted  by  22  heavy  guns,  and  communicating  by  a  good 
road  with  Mexico,  and  also  with  the  main  camp  of  Santa  Anna, 
which  was  lying  two  miles  nearer.     Upon  this  road  they  saw 
the  Mexicans  hurrying  on  to  the  scene  of  action.     Fighting 
now  begins,  in  which  the  divisions  of  generals  Twiggs  and  Pil- 
low, especially  Riley's  brigade,  are  engaged.     They  advance,  ^^  ^j^^^  ^.^^ 
though  suffering  from  the  enemy's  fire; — aided  by  the  small  lage  is  some 
batteries  of  Magruder  and  Callender,  which  are  with  difficulty  \'f  l^ooums 
brought  into  action.    About  sunset,  the  commander,  now  on  the  of  this  battle 
field  with  fresh  troops,  gives  to  Col.  Morgan  of  the  regular  in-  and  some-' 
fantry,  an  order,  which,  aided  by  Gen.  Shields  of  the  volun-  ^}^'^l^  ^^^ 
teers,  he  executes  ;  taking  the  village  of  Contreras,  or  Ansal-  Scott's  Re- 
da,!  w-hich  lay  on  the  road  from  the  fortified  camp,  to  that  of  P°''^i^"°"^* 
Santa  Anna.     The  enemy's  line  of  reinforcements  was  now  cut.   ^^  Qf  ggyp^. 
Night,  — cold,    dark,    and  rainy — closed  in.       Comfortless  officers  sen' 
was  the  condition  of  the   troops,  remaining  without  food  or  Jj.  sSnciowij 
sleep,  upon  the  ground.     The  officers  at  Ansalda,  in  their  per-  ^^g^g^Jj^/* 
ilous  position, — separated  as  they  were  from  their  commander    one 'sue- 
by  the  almost  impassablef  lava-field,  whose  crags,  on  account    rlSng^ 
of  the  rain-flood,  were  interspersed  by  torrents,-  now  found  Ansalda.) 


434  *  CONTRERAS. 

PART  IV.  resources  in  their  own  genius,  courage,  and  union.     Gen.  Per- 
PERioD  III.  cifer  Smith  proposed  to  set  out  at  midnight,  surprise  and  storm 
CHAP.  xn.   ^\yQ  camp  at  Contreras.     From  that  moment,  dark  forebodings 
'•'^"'^•^^''^^  passed  from  the  army,  and  each  officer  and  man,  as  by  spon- 
1§47.    taneous  movement,  fell  into  his  proper  place.    Gen.  Shields  ex- 
August,     tending  his  600  men  into  a  long  line,  and  keeping  up  fires,  was 
\he20th.    interposed  between  the  storming  party  and  the  camp  of  Santa 
Anna,  with  his  12,000  reserve.     One  messenger  alone — Lee, 
the  engineer — found  his  dark  and  watery  way  over  the  lava- 
rocks,  and  carried  to  the  gratified  commander  the  tidings  of 
the  gallant  attitude  of  his  troops,  — and  also,  a  request  of  Gen. 
Smith,    for    co-operation.     Gen.  Scott  complied,  by  sending 
with  the  messeno-er  the  force    under  Twio-gs,    to    Contreras 
Mex.  force,  at  five  in  the  morning,  to  aid  the  storming  party  approach- 
"aged^il^ooo  i"o  ^^""^  enemy's  rear,  by  making  a  diversion  in   their  front. 
"  more  in     A  little  past  midnight,  Gen.  Smith  sets  forward,  conducted 
Am.  force    by  engineer  Smith,  Col.  Riley  leading  the  van.     The  rain  con- 
^"sag^d     tinues  to  fall  in  torrents,   and   their    progress    is  slow.       S(y 
- —       profound  is    the    darkness,  that    the  men   must    touch  each 
k.^Too,  pris-  Other  as  they  move,  lest  they  divide,  and  some  be  lost.     At 
oners  813,    sunrise,  they  storm  the  intrenchments,  and  precipitate  them- 
4  generals',  selves  upon  the  surprised  Mexicans.      Dismay  and  carnage^ 
^"^'  66^  ^'  P^'^vail  for  seventeen    minutes  ;    when   the    camp  is  carried. 
Capt.  iian-  Eighty-eight    officers    and    3,000   men    are    made   prisoners. 
as"b7ave°—  Thirty-three  pieces   of  artillery  are  captured ;  among  which 
w-ashere     are  found  two  of  those  so  honorably  lost  by  O'Brien  at  Buena 
Vista ; — and  they  are  taken  by  Capt.  Drum  with  a  part  of  the 
regiment  to  which   they  had  in  that  battle  belonged.     They 
are  received  with  shouts  of  joy  by  the  victors  of  Contreras  ; 
in  which  the  commander,  now  present,  and  proud  of  his  "  gal- 
lant army,"  heartily  participates. 

Gen.  Scott  next  directed  a  grand  movement  upon  Churu- 
busco,  to  which  the  victory  already  achieved,  opened  the  way. 
Moving  northeasterly  by  the  road  through  St.  Angel,  he 
keeps  the  centre  of  the  extended  field,  while  Gen.  Worth 
on  his  extreme  right  is  driving  the  now  terrified  garrison  from 
Antonia.  Gen.  Shields,  who  at  Contreras,  had  kept  for  hours 
the  whole  army  of  Santa  Anna  in  check,  was  in  command  of  the 
extreme  left ;  still  charged  with  the  dangerous  duty  of  keeping 
off  the  grand  Mexican  army  from  the  immediate  object  of  at- 
tack. In  the  centre.  Gen.  Twiggs  presses  forward  to  Churu- 
busco,  and  entering  it  from  the  west,  attacks  one  of  its  two 
strong  defences,  the  fortified  church  of  San  Pablo.  In  the 
mean  time.  Worth,  joined  by  Pillow  and  Cadwallader,  comes 
August  20.  in  from  Antonia,  and  furiously  carrying  the  stronger  fortress, 
Churubus-  gj^ijg^j  p^j^f  ^^  rp^f^^  ^^  Bridge's  Head,  he  turns  its  guns  upon 
the  citadel-church,  which  now  surrenders.  Shields,  Pierce,  and 
others,  are  meantime  fighting  a  bloody  battle  with  Santa  Anna, 
with  fearful  odds  against  them.  Scott  sent  successive  regiments 
to  their  aid.     Churubusco  was  now  taken,  the  brave  old  Gea 


ARMISTICE    OF    MEXICO.  435 

Rincon,  its  commandor,  having  surrendered.    Santa  Anna  aban-  pa»^t  iv 
doned  the  field.     Worth  and  Sliields  pursued.     Col.  Harney  i-kriod   ul 
with  his  dragoons  dashed  by  them,  and  one  of  his  officers,   ^"-^f"-  •"^"'• 
Capt.  Kearney,  not  liearing  the  call  to  return,  followed  the  ■^--''^v^^-. 
flying  Mexicans  to  the  very  gate  of  the  capital.f  ?k^^' 

here  lost  hia 
arm,  and 
other  offi- 
cers their 
lives.) 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

Armistice. — Molinos  del  Rey. — Chapultepec. — Mexico. 

The  commander,  following  up  his  victory,  might  now  have 
entered  Mexico.  But  he  Avas  not  sent  to  conquer  the  country, 
but  to  "  conquer  a  peace,"  and  he  believed  that  the  reduction 
of  the  capital  would  delay,  rather  than  accelerate  this  result.  Generous 
He  did  not  wish  to  drive  the  government  away  from  the  city  proceedings 
dishonored.  "The  army,"  says  Scott  in  his  dispatches,  " are 
willing  to  leave  to  this  republic  something  on  wiiich  to  rest  her 
pride,  — and  they  cheerfully  sacrifice  to  patriotism  the  eclat 
that  would  have  followed  an  entrance,  sword  in  hand,  into  a 
great  capital." 

Tacubaya  now  became  the  headquarters  of  the  American  j^u^ust  21 
army.     The  general-in-chief  occupied  the  archbishop's  palace, 
with  its  beautiful  orardens.      Here  he  neo-otiated  with  Mexican     .  ^^^^•. 

.     .  ^         .     .  ,        *='  ^      ,     Armistice 

commissioners  an  armistice,  as  a  step  preparatory  to  a  final  concluded, 
peace.     On  Mr.  Trist,  the  agent  of  the  American  executive,  it 
devolved,  to  settle  with  the  Mexican  authorities  the  terms.  They 
wanted,  among  other  conditions,  that  regions  should  be  left  as 
desolate  wastes  between  the  two  republics ;  and,  humbled  as 
they  were,  they  could  not  yet  brook  the  relinquishment  of  the 
territory  demanded.     Negotiations  were  broken  off,  and  the 
spirit  of  the  Mexican  government  rose  once  more  to  meet  a 
final  struggle.     They  violated  the  armistice  by  strengthening 
their  defences.     Taking  down  the  bells  of  their  churches,  they 
made  a  foundry  at  the  **  King's  Mills,"  where  they  converted  theVexi- 
them  into  cannon.     They  called  on  the  provinces  to  come  to      '^^"^• 
their  aid  in  mass  ;  and  by  fire — or  poison,— by  any  weapon,  in 
any  manner,  to  injure  and  destroy  the  invader. 

From  Tacubaya,  Mexico  was  in  full  view — northeast,  and  dis- 
tant three  miles.    North — bearing  a  little  east — distant  a  mile — 
rose,  in  beautiful  prospect,  the  fortified  hill  of  Chapultepec  ;  its 
porphyritic  rocks  abruptly  descending  on  its  southern  and  east- 
ern slides,- while  to  the  west,  the  hill  fell  gradually,  with  a  gen- 
tle, wooded  slope,  till  it  met  the  fortified  building  of  stone,  call- 
ed Ul  Molinos  del  Rey,  or  the  King's  Mills.   A  quarter  of  a  mile  gcott's 
west  of  the  fortified  mills  stood  another  stone  fortress  called  tion  in  re- 
Casa  Mata.     These  were  the  obstacles  which  now  barred  the  mIS  Sid 
way  of  the  Americans  to  the  capital ;  and  they  constituted  the  its  defeocei 


436  MOLINOS    DEL    REY. 

PART  IV.  supporting  points  of  the  Mexican  army  ranged  behind  tLera, 
PERIOD  III.  headed  by  Santa  Anna,  and  amounting  to  fourteen  thousand. 
CHAP.  xni.  The  generals,  Scott  and  Worth,  went  forth  in  person  to  re- 
connoitre, and  they  sent  out  their  skilful  engineers.  Scott  then 
gave  the  order  for  an  assault  on  Molinos  del  Rey,  committing 
its  execution  to  Worth.  A  terrible  battle  was  fought,— the 
fortresses  of  Mohnos  del  Rey  and  Casa  Mata  were  taken,  and 
an  important  victory  was  won.  But  the  very  tone  v/as  mel- 
ancholy, in  which  the  commanding-officer  praised  the  vie- 
MexHoss  ^^^^>  "  t^^®  gallant  dead,  the  w^ounded,  and  the  fetv  unscathed.'' 
btvere,  but  The  commanders  in  their  reconnaissance  before  the  buttle  had 
Pri".°8oo,'  been  somewhat  deceived  as  to  the  enemy's  strength  ;  they 
52  officers,  niaskino'  their  batteries,  and  concealinor  their  men,  which  were 

Am.  loss,  &  '  ^  o  _  ' 

k.ii6w.  f:65,  perhaps  fivefold  the  numbers  of  their  assailants.     In  the  heat 

"'Sffieerf.^^of  the  action.  Major  Wright,  assisted  by  Mason  of  the  engi- 
neers, fell  upon  the  enemy's  centre,  and  took  his  main  field- 
battery  ;  when  so  furiously  did  he  charge  to  regain  it,  that  of 
fourteen  Ameiican  officers,  eleven  fell.  Among  the  numbei 
were  Wright  and  Mason.  One  brigade  lost  its  three  senior 
officers,  — Col.  M'Intosh  and  Major  Waite  wounded,  and  Col. 
Martin  Scott  killed.  Casa  Mata  was  blown  up,  and  El  Mo- 
linos dismantled. 

It  was  at  the  beautiful  hill  of  Chapultepec,  where  once 
arose  the  veritable  "  Halls  of  the  Montezumas."  Here  was 
now  the  military  school  of  Mexico,  and  the  last  exterior  defence 
of  the  successors  of  Cortez,  to  that  capital  which  he  had  so 
iniquitously  taken,  shedding  seas  of  blood,  because  "  the  Span- 
iards had  a  disease  of  the  heart,  which  nothing  could  assuage 

'cott?Con^-  but  gold."!     The  God  of  battles,  who  had  so  signally  made 
quest  of     the  American  armies  the  means  of  chastising  the  Spanish  Mex- 
icans,  for  national   cruelties  early  begun  and  long  continued, 
again  led  them  to  victory. 

On  the  night  of  the  11th  of  September,  Gen.  Scott  caused 

4  batteries.  ^^  ^e  erected,  from  the  cannon  taken  in  former  victories,  four 
heavy  batteries,  bearing  on  Chapultepec.  Before  night,  on  the 
12th,  the  outworks  of  that  fortress,  skilfully  assailed  bv  a  can- 
nonade directed  by  the  American  engineers,  began  to  give  way. 

CnlvvLTE-  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^'^^  ^^^®  battle.  The  officers  and  men,  by  whom 
PEC.  such  an  unbroken  series  of  victories  had  been  achieved,  were 
all  promptly  in  the  places  assigned  them,  by  eight  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  The  fortification  which  they  were  to  storm 
was  a  nation's  last  hope.  The  roar  of  the  American  cannon 
ceases  for  a  moment.  It  is  the  preconcerted  signal  foi  the 
assault.     In    an  instant  the  assailants    are  in  rapid   motion 

The  fortress  Oen.  Quitman  hastens  from  the  south.  Gen.  Percifer  Smith 
from  the  southeast,  and  Gen.  Pillow,  with  Col.  Clark,  from  the 
wooded  slope  on  the  west.  The  batteries  throw  shells  into 
the  fort  over  the  heads  of  their  friends,  as  they  begin  the 
furious  attack.  The  garrison,  though  they  fight  with  despe- 
ration,  are   overpowered.      Some  yield,    and  others  attempt 


I 


THE    CAPITAL    TAKEN.  437 

to  retire.     At  the  moment  of  their  retreat,  the  supporting  part  iv. 
force  under  Santa  Anna,  in  the  rear  of  Chapultepec,  is  at-  period   in 
tacked   and  defeated  by  Gen.  Worth,  -svlio  for  tbis  purpose  chap.  xm. 
had   passed  the  batteries.     Directed  by  the  commander,  he  ^-^"^^^*•^ 
pursues  the  enemy  as  he  flies  to  the  city,  pressing  forward  to     18  47. 
enter,  by  a  circuitous  road,  the  San  Cosme  gate  on  tlie  north-    Battles  of 
west.     Gen.  Quitman,  in  the  mean  time,  follows  the  flying  foe    ^Iexico. 
to  the  city,  by  a  route  direct  from  Chapultepec  ;  he  being  in-  more  than 
structed  to  make  a  feint  of  storming  the  souihwestern  or  Belen  xm.'f^m. 
gate,  near  to  the  formidable  citadel  within,  —in  order  to  make  a       — - 
diveision  from  the  real  point  of  attack  at  San  Cosme.  the  whole 

Gen.  Scott  meantime  advanced  with  Worth  into  the  suburb   army,  ex- 
of  San  Cosme,  where  opposing  batteries  were  taken;  but  he  6,ouo/k., w., 
returned  at  night  to  Chapultepec,  to  look  with  a  father's  care  °Am^Ss^'^" 
to  the  condition  of  all,  — the  living,  the  wounded,  and  the  dead.  Sept.  12-14, 
Worth,  as  instructed,  remained  in  the  suburb  until  morning.  officeisT^v 
But  Gen.  Quitman,  accompanied  by  Shields  and  Smith,  rested  "03—68  off. 
that  night  Avithin  the  city ;   having  changed  the  feint  which 
the  commander  ordered,  into  a  real  attack,  by  which  they  en- 
tered (though  with  considerable  loss)  the  Belen  gate.     They 
had  not  yet  passed  the  formidable  citadel, 

A  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  Gen.  Scott  hav- 
ing returned  to  San  Cosme,  the  Mexican  authorities  sent  him    sept.  14. 
a  deputation,  desiring  of  him  terms  of  capitulation ;  their  army  ^^^^jj^^  '^*" 
having  fled  a  little  after  midnight.     Gen.  Scott  replied,  that 
the  American  army  would  come  under  no  terms,  but  such  as  cEJ^frs  w^re 
were  self-imposed,  and  demanded  by  honor,— by  the  spirit  of  hoisted  at  7 
the  age,  and  the  dignity  of  the  American  character.     Worth 
and  Quitman,  as  directed,  moved  cautiously  forward, — Worth 
to  the  Alameda,  and  Quitman  to  the  Grand  Plaza,  where  the 
victorious  army  reared  above  the  National   Palace  of  Mexico, 
the  stars  and  stripes  of  the  Republic  of  America. 

Three   hours  before  noon,    Gen.  Scott  made  his  entrance,     10  a.  M. 
with   escort  of   cavalry,   and  flourish  of  trumpets — into  the    entrance, 
conquered   city  of  the   Aztecs  ;    and   as  he   approached   the 
grand   plaza — his  towering  figure,   conspicuous  as  his  fame, 
loudly  and  warmly  was  he  cheered,  by  shouts,  which  arose 
from  the  hearts  of  his  companions  in  arms. 

The  troops  for  twenty-four  hours  now  sufl'ered  from  the  an-    Cpnvicts 
archy  of  Mexico,  more  than  her  prowess  had  been  able  to    destroy. 
inflict.     Two   thousand  convicts,    let  loose  from  the  prisons, 
attacked  them  from  the  house-tops ;  at  the  same  time,  enter- 
ing houses  and  committing  robberies.    The  Mexicans  assisting, 
these  felons  were  quelled  by  the  morning  of  the  15tli. 

Gen.  Scott  gave  to  his  army,  on  the  day  of  their  entrance 
into  Mexico,  memorable  orders  concerning  their  disciphne  and 
behavior.  After  directing  that  companies  and  regiments  be  kept 
together,  he  says,  "  Let  there  be  no  disorders,  no  straggling,    scott  en 
no  drunkenness.     Marauders  shall  be  punished  by  courts  mar-  Joins  order, 
tial.     All  the  rules  so  honorably  observed  by  this  glorious  andmercV. 
30 


1847. 


438  COL.  CHILDS'  DEFENCE  AT  PUEBLA. 

PART  IV.  army  in  Puebla,  must  be  observed  here.  The  honor  of  the 
PERIOD    III.  army,  the  honor  of  our  country,  call  for  the  best  behavior  from 

CHAP.  XIV.  all.  The  valiant  must,  to  win  the  approbation  of  God  and 
their  country,  be  sober,  orderly,  and  merciful. — His  noble 
brethren  in  arms,  will  not  be  deaf  to  this  hasty  appeal  from 
their  commander  and  friend."  On  the  16th,  he  called  on 
the  army  to  return  public  and  private  thanks  to  God  for  victo- 
ry. On  the  19th,  for  the  better  preservation  of  order,  and  sup- 
pression of  crime,  he  proclaimed  martial  law.  Thus  prote'cted 
by  the  American  arm}^,  the  citizens  of  Mexico  were  more  se- 
cure from  violence,  and  from  fear  of  robbery  and  murder,  than 
they  had  ever  been  under  their  own  flag."^ 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

Puebla. — Huamantla. — Atlisco. — Treaty  of  Peace. — Conclusion. 

The  crisis  of  the  war  was  past,  Mexico,  throughout  ker 
broad  domains,  was  virtually  conquered ;  and  what  followed 
was  but  as  the  dashing  of  the  waves,  after  the  storm  is  over. 

We  have  seen,  that  when  Scott  left  Puebla,  he  cut  his  own 
line  of  supplies ;   not  being  in  force  sufficient  to  garrison  any 
place  between  that  city  and  Mexico.     At  the  final  entrance  of 
his  troops  into  that  capital,  he  had  only  6,000  men.f     If  the 
r  See  Scott's  ^^'^J  ^^^d  failed  to  conquer,  they  had,  in  sober  earnest,  reason, 
dispatches,  from  their  past  practises,  to  consider  it  probable  that  their  infu- 
(t  See  also  Hated  enemy  would  kill  them  all.  J     Bitterly  did  the  Mexicans 
^a's  ar'^'    '^^'^P  ^^^^  ^^"^^  ^^  ^^^^^^  former  cruelties,  by  the  almost  superhu- 
rangements  man  energies  put  forth  in  fight  by  the  Americans,  and  the 
^off aii'the   unvarying  success  which  it  pleased  the  Almighty  to  give  to 
Americans  their  arms.     The  Mexican  capital  Avas  not  conquered  by  the 
Vista.)      American  republic,  as  Carthage  and  other  cities  were  by  the 
Roman, — to  be  destroyed,  or  to  become  the  sport  of  petty  ty- 
rants   and  a  lawless    soldiery,  w^io  in  time  would  turn  and 
become  the  destroyers  of  their  own  country.     Nothing  was 
now  asked  of  Mexico,  conquered  as  she  was,  but  to  negotiate 
a  treaty  of  peace,  in  which  America  stood  ready  to  be  gener- 
ous. To  bring  forward  a  Mexican  government,  with  whom  peace 
could  be  made,  became,  at  this  period,  the  difficult  task  of  the 
I  well-meaning  of  both  beUigerent  parties. 

i  Santa  Anna,  after  leavinir  Mexico  on  the  niorht  of  the  13th  of 

I  September,  was  not  heard  of  for  some  days.   In  the  mean  time, 

Colonel  Childs,  commander  at  Puebla,  whose  effective  force 

*  M'CulIoch  quotes  from  the  French  traveller,  Chevalier,  the  fact,  thai 
in  the  city  of  Mexico  900  bodies  were  annually  carried  to  the  House  for 
the  Dead ;  the  presumption  being  that  they  came  to  their  death  by  violence 


TREATY  OF  PEACE.  439 

amounted  to  only  247  men,  and  having  1,800  sick  in  the  f^i^t  iv. 
hospitals,  had  been  closely  besieged  by  the  enemy,  since  the  period  m. 
day  of  the  battle  of  Chapultepec.     On  the  22d,  the  besiegers  chap.  nv. 
were    encouraged  by  the  appearance    of  Santa  Anna,  with  ^-^^v^**^ 
some  thousands  of  the  remnant  of  his   army.      Col.  Childs    18fl7 
and  his  gallant  band,  though  worn  with  watching,  and  wasted  sanu  Anna 
by  fatigue,  still  refused  the  summons  to  surrender,  and  brave-   ^^  Puebia. 
ly  #ontinued    their  defence.       But   Santa  Anna   had  heard 
of  the  approach  of  3,000  recruits  under  General  Lane,f  on 
their  march  from  Vera  Cruz,  to  reinforce   Gen.  Scott;  and  he  (t  Apart leit 
left  Puebla  on  the  30th,  to  go  to  Pinal,  where  they  were  daily  oS'l.a'part 
expected.     Gen.  Lane,  on  his  part,  hoard  of  the  Mexican  army,  under  Major 
and  turning  from  his  direct  course,  he  encountered  it  at  Una-    earher.) 
mantla,  with  Santa  Anna  at  its  head ;  fought  and  defeated  it,  — 
losing  eleven  men,  among  Avhom  was  the  well-known  Capt.      Oct.  9. 
Walker  of  the  Texan  rangers.     Gen.  Lane  arrived,  October  "EToss 
12th,  at  Puebla,  and  reheved  Col.  Childs  from  a  distressing       i^o. 
siege  of  forty  days.     Lane  again  turned  from  his  course  to  * '^' li.  '^' 
seek  the  enemy ;  and  at  Atlixco,  ten  leagues  from  Perote,  he     ^^^  jg 
defeated  a  strong  guerilla  force  under  the  well-known  chief,    Atiixco'. 
Gen.  Rea.     By  these  guerilla  parties,  of  which  Atlisco  had  k!^2!9,w°3ob 
been  the  headquarters,  many  Americans,  found  as  stragglers,    Am.  k.  i, 
or  in  small  parties,  had  been  killed.     Major  Lally,  in  marching 
his  command  of  1,000  men  from  Vera  Cruz  to  Jalapa,  had  lost  ^^/"f'^J" 
100  men,  having  been  waylaid  by  them,  with  Rea  at  their     Ovejas. 
head,  four  times.f     In  every  instance,  however,  he  defeated  entedeiRey 
them  with  loss.  i5th,at  cef- 

Santa  Anna,  now  abandoned  by  his  troops,  resigned  his  of-  igTh,  at'^Las 
ficeson  the  18th  of  October,  and  soon  became  a  fugitive.    The    ^'^i'^^s.) 
supreme  power  passed  into  the  hands  of  Senor  Pena  y  Pena, 
by  \irtue  of  his  office  as  president  of  the  Supreme   Court. 
He  forthwith  sent  his  circulars,  calling  on  the  several  states, 
in  pathetic  language,  to  send  deputies  to  Queretaro,  to  treat    nc^  ii. 
for  peace.     A  congress  there  assembled  on  the  11th  of  No-  Mei.con- 
vember,  which  appointed  four  commissioners,   one  of  whom   potiit  foui 
was  Gen.  Rincon,  to  arrange  with  Mr.  Trist  the  plan  of  a  tre*aty.  '^o^'^^ssion 
In  the  mean  time,  Mr.  Trist  had  lost  the  confidence  of  the 
American  executive,  and  his  powers  had  been  revoked.     Nev- 
ertheless, with  Gen.  Scott's  approbation,  he  presumed  in  this    184§. 
emergency,  to  act.     On  the  2d  of  February,  the  treaty  was  xhe^Ti-eaty 
signed  by  Mr.  Trist  and  the  Mexican  commissioners  at  the  city  of  Guada- 
of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  and  twenty  days    afterwards  it  was     sign^ei^ 
submitted  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  the  senate,  before  the 
That  b<:)dy  adopted  it  with  alterations.     President  Polk  then    senate  of 
appointed  two  gentlemen,  Mr.  Sevier  of  the  senate,  and  Mr.  ^^ItSeti^'^ 
Clifford,  attorney-general,  to  proceed  with  the  modified  trea- 
ty to  Queretaro.     There,  on  laying  it  before  the  Mexican  con- 
gress, the  president  eloquently  urged  its  acceptance,  and  it  was 
ratified  by  a  large  majority. 

On  the  21st  of  February,  the  beloved  and  venerated  patriot, 

30 


440  ACCESSION    OF    TERRITORY. 

FART  IV.  John  Quincy  Adams,  who,  since  his  presidency,  had  served  his 

PERIOD  III.  country  in  the  national  legislature,  fell  from  his  seat  during  the 

CHAP  XIV.   debates  of  the  house  of  representatives,  struck  by  a  fatal  pa- 

^-^^'''^-^  ralysis.     Congress  in  both  its  branches  suspended  public  ac- 

1§4§.    tion ;  and  its  members  were  waiting  as  around  the  couch  of  a 

Death  of    dying  father.     He  expired,  in  Christian  hope  and  resignation, 

deat^f%    ^'^  ^^^^  ^^^^  '  saying,  "  This  is  the  last  of  earth." 

Adanis.         In  March,  Gen.  Sterling  Price  moved  with  a  force  from 

March  16     ^^^  Mexico  to  Chihuahua  ;  and  from  that  city,  sixty  miles 

Rozaies.     on  the  road  to  Durango ;  where  he  conquered,  at  Santa  Cruz 

known.^"  (^^  Rozales,  a  Mexican  army,  making  prisoners  the  command- 

k^&^v  ^2?s  ^"&  general,  Angel  Frias,  and  forty- two  other  officers. 

Am.  k.  &  w.      Peace  was  declared  to  the  American  army  in  Mexico,  on  the 

about  20.    29th  of  May,  by  Gen.  Butler,  who  was,  by  order  of  i*ae  gov- 

May  29.     ernment,  left  in  command  of  the  army  by  Gen.  Scott,  he  being 

ciahiied'bv  about  to  retum  to  the  United  States. 


claimed  by 
Gen.  Butle 
}U  Mexico 


Gen.  Butler      ^]^\^q  treaty  Stipulated  that  all  Mexico  should  be  evacuated  by 


the  American  armies  within  three  months.  Prisoners  on  each 
side  were  to  be  released  ;  and  Mexican  captives,  made  by  In- 
dians within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  were  to  be  restored. 
These  limits,  as  they  affect  Mexico,  are  to  begin  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Rio  Grande — thence  to  proceed  along  the  deepest  chan- 
nel of  that  river  to  the  southern  boundary  of  New  Mexico. 
From  thence  to  the  Pacific,  they  are  to  follow  the  river  Gila, 
and  the  southern  boundary  of  Upper  California.  The  United 
States  may,  however,  use  the  Colorado,  for  purposes  of  navi- 
the  Treaty  gation,  bclow  the  entrance  of  its  affluent,  the  Gila.  If  it 
^^^u^T*^*^  should  be  found  practicable,  and  judged  expedient,  to  con- 
struct a  canal,  road,  or  railway,  along  the  Gila,  then  both  na- 
tions are  to  unite  in  its  construction  and  use.  The  navigation 
of  that  river  is  to  be  free  to  both  nations  ;  and  interrupted  by 
neither.  Mexican  citizens  within  the  limits  of  the  relinquished 
territories  of  New  Mexico  and  Upper  California,  are  allowed 
a  year  to  make  their  election — whether  they  will  continue  Mex- 
ican citizens,  and  remove  their  property,  (in  which  case  they 
are  W  receive  every  facility,)  or  whether  they  will  remain  and 
become  citizens  of  the  United  States.  This  nation  agrees  to 
restrain  the  incursions  of  all  the  Indian  tribes  within  its  hmits, 
against  the  Mexicans ;  and  to  return  all  Mexican  captives 
hereafter  made  by  these  savages.  In  consideration  of  ter- 
ritory gained,  the  American  government  is  to  pay  to  Mexico 
fifteen  millions  of  dollars  ;  and  also  to  assume  her  debts  to 
American  citizens,  to  the  amount  of  three  millions  and  a  half 
more. 

Three  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico  in  hand ;  congress  hav- 
ing the  preceding  winter  placed  that  sum  with  the  president, 
in  anticipation  of  such  an  event ; — the  remaining  twelve  mil- 
lions to  be  paid  in  instalments. 

Our  governtnent,  from  respect  to  the  moral  feeling  of  the 
nation,  which  wishes  no  territory  gained  by  force,  thus  pay.? 


CONSEQUENCES  OF  WAR, 


441 


to  conquered  Mexico  the  full  price  of  the  land  acquired  from 
her ;  yet  it  is  none  the  less  true,  that  these  territories  were 
won  by  the  valor  of  our  armies,  and,  without  conquest,  would 
not  have  been  ours.  Thus  extends  from  ocean  to  ocean  the 
full  breadth  of  the  grand  platform  on  which  stands  the  Amer- 
ican nation  ;  and  the  vast  numbers  of  immigrants  who  come 
yearly  to  her  shores,  will  soon  people  her  waste  places. 

The  territory  of  Wisconsin  was  admitted  into  the  American 
Union  as  a  state,  on  the  29th  of  May,  1848. 

The  Mexican  treaty  was  brought  home  by  Mr.  Sevier; 
Mr.  Clillbrd  remaining  in  Mexico  as  American  envoy.  Pres- 
ident Polk  made  his  proclamation  of  peace  between  the  two 
republics,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1848  ; — the  first  day  of  our  sev- 
enty-third national  year. 

The  American  armies  have  evacuated  Mexico.  Distin- 
guished generals,  and  other  officers,  have  been  received  by 
their  country  with  the  honors  due  to  those  who  have  so  well 
sustained  the  national  character, — not  only  for  courage,  activity, 
endurance,  discipline,  and  military  science,  but  for  the  nobler 
virtues  of  humanity.  The  remains  of  other  officers,  who  died 
in  the  service  of  their  country,  have  been  brought  home,  to 
be  honored  in  death,  and  to  find  their  last  repose  among  their 
friends.  And  the  soldiers,  too — they  who  fought  so  bravely 
for  their  native  land, — they  have  returned.  Regiments  that 
went  forth  full  and  fresh,  have  returned,  smitten  and  scathed. 
Many  is  the  desolate  hearth,  to  which  the  son,  the  husband, 
the  father,  shall  return  no  more.  No  kindred  eye  shall 
weep  at  his  grave.  He  is  buried  with  the  undistinguishable 
dead,  who  fell  in  the  foreign  battle-field,  or  died  in  the  hos- 
pital. Thirty  thousand  American  lives,  it  is  calculated, 
have  been  sacrificed  in  this  war  ;  and  three  hundred  millions 
of  money  expended.*  And  we  know  that  the  sacrifice  of 
Mexican  life  and  property  has  been  still  greater.  The  num- 
ber of  Mexican  soldiers  who  fell  in  battle  greatly  exceeded 
that  of  the  American  ; — and  who  can  tell  how  many  of  their 
women  and  children  were  killed  in  the  bombardment  of  their 
cities  ? 

Let  the  value  of  money  be  estimated  by  the  good  it  may  be 
made  to  do,  and  we  shall  then  see  the  magnitude  of  the  evils 
which,  in  a  pecuniary  way,  war  inflicts.  Ireland  was  visited 
with  famine  in  the  winter  of  1846-7,  from  the  failure  of 
crops,  especially  that  of  the  potato.  The  benevolent  among 
us  were  moved  with  compassion,  and  contributed  money  and 
food  to  her  relief.  The  government  in  one  instance  sent  a 
public  ship  to  carry  provisions  thus  contributed.!  The  very 
heart  of  affectionate  Ireland  overflowed  with  gratitude  ;  and 
England  and  Scotland,  themselves  sufferers  in  a  less  degree 
from  the  same  cause,  felt  and  praised  our  liberality.  Thus, 
we  blessed  others,  and  were  ourselves  blessed  in  return  ;  and 
the  money  which  it  cost  us  was  about  half  a  million  of  dollars  ; 


PART  IV 


1848. 

July  4. 

Peace  pro* 

claimed. 


(*  This  is  a« 
cording  to  th« 
estimate  of 
Mr.  Ewing, 
Secretaiy  of 
the  Interior, 
and  compre- 
hends bounty 
lands,  wid- 
ows' pen- 
sions, &c) 


(t  March  28. 
Sailed  from 
Boston,  the 
sloop-of-war 
Jamestown, 
Captain 
Forbes. 
She  anchor- 
ed at  Corkf 
APU22.) 


PERIOD  III. 
CHAP.  XIV. 


442  COUNCIL    OF    PEACE. 

PART  lY.  whereas,  we  paid  three  hundred  millions  to  kill  and  distress 
the  Mexicans. 

The  time  to  act  for  the  prevention  of  war,  as  of  incendiary, 
is  when  none  is  raging;  and  those,  to  move  first  in  the  cause 
ISJ-S  ^^  peace,  should  be  nations  and  men,  of  undoubted  courage 
Time,  and  and  ability  in  war.  The  Mexican  contest  has  placed  our  Re- 
persons  to    public,  for  the  present  time,  eminently  in  that  position.     No 

act  lor  uni-     i^  '  *  -ii  •'  ii-  i 

versai  peace,  country  has  at  any  period  shown  braver  soldiers,  or  better 
officers.  Why,  then,  should  not  our  government  send  a  spe- 
cial envoy,  to  negotiate  with  Great  Britain  and  other  Chris- 

CouNciLOF  tian  powers,  the  immediate  formation  of  a  Council  of 
P.ACK.      Peace  1 


CHAP.  I. 


PERIOD    IV. 

FROM 
THE   TEEATT  (•    1848    j       OF    GUADALUPE    HIDALGO 

T  O 
THE    PRESENT   TIME.      /•  1851.  "]  (tO    BE    CONTINUED.) 

CHAPTER    I. 

Introduction.— American    California.— Capt.  Wilkes'  Exploring    Expedition.— CapL 
Fremont's  Explorations. 

Whatever  future  events  may  occur,  the  treaty  which,  by  PART  IV 
quieting  America  in  the  possession  of  Texas,  and  giving  to  her  ^^^^^ 
New  Mexico  and  Upper  California,  has  added  to  her  area,  a 
portion  so  extensive  and  peculiar,  must  ever  constitute  one  of 
the  most  important  epochs  of  her  history. 

Oregon. — In  the  valley  of  the  Wallah-wallah,  the  worthy 
Presbyterian  missionary.  Dr.  Whitman,  with  his  wife  and  12  Dnwrntman 
others,  were  barbarously  murdered  by  the  Cayuse  Indians,    and  family. 
The  settlers  mustered  a  force,  fought,  and  overpowered  the 
savages.     The  people  then  petitioned  Congress  for  protection 
and  a  territorial  government. 

The    congressional  debates  which  followed  their  petition 
embraced  the  slavery  question,  and  was  ominous  of  that  dan- 
gerous political  tempest  which  occurred  in  the  two  coming 
sessions.     The  northern  members  desired  that  slavery  should 
be  prohibited;  the  southern,  that  it  should   be   recognized.     1848, 
Finally,  the  day  before  the  session  closed,  the  territorial  bill      ^^"- 1^. 
was  passed,  with  a  clause  forbidding  slavery  ;  this  having  been    a  territory, 
consented  to,  by  some  southern  members,  and  sanctioned  by 
the  president,  on  the  ground  that  Oregon  lies  wholly  north  of 
latitude  36°  30';  that  being  the  line  of  the  Missouri  compromise. 

American  California  was  called  by  the   Mexicans  New 
or  Upper  California,  in  distinction  from  the  peninsula,  which 
was  named  Old  or  Lower  California.     It  was  discovered  in     \f>'i9, 
1579  by  Sir  Francis  Drake.     Having  doubled  Cape  Horn,    DJaSfi' 
he  coasted  the  Pacific  shore  of  the  continent  to  lat.  48^,  for  •^^^'f/iif* 
the   purpose   of  discovering  a  passage  to  the  Atlantic.      He 
there  went  ashore,  and  calling  the  country  New  Albion,  took 
possession  of  it  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign,  Elizabeth  of 
England.     But  the  English  lost  the  right  imparted  by  dis- 
covery, as  they  sent  out  no  colonies. 

The  Spanish  under  Cortez*  had  discovered  Old  California. 

*  McCuUocb,  in  his  Geoj^raphical  Dictionary,  and  after  him  several 
others,  erroneously  state   that  California  was  in   part    discovered   bj 


444 


THE  FRANCISCAN  MISSIONS. 


PART  IT. 

PERIOD  IV. 
CHAP.  I. 


1769. 

First  settle- 
ment. 


Missions  and 

presidios. 


The  priests 
supreme. 


He  went  in  person,  in  1536,  and  explored  the  Gulf.  About 
1603,  was  sent,  by  order  of  Philip  III.  of  Spain,  Sebastian 
Viscaino,  to  find  suitable  harbors  for  an  asylum  to  the  Span- 
ish East  India  ships.  He  discovered  and  took  possession  of 
the  harbors  of  San  Diego  and  Monterey,  giving,  on  his  re- 
turn, a  glowing  description  of  the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the 
country.  Many  attempts  of  the  Spaniards  to  colonize  it 
proved  ineffectual,  on  account  of  the  hostility  of  the  natives, 
whom  the  emigrants  provoked  by  ill  usage.  From  that  time 
forward,  however,  the  Spaniards  frequented  the  coast,  on  ac- 
count of  its  valuable  pearl  fishery. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  in  New  California  was  a 
Franciscan  mission  at  San  Diego,  established  in  1769, 
Wearied  with  fruitless  attempts  and  expenses,  the  Spanish 
king  had  given  to  the  priests  of  the  Franciscan  order  leave  to 
occupy  the  country,  for  the  object  of  converting  the  natives 
to  Christianity.  They  selected  the  most  fertile  lands,  and 
founded  twenty-one  missions,  each  occupying  about  fifteen 
miles  square.  The  buildings  were  all  contained  in  an  en- 
closure made  of  adobe,  or  sun-dried  brick.  To  the  principal 
missions  was  attached  a  presidio,  where  was  a  quadrangular 
fort  of  adobe.  In  this  was  stationed  a  company  of  soldiers, 
to  protect  the  missions  from  the  natives,  and  to  aid  in  bringing 
their  feeble  and  disorderly  tribes  into  subjection  to  the  priests. 
The  result  was,  that  about  half  the  Indians  became  nominal 
Christians,  and,  at  the  same  time,  menial  laborers  for  the 
missions. 

The  order  of  things  was  not  favorable  to  the  increase  of 
population.  The  missions  were  made  up  of  monks  and  nuns  ; 
and  to  these  were  added  the  soldiers  of  the  presidios,  not  al- 
lowed by  the  priests  to  bring  their  wives  to  the  country.  No 
money  was  in  circulation  ;  and  as  for  property,  the  padre  of 
the  mission  controlled  every  thing  with  absolute  sway.  No 
wonder  then,  that,  notwithstanding  the  healthiness  of  the 
country,  a  blight,  like  a  death-shade,  settled  over  the  face  of 
society.  A  few  individuals,  however,  disregarding  the  pro- 
hibition  of  the    priests,   had  taken   their   families    into   the 


Cabrillo,  a  Spanish  navigator.  It  was  Hernando  Cortez  to  whom  the 
discovery  of  CaUfornia,  as  taken  in  its  whole  extent,  is  to  be  attributed. 
He  had  received  a  special  commission  from  the  king  of  Spain  to  make 
discoveries.  He  first  sent  out  Grijalva,  who  (Uscovered  the  peninsula, 
in  1534.  He  then  went  in  person,  and  in  1536  explored  the  Gulf  on 
both  sides,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado.  He  tlien  returned  to  Mexico, 
leaving  Ulloa  to  prosecute  his  discoveries.  A  pilot  by  the  name  of  Cas- 
tillo accompanied  the  expedition,  who,  on  his  return,  made  a  map,  lay- 
ing down  Old  California  as  a  peninsula,  tliough  afterwards  it  was,  for 
many  years,  supposed  to  be  an  island.  Perhaps  Drake  believed,  that 
beyond  this  island  he  should  find  a  strait  through  which  he  might  pass 
to  the  Atlantic.  But  this  hope  shows  clearly  that  the  coast  beyond  was 
then  undiscovered,  and,  consequently,  that  Drake  was  the  first  European- 
discoverer  of  New  California. 


EXPLORATIONS.  445 

country,  and  a  small  numiier  of  towns  had  thus  sprung  up  ;  PART  IV. 
the  largest  ol'  which  were  Ciudad  de  Los  Angeles,  San  Uiego,  "i.^kiod  iv. 
and  San  Francisco,  neither  of  which  contained,  in  1840,  a  thou-  t„AP.  i. 
sand  inhabitunts.  Indeed,  within  that  period,  the  whole  num-  v^^--^-^ 
ber  of  white  iidiabitants  in  New  California  was  estimated  at  igio. 
only  oOOO  ;  of  mestizoes,  or  mixed,  2000  ;  of  natives,  15,000  ;  'ii|tj  t,uire 
making,  in  the  whole  of  this  fertile  Pacific  valley,  only  Stonliaia 
22,000  souls.     Hides  constituted  the  chief  article  of  export.     ^^'^'^Jj^oo!  ""^ 

This  country,  during  the  Spanish  rule,  constituted  a  part 
of  the  viceroyalty  of  Mexico,  or  New  Spain.      When  Mexico 
became  a  federal  republic,  not  finding  California  sufficiently 
populous  to  form  a  state,  she  established  over  it  a  territorial 
government.     The  Californians,  like  the  Mexicans,  sometimes 
had  their  revolutions,  and  declared  themselves  independent ; 
but  they  ever  returned  to  their  allegiance  ;  and  till  the  open- 
ing of  the  war  between  the  republics  of  America  and  Mexico, 
they  were    governed  as  a  territory  of  the  latter.     Los  An-  j^J^^p^'og 
geles   was    the   seat    of   the  territorial   government  ;    and  a  cont:iyis°i500 
member  of  the  eminent  family  of  Pico  was  at  its  head.     Gen.   i"'!^^'^'^'^"^^. 
Castro,  the  military  chief,  made  Monterey  his  residence. 

A  few  years  since,  the  country  between  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains   and   the   Pacific  was  as  little  known  as  the  centre  of  1803-5. 
Africa.     In  the  years  1803,  4,  and  5,  Lewis  and  Clarke,  sent    ^'clarke!'^ 
out    by  President    Jefferson,  explored    the    Missouri   to    its 
sources,  crossed  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  latitude  47°,  then 
struck  upon  the  head  waters  of  the  Columbia,  and  followed 
its  course  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.     Settlements  succeeded  these     1792. 
discoveries    and    that    of    Capt.    Grey,    already    mentioned.    GriN'sdia- 
The  purchase  of  Louisiana,  from  France  in  1803,  carried  the 
American  dominion  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  heights  of  the  ^  siutes"?>:- 
Rocky  Mountains.     All  the  country  beyond  those  mountains,   taidstothe 
and  south  of  Oregon,  was,  before  the  late  war,  in  possession  ^"^'f-ocky'^^ 
of  Mexico;   and  in  1840,  its  place  on  the  map  of  the  world    Mouuiaiiis. 
w,^  a  blank. 

The   American  government,  in  1838,  sent  out,  chiefly  for 
the  benefit  of  trade  and  commerce,  a  naval  Exploring  Expedi-     1§41. 
tion,  under  Capt.  Charles  Wilkes,  to  coast  our  continent  to  ^^"^'"^!.,^,'*' 
the  south  and  west,  and  explore  the  islands  of  the  racihc.     enters  the 
Capt.  Wilkes  was  directed  "  to  make  surveys  and  examina-    pr^Jjfisco" 
lions  of  the  coast  of  Oregon  and  the  Columbia  River,  and 
afterwards  along  the  coast  of  California,  with  special  refer-  (ggn  Francis- 
ence   to  the  bay  of  San  Francisco."     After  executing  this  !^" ':«"tHim?d, 
order   m   August  and   September,   1841,  he  pronounced  the   iniiabitants; 
harhor  of  San  Francisco  to  be  "  one  of  the  finest,  if  not  the  ^^g^J],  Sstaui*' 
very  best  in  the  world."     The  town,  then  called  Yerha  Buena,    _^to  imve 
he  says,  consisted  of  one  large  frame  building,  occupied  by    ^'25,600.^  ' 
the  Hudson   Bay  Company  ;  the  store  of  an  American  mer-  Jj^^^J^i^fj'^Jj"^-- 
chant,  a  billiard-room,  and  a  bar  ;  a  cabin  of  a  ship,  occupied      nuiiun.) 
as  a  dwelling  ;  besides   out-houses,  few  and   far   betw^een.  cifySed^at 
The  most  prominent  man  in  the  region  was  Capt.  Sutter,  a      24,005.) 


446 


JOHN  C.   FREMONT. 


PART  IV 

PERIOD  IV, 
CHAP.  I, 


(In  the 

**  revolution" 

in  1836,  25 

American 

hunters  turn 

the  scale.) 


1§42. 

Fremont's 
fii-st  tour  of 
exploration. 

June  10. 

Leaves  the 

mouth  of  tho 

Kansas. 


August  I7th. 
Discovers  the 
South  Pass. 


(Kit  Carson 
was  his 
guide.) 


1§43. 

Second   tour. 

March  17. 

Leaves  the 

mouth  of  the 

IS. 


September  6. 

At  the  Salt 

Lake. 

19th. 
At  Fort  Hall. 

Nov.  4. 
At  the  Dalles, 
on  Columbia 
River. 
10th. 
Leaves  Van- 
couver. 

Dec.  10. 

At  Hiimath 

Lake. 

1844. 

Jan.  10. 

At  Pyramid 

Lake. 


Swiss  by  birth,  and  once  a  lieutenant  in  the  Swiss  guards  o 
Charles  X.  of  France  ;  but  immigrating  from  Missouri  to 
California.  Having  obtained  from  Mexico  a  grant  of  land 
thirty  leagues  square,  he  located  his  residence  within  it,  and 
near  the  confluence  of  the  American  river  with  the  Sacra- 
mento. Here  he  built  a  fort ;  and,  at  the  junction  of  the 
rivers,  laid  out  a  town,  which  he  called  New  Helvetia,  but 
which  has  since  received  the  naaie  of  Sacramento  City. 
Capt.  Wilkes  reported  well  of  the  soil  and  productiveness  of 
the  country  ;  and  he  made  the  American  executive  acquainted 
wilh  the  degree  of  force  needed  to  cope  with  the  people,  by 
relating  a  recent  military  contest,  in  which  the  scale  was 
turned  by  the  valor  of  twenty-five  American  hunters. 

In  1842,  JohnC.  Fremont,  then  a  lieutenant  of  topographical 
engineers,  being  ordered  on  an  exploring  tour,  left  in  June, 
with  a  party  of  about  20,  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas, — travelled 
along  its  fertile  valley — struck  off  upon  the  sterile  banks  of 
the  Platte — followed  its  South  Fork  to  St.  Vrain's  Fort ; — 
thence  northerly  to  Fort  Laramie,  on  the  North  Fork  of  the 
same  stream.  Following  up,  from  this  point,  the  North  Fork, 
and  then  its  affluent,  the  Sweet  Water  river,  he  was  con- 
ducted, by  a  gentle  ascent,  to  that  wonderful  gateway  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  the  South  Pass.  He  had  found,  on 
his  lonely  way,  a  few  straggling  emigrants  bound  to  Oregon, 
but  not  one  to  California.  Having  explored  the  vicinity  of 
the  South  Pass,  his  orders  were  executed,  and  he  returned. 
In  his  report,  he  states  the  astonishing  fact,  that  "  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Kansas  to  the  Green  River  valley"  (west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains),  "  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  mountain 
road  on  the  line  of  communication." 

The  next  year — again  under  the  auspices  of  the  govern- 
ment, and  with  a  parly  of  39 — he  set  out  earlier  in  the  season, 
with  special  orders  to  examine  and  report  upon  the  country 
between  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  the  line  of  Capt.  Wilkes' 
exploratitms  on  the  Pacific  coast.  He  now  crossed  the 
Rocky  Mountains  further  south,  and  where  they  were  8000 
feet  in  height.  He  then  examined,  and  laid  open,  by  his  re- 
port, the  region  of  the  Salt  Lake;  having  reached  that  re- 
markable expanse  of  brine,  by  following  its  beautiful  affluent, 
the  Bear  river. 

Fremont,  now  brevet-captain,  was,  September  19,  at  Fort 
Hall,  on  his  way  to  Oregon.  Here  he  met  a  Mr.  Chiles,  the 
only  emigrant  he  had  yet  seen  bound  to  California.  Having, 
in  the  manner  dictated  by  his  orders,  explored  Oregon,  he 
turned  south,  and  began  his  route  to  California,  by  travers- 
ing, in  winter,  the  terrible  and  dangerous  snows  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada.  From  this  seemingly  interminable  way,  the  lost 
and  famished  wanderers,  emerged  upon  the  waters  of  the 
Sacramento;  andthey  followed  to  Sutter's  Fort  its  aflluent,  the 
American  Fork,  ignorant  of  the  golden  treasures    beneath 


CALIFORNIA   IN  REQUEST.  447 


PEEIOD  IV. 


their  feet,  soon  to  set  in  motion  a  rapidly  concentrating  popii-  PART  17. 
lalion  from  every  corner  of  the  world. 

After  their  wants  luid  been  kindly  supplied  by  Capt.  Sutter, 
the  party  travelled  south,  and  beheld  and  enjoyed  the  vernal 
beauties  of  the  llowery  valley  of  the  San  Joaquin.  Then, 
turning  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  they  next 
passed  the  arid  wastes  of  the  great  Desert  Basin.  They  had 
discovered  and  named,  on  their  way,  new  rivers  and  mountain 
passes;  and  they  had  laid  open  regions  which  had  heretofore, 
except  to  the  hunter  and  the  savage,  been  but  the  hidden  re- 
cesses of  nature.  They  had  explored  California,  and  made 
known  an  overland  route. 


1§44. 


CITAPTEE    II. 

Train  of  Events  by  which  California  became  a  part  of  the  American  Republic. 

We  have  already  seen  that  Mr.  Polk  came  into  the  Presi- 
dency with  a  war  upon  his  hands  :  certainly,  if  he  chose  to 
pursue  it ;  and  possibly,  if  he  did  not.  He  doubtless  intended, 
in  case  of  a  war,  so  to  conduct  it  that  it  should  redound  to  the 
honor  and  advantage  of  his  country  ; — being  early  determined  Mrrp^ik'a 
to  obtain,  as  a  guerdon,  California  and  New  Mexico.  conSfUoth* 

But  in  the  mean  time,  a  project  was  on  foot  to  place  Call-    Presidency, 
fornia  beyond  the  reach  of  the  American  government,  and 
imder  the  protection  of  the  British.     This  was,  in  part,  to  be  , 

effected  through  the  agency  of  Macnamara,  an  Irish  priest, 
who,   before   the   beginning  Ci  the  war,  visited  the   city  of 
Mexico,  to  obtain  grants  of  some  of  the  best  ports  and  most 
fertile  lands  of  California.     He  told  the  Mexican  government    1844  to 
that  they  should  lose  no  time,  or  otherwise,  "  within  a  year,   j^e  Macna- 
California  would  become  a  part  of  the  American  nation,  be  mara  projeci 
inundated   by  cruel  kivaders,  and  their  Catholic  institutions  ^^^1?^^" 
the  prey  of  Methodist  wolves."     The  Mexicans  were  thus  occupatiou o» 
wrought  on,  by  their  hatred  to  the  Americans,  and  their  love  (Bn.u-ht  be 
of  the  Catholic  religion,  to  agree  to  give,  for  the  occupancy  ^°[tVby  al" 
of  10.000  Irish  Catholics,  who  were,  of  course,  British  sub-    Benton,  in 
jects,  the   fertile  valley  of  the   San  Joaquin.     Accordingly,      see  ai'so 
grants  were  made  out,  which  also  included  the  bay  of  San     ^'J^^jJ?  °( 
Francisco,  and  the  stations  of  Monterey  and  Santa  Barbara. 

Another  part  of  the  plan  was  to  have  been  carried  out  by 
citizens  of  California,  under  British  agents.  They  were  first 
to  declare  themselves  independent  of  Mexico,  and  then  re 
quest  the  protection  of  Great  Britain, — their  action  to  be  sus- 
tained by  the  presence  of  a  British  naval  force.  Mr.  Polk  doubt- 
less knew  this  plot  from  Mr.  Larkin,  the  sagacious  American  Plans  of  Brit 
consul.*  Capt.  Fremont  was  sent  overland,  early  in  the  spring    *^^  ^ 

*  Mr.  Larkin  received  for  his  services,  as  confidential  agent  in  Cali- 
fornia, §6,107.    See  "  Letter  of  Mr.  Clayton  to  the  President  of  the  United 


148 


THE   HAND  OF  PROVIDENCE. 


PART  IV. 

PERIOD  IV. 
CHAP.  11. 


(The  first  rail- 
road for  gen- 
eral travelliug 
between 
Manchester 
and  Liver- 
poo!,  1830. 
first  tele- 
graph, 1844. 
It  was  in- 
vented by 
S.  b\  B. 
Morse,  in 
1832.) 


of  1845,  to  California,  ostensibly  for  scientific  exploration, 
with  63  men, — composed  of  the  famous  and  noble  hunter  and 
guide,  Kit  Carson,  and  others  like  him, — ready,  with  sinews  of 
steel,  to  do  or  to  dare  ; — furnished  with  artillery, — having  200 
horses,  and  armed  with  Colt's  six-shooting  revolvers.*  If 
Mr.  Polk's  object  was  to  counterwork  the  plot  of  the  British, 
his  measures  and  agents  were  well  chosen,  and  his  plans 
completely  successful. f  The  Americans  were  beforehand 
with  them  in  getting  up  a  Californian  revolution  ;  and  also 
with  an  ample  naval  force  upon  the  coast. 

But  while  we  attribute  much  to  the  worldly  wisdom  of  the 
President,!  and  to  the  ability  of  his  agents  ;  we  yet  trace  a 
higher  wisdom,  and  a  mightier  power,  in  the  agency  which 
brought  about  the  sudden  up-springing  of  a  great  commercial 
state  upon  the  Pacific,  possessing  the  elements  of  a  pure  Chris- 
tianity, and  a  free  government ;  and  in  union  with  that  nation 
which  the  needy  and  oppressed  of  other  lands  have,  for  the 
last  half  century,  made  their  common  asylum : — and  all  this 
occurring  as  soon  in  time,  as  the  invention  of  locomotion  by 
steam,  and  the  magnetic  telegraph,  could  enable  the  central 
national  will,  as  by  a  system  of  political  muscles  and  nerves, 
instantaneously  to  send  its  mandates  forth  to  every  part  of  the 
body  politic,  and  rapidly  to  receive  in  return  whatever  it 
may  require.  Coincidences  of  independent  events  point  us 
to  the  hand  of  Providence  On  the  16th  of  July,  1846,  there 
sailed  into  the  harbor  of  Monterey  one  of  the  finest  ships  of 
the  British  navy,  the  CoUingwood,  of  80  guns,  commanded 
by  Admiral  Sir  George  Seymour.  To  his  astonishment,  he  saw 
the  American  flag  waving  over  land  and  sea.  In  the  harbor, 
b  sides  the  Savannah,  the  flag-ship  of  Commodore  Sloat,  was 


States,  on  the  occasion  of  a  request  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
(Dec.  31,  1849),  that  the  President  would  furnish  certain  information 
concerning  California. 

*  Improvements  in  the  means  of  destruction,  as  the  course  of  liistory 
shows  us,  tend,  by  increasing  the  risk  of  the  combatants,  to  diminish 
war.  Our  age  and  country  has  produced  a  great  improvement  in  fire- 
arms— the  six-shooting  revolver,  invented  (1836)  by  Samuel  Colt,  of 
Hartford,  in  Connecticut.  The  reports  made  by  Senators  Rusk  and 
Shields  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  in  1849  and  1851,  show  that  the  superiority 
manifested  by  the  American  over  the  Mexican  troops,  during  the  late 
war,  was  owing,  not  unfrequently,  to  the  fact,  that  the  Americans  were, 

.,     in  greater  or  less  numbers,  armed  with  this  weapon,  bv  means  of  which, 
(Snice  writ-    .     P         .     .    -  .  .       .  r      ,    "         ,      ,     . 


int,'  this  note, 


it  is  stated  that  one  dragoon,  in  the  onset,  can  do  the  work  of  six,  and 


has  invented 

a  revolving 

cannon.) 


we  learn  that  in  continued  light,  of  three.     But  this  superiority  must  soon  vanish,  be- 
an Americari  cause  other  nations  will  find  out  the  advantage,  and  they  can  arm  them- 
' "     selves  with  revolvers  as  well  as  Americans.     We  hope   all  will  be  en- 
deavoring,   therefore,  to    find    some    less   barbarous  way    of    settling 
disputes. 

f  Whether  or  not,  in  performing  great  services,  he  undertook  and  exe- 
cuted more  than  the  constitution  of  the  republic  allows  to  the  sole 
executive  power  and  thus  left  dangerous  preceJents,  it  belongs  to  the 
jurist  to  decide. 


GOLD,  449 

the  Congress,  wnich  Sir  George  pronounced  the  finest  frigate  PART  IV. 
in  the  world,  and  in  which,  the  very  day  before,  Com.  Stock-  ^^^,^^^ 
ton  had  arrived.     On  the  20th  came  to  Monterey  the  hardy 
battalion   of  Fremont,  whose  "  rifles,  revolving  pistols,  and 
long  knives,"  said  one  who  saw  them,  "  glittered  over  the 
dusty  buckskin  that  enveloped  their  sinewy  limbs. "f     They 
made  their  camp   beneath  the    beautiful  trees    which    skirt 
the  city  of  Monterey.     Nothing  but  gentlemanly  courtesies 
occurred  between   the  naval   officers  of  Great  Britain   and 
America.     On  the  23d,  the  Collingwood  departed,  carrying 
away  the  priest  Macnamara,  whose  Mexican  grants  were  no  froraVVaUer 
longer  of  any  avail.  ^hunA'hT 

The  history  of  California,  for  a  time,  becomes  merged  in  u.  s.  frisxato 
the  general  account  of  the  Mexican  war,  and  will  be  found  giUe^^JcSdo 
in  our  preceding  pages.  of  .Monterey.) 

When,  in  1848,  the  Mexican  treaty  added  to  the  American 
Republic  vast  tracts,  of  which  the  Californian  portion  had  a 
frame-work  of  society  adverse  to  our  own,  many  patriots 
looked  with  apprehension  for  the  result ;  knowing  that,  ordi- 
narily, the  full  river  keeps  the  course  first  taken  by  the  rivu- 
let. Would  enough  of  our  citizens  go  thither  to  turn  this 
course — to  fuse  this  portion  into  the  common  mass  ?  Provi- 
dence presented  a  material  to  draw  them  thither, — so  quickly, 
and  in  such  ample  numbers,  that  they  at  once  constituted  the 
principal  stream  of  Californian  society,  into  which  all  minor 
currents,  not  excepting  the  original,  were  merged  ;  and  Gold, 
the  curse  of  other  lands,  was  a  blessing  to  this. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1848,  a  private  discovery  of 
gold  was  made  on  the  grounds  of  Capt.  Sutter,  by  a  Mr.  Mar- 
shall, then  in  his  employ.     The  place  was  twenty-five  miles     184§ 
from  New  Helvetia,  and  up  the  American  Fork  of  the  Sacra-  (February  2. 
mento.     The  precious  metal  was  soon  found  in  other  locali-  wUh^^iiexico 
ties.     The  discovery  was  noised  abroad.     Rumors  of  Cali-    ^i?ned  at 

-        .  ,  ,  111  4    1         •      c<  1-1  Guadalupe 

lornian  gold  reached   the  Atlantic  otates,  which  were  con-     Hidalgo.^ 
verted  to  certainty  by  the  President's  message  of  December, 
1849.     Among  the  documents   accompanying,  was   a   letter 
from  Gov.  Mason,  who  had  been  in  person  to  visit  the  gold 
"diggings."     On  the  4th  of  July,  while  at  Washington  that 
treaty  was  proclaimed  by  the  President  by  which  California 
passed  from  Mexico  to  the  American  republic,  Gov.  Mason 
was  at  Sutter's  Fort,  on  his  way  to  the  gold  regions.     As  he 
passed  along,  he  found  houses  deserted,  and  fields  of  wheat 
going  to  ruin,  their  owners  having  left  them  to  dig  for  gold. 
And  such  had  been  the  quantities  already  found,  that  every  statesMimat 
necessary  and  convenience  of  life  bore  an  enormous  price.  PiiiiadeipMa, 
Capt.  Sutter  paid  his  blacksmith  810  per  day  ;  and  he  re-  the  Caiifomta 
ceived   $500  per  month  for  the   rent  of  a  two-story  house  ^remiTaWy 
within  his  fort.     Gov.  Mason  followed  up  the  South  Fork  of      pure.) 
the  American  to  the  saw-mill,  in  whose  race-way  the  golden 
scales  were  first  discovered.     He  visited  many  other  ^^ placers" 


450 


PRESIDENCY   OF   TAYLOR. 


PART  IV. 

PERIOD  IV. 
CHAP.  III. 


l§4§-9. 


(Of  these,  52 
vessels  were 
from  New 
York— 29 
from  New 
England.) 


(From  Oct., 

1849,  to  Oct., 

1850,  1  year, 
arrived,  by 
sea,  at  San 
Francisco, 

48,615  immi- 
grants ;  and 
about  20,000 
by  land.) 


in  the  vicinity,  and  saw  multitudes  engaged  in  seeking  gold ; 
especially  in  the  beds  of  streams,  and  in  dry  ravines,  where 
water-courses  had  once  existed.  In  a  little  gutter,  two  men 
had  found  the  value  of  817,000.  The  ordinary  yield,  for  a 
day's  work,  was  two  ounces. 

Such  were  the  facts  reported  from  unquestionable  sources  ; 
and  California  at  once  became  the  one  luminous  point  to 
which  all  eyes  were  directed.  There  was  a  rush  for  the  land 
of  gold.  According  to  the  newspaper  authorities  of  the  day, 
there  were,  between  the  7lh  of  December,  1848,  and  the  20th 
of  January,  1849,  ninety-nine  vessels  which  left  the  ports  of 
the  United  States  for  California,  either  to  go  round  Cape 
Horn, — or  to  land  their  passengers  at  Chagres  or  more  northern 
ports,  by  which  they  might  pass  through  Mexico  or  Texas. 
As  soon  as  the  spring  opened,  the  way  by  the  Kansas  and 
the  Platte  rivers,  which  Fremont  had  found  so  solitary,  was 
thronged  with  thousands  of  overland  emigrants.  Europe, 
Asia,  South  America,  and  the  isles  of  the  seas,  sent  forth  the 
strong,  the  healthy,  and  the  enterprising.  It  was  not  doubted 
that  Congress  would  consider  their  peculiar  condition,  and 
immediately  give  them  a  territorial  government. 


CHAPTEE    III. 


Taylor's  Inauguration.— Gloomy  Close  of  the  30th  Congress.— The  Causes  of  Dango 
and  Trouble,  as  connected  with  the  Slavery  Question.— Course  of  Proceedings. 


1§49. 

March  3. 
Minnesota 
Territory. 


March  4. 
Inauguration 
of  Taylor  and 

Fillmore. 


New  depart* 
mcnt. 

Members  of 
Taylor's 
cabmet. 


March  3. 
Unhappy 
dose  of  the 
thirtieth 
Congress. 


Minnesota,  adjacent  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Mississippi 
was  erected  into  a  territory  on  the  3d  of  March,  1849. 

At  the  election  in  1848,  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor,  the  hero 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  was  chosen  president ;  and  Millard  Fill- 
more, of  New  York,  vice-president.  Their  inauguration  oc- 
cured  on  the  4th  of  March,  1849,  when,  by  the  constitution, 
the  30th  Congress  was  dissolved. — The  increase  of  labor 
devolving  on  the  several  departments  of  government,  in 
consequence  of  the  growth  of  the  nation,  caused  congress 
to  authorize  a  separate  bureau,  called  "  The  Department  of 
the  Interior. ^^  Thomas  Ewing,  of  Ohio,  was  appointed  by  the 
president  its  first  secretary  ;  and  John  M.  Clayton,  of  Dela 
ware,  was  made  secretary  of  state. 

The  thirtieth  congress  closed  in  storm  and  in  gloom.  No 
government  could  be  obtained  for  California,  although  there 
were  political  fathers  of  the  republic,  who  continued,  to  the 
last  hour  of  the  session,  to  strain  every  nerve  of  patriotic  elo- 
quence to  obtain  it.     Its  way  was  barred  by  the  discordant 


EUROPEAN  ACTION  AFFECTS  AMERICA.  451 

question  of  slavery,  which  now  lowered  portentously  upon  the  PART  IV 
very  existence  of  the  Union.  ~^  ' 

An  opinion,  early  in  the  present  century,  took  hold  upon 
the    religious    feeling  of  men    in   the   northern   states,  that  ,^^^^/^,^. 
slavery,  under  any  circumstances,  is  a  sin.     That  it  is   an 
evil  left  to  this  generation  by  the  former,  greatly  to  be  de- 
plored, and,  as  soon  as  is  consistent  with  the  best  good  of  the 
two  races,  to  be  abolished,  was,  before  this  period,  the  uni- 
versal opinion  of  the  good   and  great  in  every  part  of  this     17§§, 
country.     Hence  an  effort,  the  first  made  by  any  nation,  to  America  the 
abolish  the  slave  trade,  was  made  in  the  convention  which    TnaTepro^** 
framed    the    American    constitution.       But   this    instrument,  vision  for  tho 

,     .  ,  ■        ■     ^  1       .  ■         ■  1         abolition  of 

bemg  a  compact  to  unite  mdependent  sovereignties,  must  be     the  slave 
so  constructed  that  it  would  be  adopted  by  all.     South  Caro-       ^'■^'*®' 
lina   and   Georgia  would  not  agree  to  the  abolition  of  the 
slave  trade  at  any  period  earlier  than  twenty  years  ;  accord- 
ingly, that  provision   was   inserted,  by   which   congress  did 
abolish  the  iVfrican  slave  trade,  in  1808.      While  the  framers  of 
the  constitution  were  thus  laboring  in  the  convention  at  Phila- 
delphia, the  continental  congress  sitting  in  New  York,  were,  (Mr.  J.'s  pro- 
without  opposition  from  the  slaveholding  states,  passing  to  naaSniTss, 
a  law,  the  proposition  of  a  slaveholder  (Mr.  Jefferson),  to  ex-  formedjmoa 
elude  slavery  from  the  Northwestern  Territory.  ^^^'   '^''^ 

England,  up  to  the  year  1807,  by  far  the  most  extensive 
dealer  in  slaves  among  the  nations,  now  suddenly  changed  her 
political  front  in  regard  to  slavery  and  the  slave  trade  ;  and, 
however  lax  her  political  conscience  had  heretofore  been  on 
this  subject,  it  now  became  apparently  intense.   She  obtained     sept.  26,' 
from  the  Holy  Alliance,  in  the  first  year  of  their  organiza-  "j^^^glf^^** 
tion,  a  formal  recognition  of  her  views,  and  their  aid  in  carry-  paiis.  The 
ing  them  out ;  and  that  body  presents  the  singular  anomaly  vi^mm^^e^y 
of  acting  at  the  same  time  against  the  liberty  of  their  subjects       declare 
in  Europe,  and  in  favor  of  that  of  the  negroes  of  Africa.    The     sia^>^ry.) 
master   spirit   of  the    league    was    Prince    Metternich,   the 
Richelieu    of  his    time.       The    concentrated    despotism    of  (PiinceMet- 
Europe,  whose  diplomatic  transactions  had  heretofore  shown   }fj"e?arded 
no  trace  of  conscientiousness,  now  took  a  course  of  action    asthesuc- 
tending   to  propagate  among  all  people  of  information  and  poleon°in  th^e 
conscience  the  opinion,  that  slavery  is  a  sin  ;  and,  of  course,   headship  of 
every  nation  bound  forthwith  to  abolish  it.     The  opinion  thus       ^^^^^' 
set  forth  was  conveyed  to  this  country  chiefly  through  the 
medium  of  the  English  press,  and  by  other  agencies  which  our 
common  language  made  available.      Did  not  such  men  as  the 
English  and  Austrian  diplomatists  know,  that  the  Americans     ^^^^^^^^ 
areli  well-informed  and  conscientious  people  ?  that  to  the  in-  agency  of  the 
tent  of  abolishing  slavery,  the  government  of  the  American  ^^p^^^^^'.^^ 
republic  is  powerless,  and  each  state  a  sovereignty  1     Did     prmiudng 
they  not  know  that  the  slave  states  could  not  abolish  slavery  ^Jj^^^^^^^ 
without  ruin,  and  that  they  were  of  a  character  which  would 
not  submit  to  illegal  interference  ;  and  hence,  that  this  opin- 

31 


452 


'HE  TREE  KNOWN  BY  ITS  FRUIT. 


PART  IV. 

PERIOD  IV. 
CHAP.  III. 


(t  Against 
no  other  al- 
leged crime 
was  this 
AlUance 
bauded,  but 
for  a  tfuilty 
crushing 
of  human 
freedom  in 
Europe.) 

("  Besides 
this  Northern 
opeiatlon  of 
disunion, 
there  hiis 
been  a  corre- 
sponding 
Soutliern 
agency  to 
bring  it  to 
effect.) 


Want  of  in- 
ternational 
copyright  in- 
jurious to 
both  parties. 


(b  About  1841 
Charles  Diclc- 
ens  came  to 
this  country 
for  this  ob- 
ject ;  after- 
wards George 
Combe.) 


ion,  if  made  to  touch  the  religious  sentiment  of  the  anti-slavc- 
holding  states,  must  tend  directly  to  the  division  and  down- 
fall of  the  American  republic  ?  And  was  it  not  this  republic, 
which,  by  the  dissemination  of  liberal  principles  and  by  it?? 
prosperity  in  an  anti -monarchical  stale,  had  done  more  than 
aught  else  to  annoy  the  despots  of  Europe  ?  And  was  it  not 
this  country  from  which  they  had  most  to  fear  in  the  future  1 
— England,  whether  with  design  or  not,  by  thus  beginning 
this  slavery  agitation,  was  indirectly  working  for  an  object — 
the  dividing  of  the  American  Union — wliich,  in  1809,  she 
directly  attempted."^' 

Opinion  now  rules,  where  once  it  was  force  :  and  hence  the 
wily  statesman,  instead  of  raising  armies,  gets  up  a  machinery 
to  manufacture  opinion  ;  and  the  more  sacred  his  materials, 
the  more  effective  his  work.  The  material  used  in  this  case 
was  the  righteous  feeling  which  condemns  the  abuse  of  the 
colored  race  ;  the  machinery,  a  grand  pantomime  of  nations, 
exaggerating  negro  slavery  to  be  that  one  sin,  by  which 
alone [•  humanity  is  debased.  The  opinion  thus  promulgated 
was  received  in  a  manner  tending  to  the  destruction  of  this 
nation,  by  many  of  the  best  and  purest  minds  of  the  northern 
states  f — who  agitated  the  subject,  not  with  the  traitorous 
design  of  subverting  the  constitution,  but  with  the  hope  of 
bringing  their  southern  brethren  to  take  wise  measures  for  the 
gradual  abolition  of  slavery.  But  the  good  they  might  have 
done,  was  turned  to  evil,  by  its  ranking  them  with  a  few 
seditious  agitators,  calling  themselves  abolitionists  ;  whose 
course,  tending  directly  to  the  disint-^gration  of  the  govern- 
ment, has  been  precisely  that  which  a  far-seeing,  slirewdly- 
scheming  enemy,  would  have  devised  and  dictated. 

In  regard  to  that  portion  of  inliuence  imparted  by  books, 
America  has  unwisely  left  her  domestic  unity  and  public 
reputation  too  much  in  the  hands  of  England, — and  that,  un- 
der circumstances  unfavorable  to  both.  So  far  from  seeking 
to  favor  her  own  writers,  by  obtaining  an  international  copy- 
right law,  Americans  have  resisted  the  advances  made  by 
British  authors.^  These  furnish  our  reading  public  with 
the  greater  portion  of  their  books,  for  American  publishers 


*  It  may  be  said  that  this  national  action  was  merely  the  consequence  of  what  had 
been  written,  and  of  a  general  progress  in  moral  feeling.  But  for  rao.-e  than  twenty 
years  after  Cowper's  spirit-stirring  declaration, 

"•  I  would  not  have  a  slave,  to  carry  me,"  &c., 
the  subject  was  politictdly  harmh.'ss ;  and  so  it  was  after  Campbell,  i:s  words  of  fire, 
had  declared  of  natiu-e,  that 

"•  She  bade  no  wretch  his  thankless  labor  urge. 
And  trembling  take  the  pittance  and  the  scourge. ' 
If  the  Holy  Alliance  were  to  be  moved  by  such  an  appeal,  why  not  listen  to  another, 
of  the  same  poet,  and  right  the  wrongs  resting   uj)on  their  own  heads  in  regard  to 
crushed,  mihajjpy  I'olanil ;  and 

"  Yet  for  Sarmatia's  tears  of  blood  atone  '?" 
England,  it  may  be  further  said,  freed  her  own  West  India  slaves.  Yes,  but  not 
until  about  twenty  years  after  having  "set  the  ball  in  motion  ;"  when  her  own  people 
had  so  imbibed  the  opinion — manufactured,  as  we  believe,  to  divide  us  against  our- 
selves— as  to  compel  the  reluctant  government  to  the  measure  of  immediate  abolition. 
Is  the  present  condition  of  either  whites  or  blacks  in  .Jamaica,  such  as  to  show  tUa 
wisdom  ol  the  policy '' 


AN   APPROACHING   CRISIS.  453 

arc  left  free  to  use  their  labors  without  compensation,   and  part  IV. 

many  of  the  authors  of  Great  Britain, — with  national  jeal- • 

ousies-— with   no  ppcuniary  inducement  to   serve    or  please  ^^'^"'^J^' 
Americans — nay,  reijarding  them  as  usini2:  the  la})ors  of  their    '■"*-''■'"• 
lives,  and  meanly  refusing  them  any  reward — have  been  ready  ^"-^'^^^"'^-^ 
to  heap  obloquy  and  injury  upon  America.     They  depreciate 
to  excessive  exaggeration,  as  something  which  overspreads  our  ^*i^!'^^'* ^^'"^®'' 
whole  land  with  a  pall  of  guilty  darkness,  that  slavery  which  Dr.  Drake,  or 
now  exists  in  a  form  so  modified  and  softened,*  that  Senator  puJX'SSn 
Seward,  of  New  York,  an  anti-slavery  man,  with  an  American  i^'t-  National 
heart,  calls  it  '•  a  spot  upon  the  sun."    Thus  these  writers  grati-  Apni,"''*i"5*io 
fied,  in  the  name  of  benevolence,  their  personal  and  national 
ill-will ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  they  wrought  out  a  baleful 
political  purpose,  of  which  they  were  perhaps  unconscious. 

After  the  violent  ground  taken  in  Europe — especially  in  (iin  1737^0// 
England — the  question  of  slavery,  now  beginning  to  threaten  the  southern 
disunion.f  produced  a  fever   in   the    body  politic,  which  was  uiecontinen- 
verging  to  that  dangerous  crisis,  that  was  passed  in  the  win-  vil[(.^i"flfr  the 
ter  of  1850.     We  have  already  seen  how  it  was  manifested  exclusion  of 
in  the  Missouri  question.     Subsequently,  it  produced  num-  ^'fhe  n.^w"^ 
berless  petitions  to  congress  from  the  abolitionists  of  the  north,    Territory.) 
against  slavery  as  it  existed  in  the  District  of  Columbia.     In     1S20. 
order  to  keep  these  out  of  congress,  the  angry  southern  mem-     Missouri 
bers  wrought  that  infringement  of  the  right  of  petition,  which     ^"^'^^^'"* 
was  so  long  and  successfully  combated  in  the  House  of  Repre-  Petitions  to 
sentatives  by  the  venerable  John  Quincy  Adams.     Meantime, 
those  agitators    at   the  north   who  made  the   production   of 
southern  ill-feeling  a  regular  uninterrupted   business,   were 
doing  all  in  their  power  to  persuade  every  slave  within  their 
reach  to  desert  his  master ;  and  they  made  such  facilities  for 
the  secret  conveyance  of  fugitive  negroes  to  the  British  prov-  {+ These  vile 
ince  of  Canada,  that    their  "underground    railroad"  was    a  J,^Jj'n'sent^[n 
phrase  in  common  use.     But  of  all  the  offences  against  the  quantities fx> 
peace  of  the  south,  the  most  flagrant  was  the  publication  of  p(^"mas^ters. 
newspapers  and  tracts  at  the  north,!  and  the  sending  of  them  Noonecouw 

.  ^     *,  -  111  II  suppose  they 

to  Circulate  at  the  south, — by  whose  means  the  slave  was  would  circu- 
counselled  to  put  to  death,  if  necessary  in  order  to  assert    '^^JnomT 
his  freedom,  him  who  was  perhaps  his  hereditary  master — slaves,  nenoe 
who  had  cared  for  his  infancy,  and  who  was  bound  to  sup-  ^UeJeff  bj 
port  his  old  age  ;  and  to  change  his  home  into  a  scene  of  t'o'"'^''?"  influ- 
incendiary,  rapine,  and  murder.     The  states  of  the  south,  to    enrage  the 
keep  out  dangerous  intruders,  made  stringent  and  perhaps  ™;'i^rk^dit"*^ 
unconstitutional  laws.     The  slaves   were  watched  with  un-      union.) 
ceasing  vigilance.     Their  former  privileges  were   abridged,     ^^  1831, 
and  they  were  no  longer  permitted  to  learn  to  read.     Free    occurred  a 

•^  ,     .  1  1       r-      1  1  •  •       ^^^'''^  insur« 

negroes,  not    being  under  control  ot    the  whites,  were,   in  rection  in 

some  instances,  wholly  excluded  by  the  state  authorities.     In  j'^J^va!"!!! 

South  Carolina,  they  were,  if  brought  as  cooks,  &c.,  taken  which  55 

and  confined  in  prison,  until  the  departure  of  the  vessels  by  maa£:recL> 
which  they  were  introduced. 


454  JOHN  C.   CALHOUN. 

PART  IV.       Some  of  the  southern  men,  at  the  head  of  whom  was  the 
eminent  John  C.  Calhoun,  of  South  Carolina,  believed  that  it 
was  the  will  and  intent  of  the  non-slaveholding  states  to  abol- 
ish slavery, whenever  their  power  should  enable  them, — ^re- 
o  •nions  of  g^^^^^^ss  of  the  rights  or  interests  of  the  south.     They  therefore 
♦he  ultra  dig-  thought,  that  since  the  north  already  overbalanced  the  south 
L^"siuth?^  ^"^  power,  that  the  south  should  immediately  secede  from  the 
Union,  and  form   a  southern   confederacy ;  in  which  event, 
Mr.  Calhoun  would  doubtless  be  its  president.     But,  happily, 
the  southern  men  who  held  these  ultra  views,  were,  com- 
pared with  the  whole,  but  a  small  minority.     The  larger  por- 
tion, among  whom  was  Senator  Berrien,  of  Georgia,  as  yet 
only  feared,  what  the  others  believed,  concerning  the  unjust 
intentions  of  the  great  body  of  their  brethren  at  the  north  ; 
V        f  th    ^"^  ^^^y^  were  careful  to  make  it  known,  that  if,  hereafter, 
majority  of   they  had  occasion  to  believe  as  did  the  party  of  Mr.  Calhoun, 
men^otHhe    ^^^V  ^'o^^^  j^in  them  in  the  same  course  of  action.     All  were 
South.      united  in  taking  a  stand  on  certain  tests,  whether  the  north 
would  or  w^ould  not  do  them  constitutional  justice  :  the  one 
party  in  good  faith,  as  friends  of  the  Union  ;  the  other,  in 
(t  Honest     Search  of  pretexts  to  dissolve  it.     One  of  the  principal  testsf 
South  wuVdo  concerned  the  admission  of  slaves  into  the  newly  acquired 
well  to  con-    territories.     These,  they  said,  had  been  conquered  by  their 
UiiYt^sTwaT  blood,  and  bought  with  their  treasure,  in  a  full  equal  degree 
not  got  up  for  vvith  those  of  the  north,  and  they  claimed  the  equal  right  to 
go  thither,  and  carry  their  property  (meaning  their  slaves) :  and 
being  determined  to  maintain  this  ground,  they  would  not  regard 
toask(see    as  Satisfactory  the  logic,  that  a  man  cannot  be,  like  a  manu- 
ciosures'of    f^ctured  chattel,  property  by  natural  ownership ;  but  only  when, 
Senator      and  Under  such  circumstances,  as  the  law  of  the  land  directs, 
amendment        Mr.  Calhoun  and  his  party  were  mistaken  in  supposing 
lution-°viz'''  ^^^^^  ^^^^  majority  of  northern  citizens  approved  the  action  of 
io  lead  the    the  disunionists,  or  had  any  design  to  take  from  the  people  of 
*  miiono'^'    ^^®  south,  rights  which  the  constitution  guarantied  ;  but  all 
conscientiously  believed,  that  slavery  is  an   evil,  and  many 
held  that  it  is  a  sin.     Hence,  while  they  would  not  interfere 
with  it  as  now  existing,  they  yet  regarded  it  as  their  duty  to 
prevent  the    extension    of  its    area.     Free    soil,  they  said, 
1§4§.     oug^it  ^o  remain  free. — -The  free-soil  principle  was  used  for 
August  9.     "  political  capital"  at  a  convention  held  at  Buffalo,  by  a  sec- 
^  vtftuimiTt""  ^'''^^  t)f  the  democratic  party.     On  this  test,  they  proposed  Mr. 
Buffalo.      Van  Buren  as  a  candidate  for  the  presidency,  against  Lewis 
Cass,  of  Michigan,  who  had  been  nominated  at  Baltimore  by 
the  regular  party  convention.     It  was  owing  to  this  division 
of  the  democratic  party,  that  Gen.  Taylor,  the  whig  candi- 
date, prevailed.     In  a  congressional  debate  preceding  his  in 
auguration,  the  same   principle  was  introduced  by  Mr.  Wil- 
mot,  of  Pennsylvania,  and   hence   called  "  the  Wilmot  pro- 
"wumot    viso."     It  was  approved  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  but 
proviso."     rejected  in  the  Senate. 


pose  (or 
which  it  was 
determined 


1§4§. 

Dec 


CONVENTION   OF  SOUTHERN   MEMBERS   OF  CONGRESS.  465 

The  southern  delegation  in  congress  from  the  fifteen  slave-  PART  IV 
holding  states  met,  on  the  22(1  of  December,  in  the  senate 
chamber,  to  concert  measures  for  the  preservation  of  their 
common  rights  ;  which  they  regarded  as  menaced  by  the 
VVilmot  proviso,  and  also  by  a  proposition  introduced  into  the 
House,  by  Mr.  Giddings,  of  Ohio,  to  abolish  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia.  In  an  address  prepared  for  the  occa- 
sion by  Mr.  Calhoun,  he  stated  to  the  meeting  his  view  of  the 
grievances  of  the  south,  and  the  aggressions  of  the  north, —  xt  r^  ^u 

^  ,    .    .  ^     ,  .'  ..  *=^  ,,  ,  r    •     1-     Mr.Calhoun'9 

complammg  oi  the  action  oi  states  as  well  as  that  oi  mdi-  address  to  tho 
viduals,  especially  in  regard  to  fugitive  slaves  ;  and  he  main-  tft^^afioJj. 
tained  that  these  aggressions,  if  suffered  to  remain  unchecked, 
would  soon  end  in  informal  emancipation ;  or  otherwise,  the 
same  object  would,  if  the  north  acquired  the  power,  be  at- 
tained by  an  amendment  of  the  constitution.  He  finally  ex- 
horted the  southern  members  to  union  among  themselves — 
perhaps  the  north  might  pause — otherwise  the  south  should 
be  prepared  to  defend  her  rights,  without  looking  to  the 
consequences. 

Mr.  Calhoun  and  his   friends  were  disappointed,  that  this 
anti-national    address    was   not    at    once,  and    unanimously     *^^^?* 
adopted.     The  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  22d  of  January  ;    Adjourned 
when  Mr.  Berrien  offered,  as  a  substitute,  an  address,  which,      "Y}*;'^^'') 
while  it  was  southern,  was  yet  national  in  its  tone.     Although  '  uddressre- 
Mr.  Calhoun's  was  adopted  by  a  majority,  yet  the  failure  of    ^^.l^^^l, 
absolute  unanimity  was  grievous  to  those,  who  had  w/€  jght  Caihoun's  34, 
themselves  into  a  determination  to  push  on  their  project  of 
disunion  to  its  final  consummation. 

(Tlie  London  correspondent  of  the  National  Intelligencer,  May  15,  1851,  says — "Let- 
ters from  Berlin  assert  that  Austria,  Prussia,  and  Russia  are  prepared  to  act  as  one 
man  at  the  approaching  diet  at  Franlifort;  and  that  the  great  question  there  settled 
will  be,  What  are  the.  most  effectual  measures  of  extinguishing  civil  liberty  all  over 
the  world!''''  Who  doubts  that  from  the  establishment  of  the  Holy  AUiance  in  18\5, 
that  has  been  the  great  question  ?  And  who  can  doubt  that  the  Republic  of  America, 
looked  to  by  all,  as  the  very  embodiment  of  civil  liberty,  comes  in  for  a  first  share  of  their 
consultation,  and  of  their  action,  secret  though  it  may  be?  To  discover  what  that  ac- 
tion is,  should  be  the  study  of  the  American  statesman;  to  counteract  it,  the  aim  of 
all  Americans.  We  have  endeavored  to  lay  open  what  we  believe  to  have  been  one 
mode  of  its  secret  action.  We  believe  there  are  others,  which  may  be  made  equally 
apparent.) 


CHAPTER   lY.  i§50. 

Census  esti- 
California.— Unexampled  Wealth  and  Increase.— Establishment  of  Civil  Government,  mateofpopu- 
— Exemplarj-  Political  Demeanor.  200 'oOO 

We  have  marked  the  gradual  rise  of  colonies  and  states,  toibou,  ar-" 
where  hundreds  of  years  were  required  to  gain  a  population  ''4y*6i5^  by^ 
equal  to  that  which  California,  in  three  years  from  the  dis-  the  prairies, 
covery  of  her  gold,  possessed.f  (DutVeslna 

We  have  seen  that  so  nicely  were  parlies  balanced,  in  re-  month  at  san 

.      -^  i  '  tranciscc, 

gard  to   the    slavery  question,   that   no    governments   were     §i76,ooo. 
granted,  in  the  congress  of  1848-9,  to  the  newly  acquired  ^SJeStT 
territories.     All  that  could  be  obtained  for  California  was  a  «97,ooo,ooo.) 


456  CALIFORNIA  LOYAL  TO  THE  UNION. 

PART  IV.  law,  by  wliich  her  revenue  was  to  be  collected  and  placed  in 

"  ■  the  coffers  of  the  republic.     Happily,  the  exemplary  political 

cn\p.  IV.     conduct  ot  Caliiornia,  under  these  trying  circumstances,  re- 

^^^f'-.^^,.'^^^^  lieved  the  anxious  forebodings  of  American  patriots,  that  she,' 

elaled  with  her  unprecedented  increase  of  numbers,  her  fame, 

and  her  gold,  might  take  Oregon  for  an  ally,  and  set  up  for 

herself.     To  prevent  any  such  disaster,  a  paternal  care  was 

exercised,  both  by  Mr.   Polk  and  Gen.  Taylor.     Mr.  Voor- 

hies  was  sent  by  the  former  to  California,  and  ably  instructed 

1§4§      ^y  Secretary  Buchanan  ;  and  the  latter,  when  only  a  month 

Oct.  7.       in  office,  sent  Thomas  Butler  King,  with  a  letter  of  instruc- 

Sy'^SSifl^  tion  from  Mr.  Clayton,  giving  the  Californians  the  timely  as 

an'sieiterto  surance,  that  "  whatever  can  be  done  to  afford  the  people  of 

'  the  Territories  the  benefits  of  civil  government,  and  the  pro- 

*®1^^*     tection  that  is  due  them,  will  be  anxiously  considered  and  at- 

DiiteofSeo-  tempted   by  the  executive."     Mr.  King  was  also  charged  to 

Ion's  k'Uer  to  ^^^gg^^'^  ^^  them  the  expediency  of  forming  a  government  for 

T.  B.  King,   themselves,  thereafter  to  be  submitted  to  congress. 

These  sagacious  counsels  tended  to  keep  the  leading  poli- 
ticians of  California  true  to  the  Union.     Indeed,  they  loved 
their  native  land,  and  contided  in  her  ultimate  justice.     But 
while  waiting  for  future  protection,  the  exciting  present  was 
upon  them.     There,  were  the  gathered  and  the  gathering 
thousands,  attracted  from  every  land  by  the  sovereign  power 
1§4§.     of  gold  ;  and   government,  in    addition  to  that  exercised  by 
Masoil^liowa  ^^^-  Mason,  the  military  commandant,  the  citizens  found  it 
brevet  Bris,'a-  necessary  to  exercise  among  themselves.     At  first  it  was  in- 
leairning^fhe  formal  ;  and  he  who  was  found  guilty  of  high  crimes,  was 
existence  of  put  to  death,  with  little  ceremony  or  delay.*     Gen.  Riley,  the 
assumes  civil  hero  of  Contreras,  who  succeeded   Gen.  Mason  as  military 
powers.)     governor,  issued  his   proclamation  August  1st,  1849,  estab- 
1§49.     lishing  a  species  of  judiciary,  at  the  head  of  which  was  placed 
Riley  sue-    Peter  H.  Burnet.     Subsequently,  he  issued  another  procla- 
eeeds  Mason,  mation,  inviting  the   citizens  to  choose  delegates  to  form  a 
A  kind  of    constitution  for  a  state  government.     Delegates  were  accord- 
Judiciary     ingly  chosen ;   who  met  at  Monterey,  September  1st,  1849, 
and    there    formed    an    unexceptionable    state    constitution. 
Slavery  had,  in  the  mean  time,  been  decided   against,  by  a 
At  Monterey,  Special  conveutiou  holden  at  San  Francisco  ;  and  it  was  ac- 
raeeuo^form  ^ordingly  excluded  by  the  constitution.! 
a  state  gov-       The  people  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  state  officers  ;  and 
ermnent.     ^^^  legislature  convened  at  San  Jose,  December  20th,  1849. 

Dec.  20. ■_ 

first  Legisia-  *  Very  recently  (1851)  we  hear  that  confederacies  of  gamblers  and  rob- 
ture  nu>ct.  bers  have  so  overawed  the  authorities  of  San  Francisco  and  other  Califor- 
nian  cities,  that  the  vilest  criminals  have  escaped  justice  ;  and  the  people 
by  a  Vigilance  Committee,  have  again  taken  the  law  into  their  own  hands. 
We  regret  the  necessity  of  a  practice  so  dangerous.  Yet  when  rampant 
vice  is  trampling  on  law,  if  men  whose  mothers  have  put  the  ten  command- 
ments into  their  hearts  and  lives,  boldly  rally,  put  down  crime,  and  hav- 
ing elevated  law,  quietly  restore  to  it  the  powers  which  they  toolv — not  for 
ambition,  but  for  these  holy  purposes— must  history  condemn  them  ?    No  I 


CUAP    IV. 


PKKCKI'T    AND    KX AMPLE.  457 

Ppter  II.  Biirru't,  who  \v;is  clecterl  chief  magistrate,  addressed  PART  IV. 
to  the  senate  and  assembly  a  message  of  extraordinary  inter-  ~ 

IT  •  t   „    1  1     •  ,1  11  I'KUIOD  IV. 

est.     "  How  rapid,    he    exclaims — "  how  astonishing    have 
been  the  changes  in  California  !   Twenty  months  ago,  inhabited 
by  a  sparse  population — a  pastoral  people,  deriving  a  mere    ~  &40^ 
subsistence  from  their  flocks  and  herds,  and  a  scanty  cultiva-  gov.  Burnet's 
tion  of  the  soil ; — now, — the  inexhaustible  gold  mines  discov-     eloquent 
ered, — our  ports  are  filled  with  shipping  from  every  clime  ; 
our  beautiful  bays  and  placid  rivers  are  navigated  by  steam  ; 
and  commercial  cities  have  sprung  up  as  if  by  enchantment. 
Now  we  are  here  assembled  for  the  sublime  task 
of  organizinsr  a  new  state,     l^ut  should  our  constitution  con- 

.^■  ■  ,       1  ■       ■  f  1  »  An  example 

flict  With  the  constitution  ot  our  common  country,  that  must  for  older 

prevail.     That  great   instrument,  which  now  governs   more  ^^'*'^- 
than  twenty  millions  of  people,  and  links  in  one  common  des- 
tiny thirty  states,  demands  our  purest  affections,  and  our  first 

and  highest  duty.      .       .       .     We  would  leave  our  people  to  (Gov.  Bumet 

sutler  on,  rather  than  violate  one  single  principle  ot  that  great  dom  and 

fundamental  law  of  the  land."     Gov.  Burnet  reasoned,  how-  boldness  to 

1  ■  1         ^    IT        •  1  1  I  recommend 

ever,  that,  since  the   Calilornians  only  assumed   to  regulate  to  the  people 

such  internal  aflairs  as  were  not  within  the  purview  of  the  ^Son^l.a?her 

general  government,  there  could  be  no  such  violation  :  and  thanindebt- 
the  members  accordingly  proceeded  to  legislative  action. 

The  choice  of  senators  to  congress  fell  upon  John  C.  Fre-  (Edward  Gii- 

mont  and  William  M.  Gwin.     The  constitution  of  California,  ^H^wrighT' 

and  her  petition  for  admittance  into  the  Union  as  a  state,  were  first  repre- 

•     11  1  ITT-       1  •  mi  -1  -1     Eentatives.) 

earned  by  them  to  Washington.      1  he  president  transmitted     «^,^ 


1§50. 


carried  by  them  to  Washington.     The  presii: 

these  documents  to  congress,  with  a  message,  expressing  the^  '^b^ia 

hope  that  their  petition  would  be  granted.  President 

The  clause  prohibiting  slavery,  especially  as  the  boundary  to  Congress 

carried  the  new  state  south  of  the  line  of  the  Missouri  com-'  the constuu- 

,  lion  oi  oaii- 

promise,  was,  in  congress,  as  a  torch  applied  to  explosives.  fomia. 
Some  southern  members  declared  that  its  adoption  by  congress 
would  be  cause  of  immediate  secession.  Other  subjects  of 
appalling  dithcuUy  pressed  upon  congress  ;  all,  however,  im- 
plicated in  the  one  absorbing  topic  of  slavery.  Texas  claimed 
that  her  territory  extended  to  the  Rio  Grande  ;  but  the  New 
Mexicans  in,  and  around  Santa  Fe,  east  of  the  Rio  Grande, 

had  never  submitted,  and  were   utterly  averse  to  her  rule.  i§49. 

In  January,  1849,  her  legislature  passed  laws,  dividing  the  Jan. 

disputed  region  into  counties.     To  organize  in  these  counties  la^sto'assert 

a  Texan  government,  Gov.  Bell,  the  executive,  sent  an  agent,  ^er  power 

'                         o         '  over  Ngw 

Major  Neighbours,  to  Santa  Fe,  who  warned  Colonel  Monroe,  Mexico, 

the  United  States  military  commandant,  against  all  "  inter-  i§50 

ference."     Colonel  Monroe,  finding  the  New  Mexicans  en-  April  18. 

raged,  and  being  instructed  from  Washington,  called  a  con-  bo^uraatsL- 

veniion,  which,  after  the    example  of  California,  framed   a  ^j*''^*^- 

Ktate  constitution ;  and  while  Texas  was  making    prepara-  and  united 

lions  to  seize  this  territory  by  force,  the   petition  of  New  grnme^ntsTm 

Mexico  to  be  admitted   as  a  state  into  the  Union  was  in-  u.-riere. 


458 


DANGER  TO  THE   UNION, 


1§5©. 

Jan.  16. 
Sen.  ^"oote 

introduces  a  same  request 

bill  for  the 
government 
ofDeserct— 

i.  e.,  Utah. 


Fugitive 
slave  bill  in- 
troduced by 
Sen.  lUitlcr. 

Jan.  23 


PART  IV.  troduced  into  congress.     These  affairs  were  in  progress  for 
■  several  months  ;  but  all  the  difficulties  of  the  dispute  were 

CHAP  IV      ^^°'^  ^^^^  ^"^^  ^^  ^^^  session  before  congress. 
y^^^J^^       The  south  maintained  the  claim  of  Texas,  since,  if  it  pre- 
vailed, the  disputed  territory  would  go  to  increase  the  area  of 
slavery;  and, for  the  same  reason,  the  north  opposed  it.* 

While  New  Mexico  was  petitioning  congress  for  a  govern- 
ment, another  remarkable  people  were  at  their  doors  w^ith  the 
These  were  the  enterprising  Mormons,  who 
had  found  a  resting-place  on  the  borders  of  the  Salt  Lake, 
where,  collecting  their  scattered  bands,  and  sending  out  their 
leaders  to  return  with  proselytes — they  had  now  a  flourishing 
settlement,  numbering  some  thousands.!  The  question  was 
not  whether  these  countries  should  have  governments,  to 
which  all  agreed — but,  shall  slavery  be  recognized,  or  shall  it 
be  prohibited  ?  Another  test  question  was  in  a  bill,  introduced 
by  Senator  Butler  of  South  Carolina,  for  a  new  law,  to  enable 
the  masters  of  fugitive  slaves  to  recover  them  from  other 
states.  In  requiring  this,  the  south  were  entirely  unanimous  : 
and  were  joined  by  conservative  politicians  of  the  north. 
"  To  us  in  Alabama,"  said  Senator  Clemens,  "  this  law  has 
no  pecuniary  value.  But  there  are  other  lights  in  which  we 
view  it.  If  a  plain  provision  of  the  constitution  can  be  nulli- 
fied at  will,  we  have  no  security  that  other  provisions  may 
not  meet  a  similar  fate ;  bringing  a  state  of  things,  compared 
with  which  revolution,  with  all  its  admitted  horrors,  would  be 
trifling  indeed.  Convince  me  that  this  law  cannot  be  exe- 
cuted, and  you  convince  me  that  this  government  is  and  ought 
to  he  at  an  end." 

The  hostile  feeling  between  the  north  and  the  south  was 
now  at  its  culminating  point,  and  Washington  the  focus  of  its 
baleful  rays.     Members  of  congress  from  Florida  and  other 
slaveholding  states   were    sending   addresses   to   their   con- 
stituents of  an  exciting  character  ;  enjoining  them  to  choose 
delegates  to  a  convention  which  had  been  appointed  to  be 
holden   in  Nashville,  on  the  2d  day  of  the  following  June. 
This  was  the  fruit  of  Mr.  Calhoun's  address.     The  project 
was  first  moved  by  Judge  Sharkie   of  Mississippi;  then  ma- 
prepared  by  tured  at  a  convention  of  that  state,  held  at  its  capital.     The 
for^"The"'  ultraists   gloried  in  believing   that   arrangements   would    be 
'United  States  made   at  Nashville   for  dividing  the   Union,  and  forming  a 
southern  confederacy.!     Never,  since  the  formation  of  this 


(t  1851. 
May. 
We  have  it 
on  the  au- 
thority of 
Sen.  Foote, 
that  a  conbti 
tution  was 


(1851. 

IS! ay  30.  *  The  course  of  the  Texans  was,  as  some  suppose,  a  ruse  to  bring 

Mr.  VVebster,  Qongress  to  give  them  money  for  the  relinquishment  of  their  claim.     But 

at  Albany,     ^be  well-grounded  fear  was,  that  the  disunionists  of  the  South  would  unite 

Bays  this  waa  with  Texas,  and  thus  begin  a  civil  war  in  earnest.     Gen.  Taylor,  we  are 

the  most      informed,  had,  previous  to  his   death,  ordered  800  men  to  proceed  to 

parYolThe    Santa  Fe,  to  defend  the  New  Mexicans  from  the  Texans.     The  New 

elavery  agiia-  Mexican  judge,  Hughson,  had  told  Major  Neighbours  that  he  would  im- 

tion.)        prison  any  one  who  attempted,  in  Santa  Fe,  to  execute  the  laws  of  Texaa. 


DANGER  NOBLY  MET. 


459 


TKUIOD  IV. 


happy  government,  has  the  American  patriot  seen  an  hour  so  PART  IV 
dark.  '•  Great  fears,"  said  Senator  Mangum,  of  North  Caro- 
lina, "  have  been  entertained  by  the  best  and  wisest  men  as 
to  the  possibility  of  preserving  the  integrity  of  the  Union,  and 
many  of  them  have  passed  sh^epless  nights.  I  have  passed 
mine."  Sleepless  nights  were  passed  in  every  part  of  the 
comitry  ;  and  fervent  prayers  arose,  that  the  God  of  the  fathers 
would  not  desert  the  children. 


CHAPTEE  Y. 


Congressional  Eloquence  of  the  First  Session  of  the  Thirty-first  (Congress. 

The  first  session  of  the  thirty-first  congress  was  the  long- 
est, the  most  stormy,  and  the  most  important  in  its  results,  of 
any  since  the  organization  of  the  government ;  and  in  it,  by  the 
strife  and  power  of  words,  were  settled  more  important  issues, 
than  those  on  any  American  battle-field,since  the  revolution. 

The  senate  took  the  lead.  Never  had  that  body  presented 
more  talent.  The  first  of  its  great  men  and  orators,  who, 
touched  with  the  feeling  of  the  country's  danger,  shook 
off  all  party  and  sectional  trammels,  and  stood  up  for  the 
Union,  was  Henry  Clay.  He  was  now  venerable  in  years  ; 
but  his  intellect  retained  its  soundness,  and  his  heart  its  deep 
well-spring  of  patriotic  feeling.  His  voice,  his  eye,  his  grace 
of  action  and  gift  of  words,  which  had  made  him  regarded  as 
the  first  orator  who  speaks  the  English  tongue,  were  yet  pre- 
served, that  he  might  succor,  and  perhaps  save,  his  country,  in 
this  her  hour  of  peril.  Second  only  to  him  in  eloquence,  and 
first,  as  an  expounder  of  the  constitution  and  the  great  princi- 
ples of  national  law,  was  Daniel  Webster.  These  two 
ranked  as  whigs.  Of  the  statesmen  and  orators  of  the 
democratic  party,  there  was  first  the  fearless  patriot,  Thomas 
H.  Benton,  w^ho  had  longer  than  any  other  senator  been  sus- 
tained in  that  high  elevation.  He  was  the  stern  denouncer  of 
disunion  ;  and  had  been  the  prophet  of  the  coming  storm.  An- 
other was  Lewis  Cass,  of  Michigan,  the  late  democratic  candi- 
date for  the  presidency.  He  knew  no  party  when  the  Union 
was  in  danger.  Senator  Bell,  of  Tennessee,  as  a  sound  and 
eloquent  proposer  and  defender  of  plans  for  the  good  of 
his  country,  ranked  with  Mr.  Clay.  Senator  Foote, of  Mis- 
sissippi, may  well  be  mentioned  in  the  same  connection;  for 
although  charged  with  having  compromited  the  dignity  of  the 
highest  legislative  body  of  the  continent,  yet  he  was  more  than 
forgiven,  because  he  loved  his  country  much.  But  our  limits 
oblige  us  to  do  injustice,  by  omitting  distinguished  patriots  and 
orators,  of  both  parlies,  and  both  houses  of  the  national  legis- 
lature. 


Remarkable 
preservation 
ofthepowert 
of  .Mr.  Clay 


Oh.  Benton 
had  five  elec- 
tions— was  in 

the  senate 
thirty  jears.'k 


(t  He  drew  a 
])istol  on  the 

floor  of  the 
senate  cham 
btr,  upon  Mr. 
Benton,  who 

ai)pro:iched 
him  in'a 

threatening 
manner.) 


460  MISUNDERSTANDINGS. 

PART  IV.       Congress  presented   a  melancholy  spectacle   at  their  as- 
~  sembling.     The  house  not  being  able  to  make  choice  of  the 

proper  officers,  was  long  a  scene  of  confusion.  In  both  de- 
partments, the  members  from  opposite  sections  met  each  other 
~"7^^^^  with  deep  feelings  of  hostility.*  The  northern  men  came  in- 
(Thc;  House  striicfed  by  their  constituents  to  stand  for  the  Wilmot  proviso  ; 
spent  more  ^nd  the  southern,  at  all  hazards,  for  the  tests,  and  against  the 
'  in"miiTng  free-soil  principle.  The  south  had  judged  of  the  whole  north 
choice  of  a    ^       miich  by  a  few  knavish,  itinerating  traders;  and  if  the 

doorkeeper.)  ,     ,       ,    ,    "^  ,  .     .       '  ,  ?      i   i  i  i 

north  had  been  to  them  mjurious,  they  had  been  to  the  north 
insolent  and  provoking.     The  men  of  the  north   and  south 
ffiphonce   misunderstood   each  other;  the    latter    by  ascribing  to  the 
caiieri  men  of  former  not  only  the  occasional  violation  of  the  constitution, 
"doiiirh-^     but  the  settled  purpose  to  violate  it,  and  ruin  them  by  an  un- 
faces:"that  jygt  interference  in  their  guarantied  privileges.     The  men  oi 
moulded  at    the  norih,  unconscious  of  any  such  design,  believed  its  verbal 
^'L'ldh^^    manifestation  and  that  of  an  intent  to  sever  the  Union,  to  be 
but  tricks  of  the  south  to  frighten  them,  and  thus  to  keep  thai 
BrSsgreat  '<^^^  i'f^  national  affairs,  of  which  the  south  had  heretofore  en- 
speech  at  the  jyyf.,]   more   than  an  equal    share.      *  They  cannot,'  it  was 
SeceJion     said,  '  be  in  earnest.     They  could  not  exist  out  of  the  Union. 
^^"^1851"'    ^^^^-^  nations  (meaning,  of  course,  the  English)  are  more  op- 
iiot 'pni)iish-  posed  to  slavery  than  the  north  ;  and  if  all  countries  opposed, 
^page  waa     ^"^l  noue  defended,  what  would  the  south  do  in  case  of  in- 
raproof, con-  surrection  V     Not  considering,  that  as  England  had  changed 
deuce *that    her  Opinion  for  reasons,  she  could  do  the  same  again  ;  and  at- 
)othVP"'    tsmptto  sustain  the  institutions  of  such  statesf  as,  destroying 
.    reaiit.v.)     the  American  constitution,  and  dividing  the  Union,  should  call 
on  her  for  aid.     Be  this  as  it  may,  the  north  was  mistaken. 
The    south  was  fixed    in   deadly  determination  to  dissolve 
the  Union,  unless  the  northern  agitators  should  cease  to  bring 

*  The  writer  being  at  tlie  time  in  Washington,  speaks  from  observa- 
tion.    Even  ladies  from  the  south  would  not  at  first  converse  on  slavery, 
with  ladies  from  the  north.     When  their  confidence  was  obtained,  they 
testified  to  having  seen  papers,  in  which  their  slaves  were  incited*  to 
^bv  virtu  T*^  crimes  of  such  a  nature,  that  we  ceased  to  wonder  that  the  women  of 
abolitionists,  the  south  were  more  bitter  than  the  men. 

butbyforeign  •}-  Mr.  Calhoun,  and  men  of  his  stamp,  would  doubtless  have  spurned 
^d*d^^"*'r  ®^^^  ^  correspondence,  and  such  a  dependence.  He  never,  as  his  friend, 
Iraitord.)  ex-Gov.  Hamilton,  assures  us,  contemplated  the  separate  secession  of 
South  Carolina.  But  since  his  death,  this  has  been  contemplated  ;  and  a 
diplomatic  correspondence  has  been  already  carried  on  between  an  ati^ent 
of  Great  Britain  applying  to  Charleston  instead  of  WasliiniJton  for  relief 
concerning  tlie  South  Carolina  law,  to  confine  in  jail  free  negroes  brought 
to  their  ports,  until  the  departure  of  the  vessels  in  which  they  came.  We 
do  not  learn  that  any  thing  in  this  respect  was  effected  ;  and  we  do  not 
know  that  there  was  any  tampering  with  discontented  spirits.  But  if 
one  state  should  be  arrayed  against  thirty,  and  that  is  the  attitude 
into  which  idtra  disunionists  are  now  endeavoring  to  force  South  Caro- 
lina,— one  of  two  things  is  clear — either  that  these  disunionists  are  mad — 
utterly  insane — or  that  they  expect  help  from  some  quarter  other  than 
openly  appears.  But  Great  Britain  would  not  be  likely  to  attempt  for  a 
single  Southern  state,  what  she  might  perhaps  do  for  a  Southern  con- 
federacy. 


IMPORTANCE   OF  THE   UNITED  STATES   JUDICIARY,  461 

danger  to  their  firesides;  and  full  assurance  be  given  them,  PART  IV. 
that  thev  were  not  to  bo  made  the  victims  of  northern  con-   ^  ' 

, .  ,  , .  ,  ,  I'EEIOD  IV. 

scientiousness.      borne   regardnig  the    aie   as  already  cast,      cuap.  v. 
were  now  only  seeking  the  means  of  disunion.  v^<^-v'-^^ 

The  two  first  northern  senators  who  broke  in  upon  this 
sullen  gloom  of  uncharitablencss  and  discontent,  were  Dick-  jee/v 
INSON,  of  New  York,  and  Phelps,  of  Vermont.  The  former,  jan.  17* 
in  the  course  of  his  speech,  solemnly  assured  his  southern  '^'';-  uickin- 
brethren  that  the  north,  as  a  body,  regarded  the  guarantees  of 
the  constitution  as  sacred.  "  Sir,"  said  he,  "  take  a  small 
number  out  of  the  northern  and  also  out  of  the  southern  sec- 
tions of  the  Union,  or  silence  their  clamor,  and  this  accursed 
agitation  would  be  settled  in  less  than  a  week.  .  .  The  con- 
stitution throws  its  broad  aegis  over  the  whole  of  this  mighty 
republic.  Its  people  bow  before  it  with  more  than  eastern 
devotion. — They  will  adhere  to  this  Union  ;  and  although  the 
northern  people  are  opposed  to  the  institution  of  slavery,  the 
great  mass  of  them  have  no  intention  or  disposition  to  trench 
upon  constitutional  rights.  And  this  they  will  prove  to  the 
south,  should  the  occasion  arise,  even  though  they  should  sell 
their  lives  in  her  defence."  In  the  speech  of  Senator  Phelps,  splTech  of 
on  the  23d  of  January,  logical  argument  was  complacently  Mr.  Pheipa. 
mingled  with  an  original  vein  of  wit.  Without  taking  serious 
ground  against  the  southern  threat  of  secession,  he  showed 
that  the  time  had  not  yet  come.  '•  The  supreme  judiciary  of 
the  nation  were,  he  justly  maintained,  the  proper  court  to 
try  constitutional  questions  ;  and  unless  the  south,  before 
proceeding  to  action,  appealed  to  that  tribunal,  she  would  put 
herself  in  the  wrong.  In  so  important  a  matter,  she  should 
not  be  in  too  much  haste,  but  take  the  proper  steps,  and  bide 
her  time.  x\s  to  what  had  been  offensively  said  at  the  north, 
this  was  a  land  of  free  speech ;  and  what  was  to  be  done 
with  people,  who  believed  themselves  charged  with  a  mission, 
not  only  to  amend  the  constitution  framed  by  the  wisdom  of 
our  fathers,  but  also  to  assist  the  Almighty  in  the  correction 
of  sundry  mistakes  which  they  had  discovered  in  his  works  ?" 
The  brows  of  the  southern  senators  unbent,  and  they  cordi- 
ally greeted  the  orator  when  the  speech  was  ended  ;  and  an 
observer  remarked,  '*  He  has  thrown  the  first  bucket  of  water 
which  has  reached  the  fire.'* 

On  the  25th  of  January,  Mr.  Clay  offered  his  memorable      Jan.25.^ 
plan  of  compromise.     On  the  5th  of  February,  amidst  such  a  compromise 
crowd  of  both  sexes  as  the  senate-chamber  had  never  before    -^solutions. 
witnessed,  he   came  forward  to  speak  in  their  defence.     In 
the  preamble  of  his  eight  resolutions,  he  staled  the  reason  of 
their  introduction  to  be,  that  it  was  "  for  the  peace,  harmony, 
and  concord  of  the  Union  to  settle,  and  adjust  amicably,  all 
exciting  questions  of  controversy  between  them,  arising  out 
of  the  institution  of  slavery,  upon  a  fair,  equitable,  and  just 
basis."     The  compromise  was  substantially  the  same  as  that 


4:62 


MR.   CLAY  S  GREAT  SPEECH. 


PART  TV. 

PERIOD  IV'. 
CHAP.  V. 


1850. 

Feb.  5. 

Mr.  Clay's 

great  speech. 


Mr.  Clay's 
view  of  the 
dangerous 
position  of 
the  couutiy. 


Of  the  conse- 
quences of 
dUunion. 


March  7. 
Mr.  Web- 
ster's great 

speech. 


Mr.  Webster 
on  secession. 


which  passed  after  months  of  debate,  and  is  hereafter  to  bo 
explained, 

Mr.  Clay  opened  his  speech  by  the  affecting  declaration, 
that  never,  on  any  former  occasion,  had  he  risen  with  feelings 
of  such  deep  solicitude.  He  had  witnessed  many  periods  of 
great  anxiety,  of  peril,  and  of  danger  to  the  country  ;  hut 
never  before  had  he  risen  "  to  address  an  assembly,  so  op- 
pressed, so  appalled,  so  anxious."  He  looked  to  God  to  give 
him  the  strength  and  the  ability  to  perform  the  work  before 
him.  Ho  attributed  the  danger  of  the  country  to  the  unprin- 
cipled selfishness  of  party  men.  They  caught  at  every  pfiss- 
ing  and  floating  plank,  and  thus  brought  into  consequence 
pernicious  agitators.  x\t  the  moment  when  the  White  House 
was  on  fire,  instead  of  uniting  to  extinguish  the  flames,  they 
were  contending  about  who  should  be  its  next  occupant ! 
While  a  dreadful  crevasse  menaced  inundation,  they  were 
contesting  the  profits  of  the  estate,  which  was  threatened  with 
total  submersion !  .  .  All  now  is  uproar,  confusion,  and 
menace  to  this  Union.  .  .  The  speaker,  after  im.ploring 
senators  to  listen  to  reason,  explained,  with  clearness,  his  plan 
of  settling  the  several  difliculties,  which  arose  from  slavery. 
He  denounced  secession.  None  had  a  right  to  secede.  He 
b"Blonged  to  the  Union.  Within  the  Union  he  took  his  stand, 
and  there  he  meant  to  stand  and  die, — fighting,  if  necessary  ; 
but  no  power  on  earth  should  force  him  out  of  the  Union. 
At  the  close,  he  dwelt  on  the  ruin  which  would  spring  from 
the  dissolution  of  the  Union.  War  would  be  inevitable  ;  and 
such  a  war, — so  furious,  so  bloody,  so  implacable,  so  extermi- 
nating,— could  not  be  found  upon  the  pages  of  history.  He  en- 
treated members  to  pause  on  the  brink  of  the  precipice,  before 
they  took  the  fearful  leap  into  the  yawning  abyss.  But  if 
that  direful  event,  the  dissolution  of  the  Union,  were  to  hap- 
pen, he  implored  of  heaven,  that  he  might  not  survive  to  be- 
hold it. 

The  words  of  this  beloved  patriot  thrilled,  not  only  through 
the  halls  of  the  capitol,  but  to  the  farthest  limits  of  the  re- 
public. 

To  similar  effect  was  the  eloquence  of  Daniel  Webster. 
"Mr.  President,"  he  said,  "I  hear  with  pain,  and  anguish, 
and  distress,  the  word  secession  falling  from  the  lips  of  the 
eminent  and  patriotic.  Secession!  Peaceable  secession! 
The  dismemberment  of  this  vast  country  without  convulsion! 
The  breaking  up  of  the  fountains  of  the  great  deep,  without 
ruffling  the  surface !  .  .  .  Peaceable  secession !  what 
would  be  the  result  ?  What  would  become  of  the  army,  the 
navy,  and  the  public  lands  "?  Where  is  the  line  to  be  drawn  1 
What  states  are  to  be  associated  ?  What  is  to  remain 
American  ?  Whore  am  I  to  be  ?  .  .  .  Where  is  the 
flag  to  remain?  Is  the  eagle  still  to  tower?  or  is  he  to 
cower,  to  shrink,  and  fall  to  the  ground  ?" 


CUAP.  VI 


A  CLEARER  ATMOSPHERE  463 


CIIAPTEE    YI. 

B«neflcial  Effects  of  the  Collision  of  Opinions  in  Congress. — Tlie  Committee  of  Thir- 
teen.— The  "Omnibus  Bill." — Sepojate  Passage  of  the  Compromise  Meiisures. 

Not  only  was  there  in  congress  eloquence  in  favor  of  the  PART  IV. 
Union,  but  against  it ; — and  there  was  violent  clamor  and  de-  "'\ 
grading  personality.       Every  phase  of  popular  opinion  had 
its  stormy  advocate,  and  wrathful  opponent.     Yet,  in  the  tem- 
pest, it  is  the  lightning,  not  the  thunder,  which  kills  ;  but  as,    ^§'o^ 
peal  by  peal,  the  dangerous  element  explodes,  the  atmosphere 
becomes  cleared.     Thus  the  impassioned  eloquence  and  fiery 
declamation  of  the  capitol  gave  wholesome  vent  to  danger- 
ous feeling,  and  inspired  a  healthier  tone  of  public  sentiment ; 
which,    beginning    at   Washington,    spread    throughout    the 
Union.     And  it  produced  a  refluent  wave,  which  threw  back 
upon  the  members  of  congress,  instead  of  a  seditious,  a  con- 
servative public  opinion  ; — which  required  of  them  to  cease 
from  mere  words, — to  compromise  their  difficulties,  and  per- 
form the  indispensable  business  of  the  nation. 

Mr.  Clay  had  ably  defended  his  plan  of  compromise.     Mr. 
Bell  introduced  and  advocated  another.     Mr.  Foote  had  made, 
and  he  finally  carried,  a  motion  for  the  appointment  of  a  com- 
mittee of  the  senate,  to  be  composed  of  six  members  from  the     ^prii  19. 
north,  six  from  the  south,  and  a  thirteenth  to  be  chosen  by  the  Commiiieeo 
first  twelve ;  to  whom  should  be  referred  the  different  plans    appomted. 
for  compromise  ; — with  directions,  however,  that  the   com- 
mittee report,  according  to  their  own  judgment,  a  scheme  of 
settlement  for  the  difierent  branches  of  the  slavery  question. 

This  committee,*  of  whom  Mr.  Clay  was,  by  the  senate,  ap- 
pointed chairman,  reported  on  the  8th  of  May.     Four  months  of  Mr.  ciay'ro- 

ports  the 
*' Omnibus 


arately,  or  in  one  "  Omnibus  Bill."     Mr.  Benton  urged   the 
former  course,  on  account  of  its  fairness,  and  especially  in  be- 


jarring  debate  ensued  ;  much  of  which  referred  to  the  point, 
whether  the  several  proposed  laws  should  be  voted  for  sep-  Bill,"  provi'd- 

-  ing  for  ihf 

settlement  of 
the  several 

half  of  suffering  yet  dutiful  California  ;  while  Mr.  Clay  main-  uumrby  iSs 
tained  the  latter  ;  urging  that  if  the  different  parts  of  the  bill  3Xon& 
were  presented  together,  both  parties  would  concede  some 
things,  for  the  sake  of  gaining  others.  juneS. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Nashville  convention,  which,  had  it     Nashville 
assembled  in  January,  might  have  led  to  civil  war  and  na- 

*  This  able  committee,  who  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  whole  coun- 
try, were  composed  of  Messrs.  Clay  of  Kentucky,  chairman ;  Cass  of 
Michigan,  Dickinson  of  New  York.  Bright  of  Indiana,  Webster  of  Massa- 
chusetts, Phelps  of  Vermont,  Cooper  of  Pennsylvania,  King  of  Alabama, 
Mason  of  Virginia,  Downs  of  Louisiana,  Mangum  of  North  Carohna,  Bell 
of  Tennessee,  and  Berrien  of  Georgia. 


464 


A  PIRATICAL  EXPEDITION. 


PART  IV 


PERIOD  IV. 
CHAP.  VI. 


Exp'  dition 

frori  the 

UiPi,e  I  tJUites 

agaiiT  t  Ciibii. 


Mf.y  18,  19. 

The  aivadtTri 

lard  at  Car- 

denas. 


May  19. 

Cardenas. 

American 

!oas  about  30. 

Cuban  loss 

not  known. 

Stated  by  tho 

invaders  as 

probably  100. 

May  2iJ. 

Arrival  at 

Key  West. 


tional  destruction,^  met  harmlessly  on  the  2d  of  .Tune  ;  par 
taking  of  the  country's  calmer  mood  and  renewed  devotion  to 
the  Union.  Judge  Sharkie,  its  projector,  was  made  presi- 
dent of  the  convention.  In  his  initiatory  address,  he  said, 
that  its  members  had  met,  "  because  the  constitution,  which 
gave  equal  rights  to  the  south,  had  been  violated  ;  and  that 
was  a  shock  which  the  government  could  not  stand."  They 
had  assembled  to  devise  a  remedy,  and  thus  to  preserve  the 
Union.  It  was  a  slander  of  enemies,  that  they  had  met  to 
dissolve  the  Union.  For  his  part,  he  hoped  that  "  the  Union 
would  be  the  last  tiling  to  perish  amidst  the  wreck  of  matter." 
A  disgraceful  and  abortive  attempt  was  made  from  the 
United  States  upon  Cuba  in  May,  1850.  Americans,  mostly 
from  states  bordering  on  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  effected 
a  military  organization  under  the  Cuban  general,  Lopez.  In 
defiance  not  only  of  the  National  Law,  but  of  President 
Taylor's  express  proclamation,  they  sailed,  with  munitions  of 
war,  from  New  Orleans  ; — pretended  emigrants,  in  vessels 
clearing  for  Chagres.  They  made  their  rendezvous  in  the 
island  of  Contoy,  on  the  coast  of  Yucatan.  On  the  night  of 
the  18th  of  May,  Gen.  Lopez,  with  fi09  men,  approached  the 
coast  of  Cuba  in  the  steamship  Creole.  He  landed  at  the 
little  town  of  Cardenas  ;  expecting  that  the  inhabitants  would 
join  him.  He  intended  to  possess  himself  of  the  railroad, 
and  then  proceed  fifteen  miles  west  to  Matanzas.  But  the 
people  were  only  moved  to  rage  by  the  inflated  proclauiation 
of  Lopez,  which  invited  them  "  to  uphold  the  banner  of 
liberty ;"  and  pointed  to  "  the  sublime  North  American 
government, as  the  arbiter  of  their  fate."  The  alarm  spread 
rapidly,  and  the  country  rose  against  the  invaders  These 
made  themselves  masters  of  Cardenas  ; — carrying  off  bags  or 
specie, — burning  the  governor's  house,  and  making  him  and 
four  of  his  officers  prisoners.  To  prevent  their  enemies 
using  the  railroad,  the  Cubans  tore  up  the  rails.  Lopez 
learned  that  hostile  bands  were  approaching  ;  and  on  the 
evening  of  the  19th,  he  re-embarked; — a  bloody  skirmish  oc- 
curring on  his  way  to  the  ship.  The  invaders,  sending  their 
prisoners  ashore  in  a  boat,  put  out  to  sea,  intending  to  attack 
in  another  place.  The  Creole  ran  aground  ;  and  to  get  her 
ofi',  they  were  obliged  to  throw  overboard  their  ammunition. 
The  men  then  compelled  the  oflicers  to  carry  them  to  Key 
West,  the  nearest  port  on  the  American  coast.  Just  as  they 
entered,  the  Spanish  war-steamer,  Pizarro,  overtook  them. 
The  high  honor  of  the  old  Spanish  character  appeared  in  the 
conduct  of  its  commander.  The  enemy  he  sought  was  in  his 
grasp  ;  yet  being  within  a  neutral  port,  he   forbore   to  take 


*  "  The  Southern  members  conferred  together,  spoke  together,  and, 
at  one  time,  would  have  been  prepared  to  sink  or  swim  in  a  common 
peril." — See  Senator  Butler's  Speech  at  the  Charleston  Convention^  3Iai/, 
1851. 


THE  COMPROMISE.  466 

even  the  bags  of  stolen  specie,  which  were  unloaded  before  his  PART  IV. 
eyes.     He  vainly  asked  of  the  American  authorities  to  restore      7 
it,  and  give  up  the  invaders  ;  then  returning  to  Havana  by  Con  • 
toy,  he  represented  the  facts  to  his  government.     Gen,  Taylor 
had  sent  a  strong  naval   force  to  Cuba,  which  unfortunately 
arrived  too  late  to  prevent  the  invasion.     Lopez  not  having  em 
barked  all  his  troops  at  Contoy,  the  Pizarro  took  from  thence  100 
prisoners,  and  carried  them  to  Cuba.    The  Spanish  governor- 
general,  Count  de  Alcoy,  being  much  exasperated,  these  men 
were  in  great  danger  of  suffering  death  as  pirates  ;  the  piti- 
able fate  of  a  few,  who  were  left  at  Cardenas  by  Lopez.* 

Pending  the  debates  on  the  compromise  measures,  the  na- 
tion was  called  to  deep  and  sincere  mourning  for  the  loss  of 
her  beloved  chief  magistrate.      Gen.  Taylor  expired  at  the       juivy. 
presidential  mansion  on  the  9th  of  July ,t  and  Millard  Fill-  ^^?;*'|^.. ^'^' '^'^ 
MORE,  of  New  York,  immediately  succeeded  him  in  the  presi-   j„^„„„ryti,^n 
dency  ;  happily  well  fitted,  by  moral,  intellectual,  and  physical    of  Mr.  Fill- 
soundness,  for  the  exalted  and  difhcult  place.      Mr.  King,  of       "^"'"*^' 
Alabama,  was  chosen  president  of  the  senate.     The  cabinet  ^ 
of  Gen.  Taylor  resigned.      Mr.  Fillmore  appointed  able  suc- 
cessors, Mr.  Webster  filling  the  department  of  state.      He 
soon  negotiated,  with  the  government  of  Cuba,  the  release  of 
the  Contoy  prisoners. 

In  the  early  part  of  September,  the  measures  reported  by  September?. 
the  committee  of  thirteen  passed — separately  ;  but  they  had  mise'^mea'^^ 
been  considered  together,  and  were  agreed  to,  as  mutual  con-  „  ,.f"'<'.^-    . 

,  ^        ■  r         1  1  r         •  7^        u  California  ad' 

cessions  and  compromises  tor  the  sake  ot  union.     By  tnem,  mUted,  (esti 
1st,  California,  with  her  constitution  excluding  slavery,  and  '"'^laUon"^"' 
her  boundaries  extending  from  Oregon  to  the  Mexican  pos-     2uo,ooo.> 
sessions,  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  state.     2d,  The  utah  erectt-d 
Great  Basin  east  of  California,  containing  the  Mormon  settle- 


iiito  a  terri- 


tory, (fSll 


ment  near  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  was  erected,  without  mention  mated  popih 
of  slavery,  into  a  territory,  by  the  Indian  appellation  of  Utah.      25,SN 

■*  Strange  as  it  may  appear,  another  Cuban  expedition  has  since  been 
organized  in  the  United  States ;  but  we  hope  tlie  energetic  measures 
which  the  government  under  President  Fillmore  has  taken  to  prevent 
it  may  prove  effectual. 

f  General  Taylor  keenly  felt  the  difficulties  and  vexations  incident  to 
his  station.  "  Many  a  night,"  said  he  to  the  author  of  this  liistory,  "  have 
I  made  my  lodging  on  the  bare  ground,  with  no  other  canopy  above 
me  but  the  canopy  of  heaven,  when  I  have  slept  as  I  cannot  sleep  here  ; 
— and  all  because  I  cannot  give  an  office  to  every  gentleman  that  wants 
one."  General  Harrison  made  complaint  of  similar  annoyance  to  a 
female  friend,  now  Mrs.  Peter,  of  Philadelphia,  who  regards  it  as  the 
cause  of  his  death.  The  constancy  with  which  General  1'aylor  sustained 
liis  subordinates,  made  their  troubles  his,  Mr.  Crawford,  of  Georgia,  his 
Secretary  of  War,  was  accused  by  members  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  regard  to  a  large  sum  of  money  which  he  had  received,  as 
had  been  adjudged  by  a  legal  tribunal,  on  a  claim  of  Milledge  Galphin. 
Mr.  Crawford  was  subjected  to  what  Gen.  Taylor  considered  ill-usage  ; — 
a  part  of  which  glanced  off  upon  himself,  and  was  undoubtedly  one  cause 
of  his  death. 


466 


CONSEaUENCES   OF  THE  GREAT  AGITATION. 


PART  IV 

PERIOD  IV. 
CUAP,  VI. 


1§50. 

(t  Seuator 
Dayton,  of 
New  Jersey, 
and  others, 
foretold  the 
oi)position 
Ihe  billwould 
meet,  on  ac- 
count of 
omission  of 
Irial  by  jury.) 


3d,  New  Mexico,  with  a  boundary  which  satisfied  her  inhabit- 
ants, was  also  erected,  without  mention  of  slavery,  into  a  tor- 
ritory — Congress  giving  Texas,  for  the  relinquishment  of  her 
claims,  ten  millions  of  dollars  ; — Texas  to  pay  with  the  money 
former  debts,  for  which  the  United  States  were  bound, — not 
legally,  but  in  honor.  4th,  A  law  was  passed,  abolishing — 
not  slavery,  but  the  slave-trade,  in  the  District  of  Columbia; 
and  5th,  a  law,  the  more  effectually  to  secure  the  prompt  de- 
livery of  persons  bound  to  service  or  labor  in  one  state,  and 
escaping  into  another, — called  the  fugitive-slave  law. 

The  compromise  measures  proved  the  quieting  of  the 
fearful  storm.  Those  who  passed  them,  did,  like  th^-  framers 
of  the  constitution,  agree  to  apprehended  evils  to  prevent 
disunion,  and  thus  preserve  the  country  in  its  vital  point. 
Some  condemned,  but  the  nation  at  large  approved  ;  and  no 
rallying  cry  so  touched  the  heart  of  the  people,  as  "  The 
Union,  the  whole  Union !"     "  Our  Country,  one  and  entire  !" 

The  remains  of  the  great  agitation  appeared  at  the  north 
by  opposition  to  the  fugitive-slave  law  ;  and  at  the  south  by  a 
convention  of  delegates,  from  the  anti-union  party,  held  April 
1851,  in  Charleston,  S.  C. ;  where,  notwithstanding  the  wiser 
counsels  of  Senator  Butler  and  others,  the  majority  resolved 
to  encourage  separate  secession.  We  hope  that  this  con- 
vention does  not  truly  represent  the  mass  of  the  people  ;  or 
that  a  redeeming  spirit  will  rally,  and  this  noble  state  be  saved 
from  such  destructive  rashness. 

Such  was  the  opposition  to  the  fugitive-slave  law  in  one 
instance  Avhich  occurred  in  Boston,  that  the  President  of 
the  United  States  issued  a  special  proclamation,  calling  on 
all  to  sustain  the  majesty  of  the  laws.  On  a  subsequent  oc- 
casion the  people  of  Boston,  as  a  body,  showed  an  answer- 
able determination.  Public  prints  asserted,  that  the  opposi- 
tion was  the  work  of  the  negroes  and  a  hw  abolitionists, 
among  whom  was  conspicuous  George  Thompson,  a  British 
member  of  parliament. 

Many  northern  union-men,  who  fully  believe  that  the  south 
should  have  the  means  to  reclaim  her  fugitives,  yet  think  the 
present  law  should  be  modified. f  We  apprehend  no  diffi- 
culty in  bringing  the  subject  before  congress.  After  the  mag- 
azine has  exploded,  there  is  no  danger  in  the  lighted  candle. 
The  restoration  of  confidence  between  good  and  patriotic 
citizens  of  the  north  and  south  will  be  full  of  prosperity  and 
happiness  to  both.  The  colored  race,  as  they  were  the  first 
to  sufl^er  by  the  loss  of  such  confidence,  so  they  will  be  the 
first  to  benefit  by  its  return.  Already  we  hear  more  and 
more  of  eflbrts  at  the  south  to  improve  them,  as  intellectual, 
moral,  and  religious  beings.  We  hope  these  efforts  may  con- 
tinue, and  increase,  and  receive  the  smiles  of  the  Almighty ; 
and  that  the  odious  word  "  slavery,"  by  which  America  has 
suffered  so  much,  may  soon  be   exchanged  for  ^e  mildeT 


-ith 


TREATIES.  4(57 

term,  servitutle.     Indeed,  in  a  great  part  of  the  south,  such  PART  IV 
are  the  priviletres  and  comforts, — and  such  the  degree  of  inde-  ^ 
pendence  which   the   blacks   are  allowed,  in  the  holding  of 

*  1       1  T  •  ■  r       \        ■  1  CHAP.  VI, 

property,  and  the  disposing  a  portion  ot  their  own  time,  that  .„^^..^,^^^. 
they  are,  as    they  should    be.  called    servants,  rather    than 
slaves. 

Treaties. — In   1849,  a  treaty  was  negotiated  at  Rio  Ja- 
neiro by  Mr.  Tod,  the  American  minister,  with  the  Viscount     |ojq 
Olinda,  on  the  part  of  the  Brazilian  emperor,  the  latter  agree-      jan.  vj?.* 
ing  to  pay  a  specified  sum  to  the  Americans  for  spoliations,   ^'gr^j, 

A  temporary  treaty  was  negotiated  at  Washington,  by 
the  Austrian  minister,  Mr.  Hulseman,  and  Secretary  Buchan-   .p*^"'-';  ^• 
an,  by  which  certain  privileges  were  granted  to  the  subjects      Aubtda. 
of  each  contracting  power,  residing  in  the  other's  country. 
During  the  revolt  of  Hungary,  Gen.  Taylor  sent  by  Mr.  Mann 
a  message  of  inquiry  to  Kossuth,  the  patriotic  leader  of  the  re- 
volted Hungarians.     Of  this  the  Austrian  government,  by  Mr. 
Hulseman,  in    a   letter   to    Mr.    Clayton,  complained,  with      1850. 
threats.     After  Gen.  Taylor's  death,  Mr.  Webster  made  an  ^"offfcnce."*' 
able  and  popular  reply,  showing  that  the  act  of  the  president  »ir.  vvcbstor 
was  not  an  interference  in  the  affairs  of  Austria  ;  but  only  a  ^^HuS-man.'* 
natural  manifestation  of  the  sympathy,  which  this  nation  must 
be  expected  to  feel,  for  those  whose   struggles  for  freedom 
were  similar  to  our  own,     .     .     On  the  16th  of  December, 
the  National  Assembly  Of  the  Republic   of  Switzerland,  in 
open  session  at  Berne,  ratified,  with  extraordinary  tokens  of 
high  satisfaction,  a  treaty  of  amity  and  commerce,  which  had  swUzeriani 
been    previously  negotiated   between    the   two  republics   of 
America    and    Switzerland.      .      .     Of   all   the   triumphs   of 
Christianity  in  our  day,  there  is  none  more  signal  than  the     sandwich 
conversion  and  civilization  of  the  Sandwich  Islands.     They      isi:ind.s. 
are   a  feeble   power,  but   England  and  America  have  with  r^^'^^^-^-. 

T  1     •        •  ^  ■  •  1       1      •      1  •  ,  1     French  ships 

policy  and  justice  made  treaties  with  their  king,— acknowl-  of  war  make 
edging  his  independence,  which   has   been    threatened   by    dJiuSI. 
serious  aggressions  on  the  part  of  France. 

Liberia,  in  Africa,  now  comprises  520  miles  of  Atlantic 
coast.     It  has  been  colonized  by  American-born  Africans,  of 
whom  eight  thousand  have  been  carried  over  by  the  Coloni- 
zation Society.     These  have  extended  their  influence  far  in-     Portheee 
land  and  over  200,000  native-born  Africans.      They  have  now  facts,  see  ad- 
established  a  republican  government,  their  oflicers  being  all   ^u.^inger^ 
men  of  color  ;  of  whom  the  worthy  President  Roberts  is  chief.   ^t*J,e' a'^^^?' 
England  and  France   have  acknowledged  their  nationality,  yocittyof pk 
Different  Protestant  denominations  in  the  United  States  have 
supplied  them  with  some  of  the  n^ost  devoted  of  missionaries 
of  both  sexes;  several  of  whom  have  died  martyrs  to  a  cli-   (Forty  Afri- 
mate,  which,  though  salubrious  to  the  black,  is  often  fatal  to  the    J^"  """''^J' 
white.     A  regular  Christian  ministry,  Sunday  and  week-day  treaiios  with 
schools  are  established ;  and  the  slave-trade  throughout  the   ^I'ur^jn^tbe" 
whole   coast  from   Gallinas  to  Cape  Palmas  hs  broken  up.  sLiTt-traiie.) 

32 


Dec.  IG. 
America 


PERIOD  IV. 


468  LIBERIA. 

PART  IV.  The  enterprise  is  fast  growing  in  favor,  not  only  as  a  safety- 
valve  for  drawing  off  our  surplus  colored  population,  but  as  a 
means  of  changing  the  present  degradation  of  Africa  into 
Christian    civilization.       If    British    agitators    of   American 

1850.  sls-very  had  really  acted  from  a  regard  to  the  African,  they 
would  have  been  the  friends  of  this  great  and  good  enterprise  ; 
but  they  have  never  been  satisfied  with  any  issue  to  the  slavery 
question,  but  one  which  involves,  by  consequence,  the  division 
and  destruction  of  the  American  Republic.  Hence  they  have 
scurrilously  opposed  the  colonization  scheme,  and  they  have 
heretofore  hindered  its  operations.  It  is  hoped  that  congress 
will  take  measures  to  favor  African  colonization. 

The  attention  of  the  secular  community  was  drawn  to  tho 

condition  of  the  religious,  in  the  winter  of  1850,  by  a  start- 

ling  declaration  contained  in  the  last  speech  of  Mr.  Calhoun|- 

the  Senate,   to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  that  the  dissolution  of  the  Union  had  al- 

Sn.^Mtisun   ^'^ady  virtually  commenced,  by  the  separation  of  some  of  the 

of  Virsiniii.   great  divisions  of  the  Protestant  church, — that  of  tho  Methodist 

died  March"  Episcopal  leading  the  way.      In  1836,  the  Rev.  R.  J.  Breck- 

•^^•)         enridge  went,  invited  to  Great  Britain,  as  one  of  the  delegates 

of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  America  to  the  sister  church  in 

that  island.     But  he  met, — what  those  Americans,  who  were 

not  ultra  abolitionists,  and  could  not  be  made  such,  were  wont 

(tseehia     there  to  meet, — social  indignity;  the  more  galling,  because 

Rev!  Dn     negroes  found  an  open  hospitality.     Dr.  Breckenridge  was,  as 

Wardiaw.)    he  tells  US,  made  to  know  that  the  condition  of  intercourse  be- 

rt Essentially  twecu  the  national  churches,  Avas  "the  procurement,  on  the 

ground  is     part  of  the  American  clergy,  of  political  changes  in  their  own 

''fime  witlr^  (country  ivhich  ivere  impossible.'']     "  We,"  says  the  Rev.  Dr., 

American     "  had  no  purpose  of  attempting  a  revolution  in  Britain,  nor 

*^Lond'on  at-"  did  it  enter  into  our  conceptions,  that  a  revolution  of  the  most 

E"h-"V^^    ^erriZ^/e  extent  would  be  dictated  to  us,  in  terms  scarcely  sup- 

Seethepa-   portable."     The  same  year  (1836)  began  that  agitation  in  the 

Say,  June"    Methodist  Church,  which  was  consummated,  in  1845,  by  the 

1851,  re-  separation  of  the  northern  division  from  the  southern ;  the 
TOuree'Sivir.  former  having  required  of  the  latter  the  manumission  of  slaves, 

^olhe?"^     which   in   certain   cases  the    law  made   impossible.]     Under 

(t  J845.  these  circumstances,  the  southern  church  could  not  but  with- 
Bishop  An-  draw.  Something  similar  has  occurred  in  other  denomina- 
wassuspend-  tions.  But  the  heart  of  the  American  patriot  'frowns  indig- 
%^?*c'?)aT  ri^i^^ly' oii  whatever  threatens  the  Union:  and  now  that  the 
fuuctions  un-  political  tendency  of  these  church  disruptions  is  understood  by 
peiSrinTuclI  l^iy^eu  as  Well  as  clergy,  they  will,  we  trust,  be  healed.  The 
an  impossi-  Methodist  Church  have  had  a  law-suit  concerning  church 
'^t^„       property,  which,  by  the  ad<^ice  of  Judge  Nelson  of  the  U.  S. 

May  19.*  Court,  and  the  able  counsel  on  both  sides,  we  hope  may 
Generd  A3-  ^^^^"^^  ^^^  Christian  forgiveness,  and  a  happy  reunion. 

sembiy  of  The  late  action  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Presbyterian 
^R-esby-"^    Church  has  tended  to  heal  disunion.     The  General  Assembly 

terians.     of  the  Old  School,  sitting  at  St.  Louis,  agreed  to  hold  their 


PERIOD  IV. 
CHAP,  VI. 


MUTUAL   CONFIDENCE.  469 

next  annual  meeting  in  Charleston,  S.  C.     The  New  School,  pART  IV. 

sitting  in  assembly  at  Utica,  held  a  model  discussion  on  the 

slavery  question  ;  and  its  elTects  showed,  that  right  speech, 
even  more  than  silence,  is  necessary  to  allay  dissension.     Mr. 
Dickinson,  from  the  north,  aflectionately  asked  for  statistics 
concerning  the  treatment  of  the  slaves  of  Presbyterian  church 
members.     If  they  at  the  north  could  have  satisfactory  evi- 
dence that  the  slaves  were  better  off  than  they  would  be  if 
free,  it  would  tend  greatly  to  produce   good  feeling.     The 
Rev.  Dr.  Riddle,  from  Kentucky,  was  pleased  with  the  spirft     "^i^-ery^ 
manifested  by  Mr.  Dickinson  ;  but  it  would  be  a  delicate  mat-    discussion. 
ter  to  go  into  families  to  obtain  such  statistics.     "  There 
MUST  BE  CONFIDENCE.     We  have  confidence  in  our  brethren 
at  the  north,  and  you  must  have  confidence  in  iis,  who  are  labor- 
ing in  the  midst  of  this  evil.     You  must  trust  us  to  act  from 
our  own  consciences."     To  this  the  Assembly  agreeing,  Mr. 
Dickinson  withdrew  his  resolution. — Thus  events  prove  that 
the  compromise  measures  adopted  by  congress,  were,  in  the 
prophetic  language  of  Mr.  Clay,  "  the  reunion  of  the  Union." 
With  them,  said  the  orator,  "  the  dove  of  peace  took  its  aerial    •  see  Mr, 
flight  from  the  dome  of  the  Capitol,  carrying  the  glad  tidings  9'^>''s^p«cch 
of  peace  and  restored  harmony  to  the  remotest  extremities  ofjuiy22,  iko.' 
this  distracted  land."* 

The  census  of  1850  shows  the  population  of  the  United    1S50. 
States  to   be  23,267,498;    of   whom   3,197,589  are   slaves. ^^^'"^t'^^oj"^.*"^ 
The  revenue  is  ample  to  meet  expenditures,  and  to  pay,  as  the  last  ten 
it  accrues,  the  small  public  debt.     Our  Republic  is  power-    pe^cent^f 
ful  and  influential,  especially  with  the  lesser  Republics  of    1§d]. 
our  own  Continent.     To  lead  onward  in  a  career  of  liberty  ^^^370979 
and  public  virtue,  is  the  only  headship  of  nations,  which  the  Expenditure 
truly  sagacious  American  covets  for  his  country.     Compared  pibuc^de'bt 
with  this,  conquest  by  war  is  but  an  antiquated  vulgarity  ;  $t)-2,5Go,395. 
the  one  bringing  security  as  well  as  honor,  the  other  tending, 
as  with  ancient  Rome,  to  decay  and  dissolution. 

There  is  a  great  and  increasing. emigration  from  Europe  to  Emigration 
America.     In  1850,  the  number  exceeded  300,000.      Some  ^™"'^'^'*P*' 
are  of  the  bone  and  sinew  of  Europe,  attracted  hither  by  our 
republican  institutions  ;  while  another  portion  is  sent  to  our 
shores  from  jails  and  poor-houses  ;  and  doubtless,  in  some 
cases,  for  the  express  purpose  of  hastening  on  that  ruin  by 
anarchy,  which  European  foes  to  freedom  predict  and  desire. 
Crime  accordingly  increases  ;  but  within  the  last  few  years, 
the  determination  on  the  part  of  American  citizens  to  resist     1S49. 
anarchy,  by  inflicting  the  penalties  of  crime,  increases  also.    Asto^-piace 
In  New  York,  a  riot  at  the  Astor-place  theatre  was  promptly        riot. 
put  down  by  the  legal  action  of  the  military, — several  of  the    /J^^^^a 
rioters  losing  their  lives  upon  the  spot ;    and  in  Boston,  John   Prof.  Wei> 
White   Webster,  a  professor  of  Harvard  College,  expiated,  ^edSThr 
upon  the  gallows,  the  crime  of  murder.  murder  of 

We  would  not  by  any  remarks  of  ours  arouse  a  spirit  of     °V?an.)^'^  ' 


piKiOD  rv, 

CHA.P.  VI. 


470  CONCLUSION. 

PART  IV.  war.  We  hope  none  will  again  occur  between  Britain  and 
America.  They  ought  rather  to  stand  together,  in  the  great 
moral  contest  for  human  rights,  against  absolutism, — temporaj 
and  spiritual.  If  there  has  gone  out  from  Britain  wrong 
against  us,  it  is  not  from  the  heart  of  the  people,  but  only 
from  politicians,  jealous  of  our  growing  power,  and  afraid  of 
our  republican  institutions.  And  allowances  are  to  be  made 
for  them  ;  since  a  parly,  whom  the  government  must  in  self- 
defence  oppose,  exists  within  their  own  country,  who,  in  the 

It  is  compar-  name  of  liberty,  and  with  the  belief  that  they  would  thereby 

anan  portion  i'Tiitate  America,  would  pull  down,  at  one  crash,  the  venerable 
of  Britons^   fabric  of  the  constitutional  monarchy  of  Great  Britain  ;  while 

poiiticaidis-  too  many  of  her  inhabitants  are  yet  unprepared  for  a  republic. 
America.  Outlet  US  beware.  Let  America  encourage  her  native  talent, 
and  never  again  form  her  opinion  of  her  own  interior  con- 
cerns, either  from  a  foreign  press,  foreign  fanatics,  or  foreign 
emissaries.  Let  her  rise  above  their  frowns,  and  their  flat- 
teries ;  and  looking  to  God,  study,  for  her  guide,  his  wisdom 
in  the  constitution  of  man,  and  his  providence  in  the  his- 
tory of  our  race.  Since  our  enemies  seek  to  divide  us, 
LET  us  the  more  SEEK  UNION.  If  they  operate  to  drive  us 
into  anarchy  by  overwhelming  us  with  an  unsound  popula- 

Letuslive    ^-         i    ^  i      ,r  ^ 

not  to  other  tion,  let  our  people  the  more  uphold  education,  law,  and 

nations,  but  qrder.  And  while  the  crafty  politicians  of  Europe  are  be- 
to  our  coun-  ., ,.  ,  1  .,.-'^  11^1  f 
try  and  our   wildermg  themselves  in  their  own  mazes,  let  the  rulers  of 

*^*^'       America,   as   did   Washington,   keep    the    national   con- 
science   CLEAR    IN    discernment,  AND  SUPREME    IN    ACTION 

Then  will  God  bring  to  naught  the  counsels  of  our  enemies, 
and,  more  and  more,  make  us  his  own  exalted  and  favored 
people. 


THE 

CONSTITUTION 


OF   THE 


UNITED    STATES   OF   AMERICA. 

Framed  during  the  year  1787,  hy  o.  convention  of  deUgateSy 
who  met  at  Philadelphia,  from  the  states  of  New  Hampshire, 
Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Ndw  York,  New  Jersey,  Penri' 
sylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina, 
South  Carolina,  Georgia. 


We  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to  form  a  more  per- 
fect union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity,  provide  for 
the  common  defense,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the    Pre«nibii 
blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  and 
establish  this  Constitution  for  the  United  States  of  America. 


ARTICLE  I. 

SECTION   I. 

All  legislative  powers  herein  granted  shall  be  vested  in  a  congress   Le<^islatiT« 
of  the  United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a  senate  and  nouse  of     powers 
representatives. 

SECTION   II. 

I.  The  house  of  representatives  shall  be  composed  of  members, 

chosen  every  second  year  by  the  people  of  the  several  states,  and  the    j^  source, 
electors  in  each  state  shall  have  the  qualifications  requisite  for  elec- 
tors of  the  most  numerous  branch  of  the  state  legislature. 

II.  No  person  shall  be  a  representative,  who  shall   not   have 
attained  to  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  been  seven  years  a  Eligibility  oi 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  ^^^tfyes" 
inhabitant  of  that  state  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

III.  Representatives  and  direct  taxes  shall  be  apportioned  among 

the  several  states  which  may  be  included  within  this  Union,  accord-  jyi^nner  and 
ing  to  their  respective  numbers,  which  shall  be  determined  by  adding      ratio  of 
to  the  whole  number  of  free  persons,  including  those  bound  to  servi- 


472 


CONSTITUTION. 


tude  for  a  term  of  years,  and  excluding  Indians  not  taxed,  three-fifths 
of  all  other  persons.  The  actual  enumeration  shall  be  made  within 
three  years  after  the  first  meeting  of  the  congress  of  the  United 

representa-   ^^^^^^'  ^^^  within  every  subsequent  term  of  ten  years,  in  such  man- 

tion  and  tax-  ner  as  they  shall  by  law  direct.  The  number  of  representatives 
ation.  shall  not  exceed  one  for  every  thirty  thousand,  but  each  state  shall 
have  at  least  one  representative  :  and,  until  such  enumeration  shall 
be  made,  the  state  of  New  Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  to  choose 
three,  Massachusetts  eight,  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Planta- 
tions one,  Connecticut  five,  New  York  six.  New  Jersey  four,  Penn- 
sylvania eight,  Delaware  one,  Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten,  North 
Carolina  five.  South  Carolina  five,  and  Georgia  three. 

IV.  When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation  from  any  state, 

Vacancies,    the  executive  authority  thereof  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill 

such  vacancies. 
Speaker  and      V.  The  house  of  representatives  shall  choose  their  speaker,  and 

^ente        other  officers  ;  and  shall  have  the  sole  power  of  impeachment. 


SECTION    III. 


Senators, 

two  from 

each  state. 


Arrange- 
ment for  a 
choice  of 
one-third 
every  second 
year. 


eligibility  to 
office. 


Presiding 
officer. 


Pf  ;ver  of 
Iriri.  in  im- 
peachments, 
and 


penalty. 


I.  The  senate  of  the  United  States  shall  be  composed  of  two 
senators  from  each  state,  chosen  by  the  legislature  thereof,  for  six 
years :  and  each  senator  shall  have  one  vote. 

II.  Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled,  in  consequence  of 
the  first  election,  they  shall  be  divided  as  equally  as  may  be  into 
three  classes.  The  seats  of  the  senators  of  the  first  class  shall  be 
vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  year  ;  of  the  second  class,  at 
the  expiration  of  the  fourth  year ;  and  of  the  third  class,  at  the 
expiration  of  the  sixth  year,  so  that  one-third  may  be  chosen  every 
second  year  ;  and  if  vacancies  happen  by  resignation,  or  otherwise, 
during  the  recess  of  the  legislature  of  any  state,  the  executive  there- 
of may  make  temporary  appointments,  until  the  next  meeting  of  the 
legislature,  which  shall  then  fill  such  vacancies. 

III.  No  person  shall  be  a  senator  who  shall  not  have  attained  to 
the  age  of  thirty  years,  and  been  nine  years  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of  that 
state  for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

IV.  The  vice-president  of  the  United  States  shall  be  president  of 
the  senate,  but  shall  have  no  vote,  unless  they  be  equally  divided. 

V.  The  senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,  and  also  a  presi- 
dent pro  tempore,  in  the  absence  of  the  vice-president,  or  when  he 
shall  exercise  the  office  of  president  of  the  United  States. 

VI.  The  senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try  all  impeachments. 
Wlien  sitting  for  that  purpose,  they  shall  be  on  oath,  or  affirmation. 
When  the  president  of  the  United  States  is  tried,  the  chief-justice 
shall  preside  :  and  no  person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  con- 
currence of  two-thirds  of  the  members  present. 

VII.  Judgment  in  cases  of  impeachment  shall  not  extend  further 
than  to  removal  from  office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy 
any  office  of  honor,  trust,  or  profit  under  the  United  States  ;  but  the 


CONSTITUTION.  473 

party  convicted  shall,  nevertheless,  be  liable  and  subject  to  indict- 
ment, trial,  judgment,  and  punishment,  accordmg  to  law. 


SECTION   IV. 

I.  The  times,  places,  and  manner  of  holding  elections  for  senators 

and  representatives,  shall  be  prescribed  in  each  state  by  the  Icgisla-    Elections, 
ture  thereof;  but  the  congress  may,  at  any  time  by  law,  make  or 
alter  such  regulations,  except  as  to  the  places  of  choosing  senators. 

II.  The  congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in  every  year,  and  ,,  .  ^ 
such  meeting  shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  unless  they  congress ' 
shall,  by  law,  appoint  a  different  day. 


Their  oi 
ganization. 


SECTION  V. 

I.  Each  house  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  elections,  returns,  and 
qualifications  of  its  own  members,  and  a  majority  of  each  shall  con- 
stitute a  quorum  to  do  business  ;  but  a  smaller  number  may  adjourn 
from  day  to  day,  and  may  be  authorized  to  compel  the  attendance  of 
absent  members,  in  such  manner  and  under  such  penalties  as  each 
house  may  provide. 

II.  Each  house  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  punish 

its  members  for  disorderly  behavior,  and,  with  the  concurrence  of      Rules, 
two-thirds,  expel  a  member. 

III.  Each  house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  and  from 
time  to  time  publish  the  same,  excepting  such  parts  as  may,  in  their 
judgment,  require  secrecy  ;  and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the  members 
of  either  house,  on  any  question,  shall,  at  the  desire  of  one-fifth  of 
those  present,  be  entered  on  the  journals. 

rV.  Neither  house,  during  the  session  of  congress,  shall,  without 
the  consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to       ment. 
any  other  place  than  that  in  which  the  two  houses  shall  be  sitting. 


SECTION   VI. 

I.  The  senators  and  representatives  shall  receive  a  compensation 
for  their  services,  to  be  ascertained  by  law,  and  paid  out  of  the 
treasury  of  the  United  States.     They  shall,  in  all  cases  except  trea-   Corapensi^ 
son,  felony,  and  breach  of  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest  during     M°",  ^^^ 
their  attendance  at  the  session  of  their  respective  houses,  and  in 

going  to  and  returning  from  the  same  ;  and  for  any  speech  or  de- 
bate in  either  house,  they  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other 
place. 

II.  No  senator  or  representative  shall,  during  the  time  for  which 

he  was  elected,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  under  the  authority  p.     .. 
of  the  United  States,  which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  emolu-       offices, 
ments  whereof  shall  have  been  increased  during  such  time ;  and  no 
person,  holding  any  office  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  a  member 
of  either  house  during  his  continuance  in  office 


474 


CONSTITUTION 


SECTION  VII. 


Orig  Ji  of 

bdls; 


their  course 

in  becoming 

laws. 


Approval 
and  veto 
powers. 


I.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall  originate  in  the  house  of 
representatives ;  but  the  senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  amend- 
ments, as  on  other  bills. 

II.  Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  house  of  represerta* 
tives  and  the  senate  shall,  before  it  becomes  a  law,  be  presented  to 
the  president  of  the  United  States ;  if  he  approve,  he  shall  sign  it, 
but  if  not,  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  objections,  to  that  house  in 
which  it  shall  have  originated,  who  shall  enter  the  objections  at  large 
on  their  journal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider  it.  If,  after  such  re- 
consideration, two-thirds  of  that  house  shall  agree  to  pass  the  bill,  it 
shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  objections,  to  the  other  house,  by 
which  it  shall  likewise  be  reconsidered,  and  if  approved  by  two- 
thirds  of  that  house,  it  shall  become  a  law.  But  in  all  such  cases  the 
votes  of  both  houses  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the 
names  of  the  persons  voting  for  and  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered 
on  the  journal  of  each  house  respectively.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be 
returned  by  the  president  within  ten  days,  (Sundays  excepted)  after 
it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a  law,  in  like 
manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  congress,  by  their  adjourn- 
ment, prevent  its  return,  in  which  case  it  shall  not  be  a  law. 

III.  Every  order,  resolution,  or  vote,  to  which  the  concurrence  of 
the  senate  and  house  of  representatives  may  be  necessary  (except  on 
a  question  of  adjournment,)  shall  be  presented  to  the  president  of  the 
United  States ;  and  before  the  same  shall  take  effect,  shall  be  ap- 
proved by  him  ;  or,  being  disapproved  by  him,  shall  be  repassed  by 
two-thirds  of  the  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  according  to 
the  rules  and  limitations  prescribed  in  the  case  of  a  bill. 


Of  the  du- 
ties and 

power  of 
confess. 


SECTION  VIII. 

The  congress  shall  have  power — 

I.  To  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts,  and  excises ;  to  pay 
the  debts,  and  provide  for  the  common  defense  and  general  welfare  of 
the  United  States ;  but  all  duties,  imposts,  and  excises  shall  be 
uniform  throughout  the  United  States. 

II.  To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States. 

III.  To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  among  the 
several  states,  and  with  the  Indian  tribes. 

IV.  To  establish  a  uniform  rule  of  naturalization,  and  uniform 
laws  on  the  subject  of  bankruptcies  throughout  the  United  States, 

V.  To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of  foreign  coin, 
and  fix  the  standard  of  weights  and  measures. 

VI.  To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  securities 
and  current  coin  of  the  United  States. 

VII.  To  establish  post-offices  and  post-roads. 

VIII.  To  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  useful  arts,  by 
securing,  for  limited  times,  to  authors  and  inventors,  the  exclusive 
right  to  their  respective  writings  and  discoveries. 


CONSTITUTION.  475 

IX.  To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  supreme  court. 

X.  To  define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies  committed  on  the 
nigh  seas,  and  offenses  against  the  law  of  nations. 

XI.  To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal,  and 
make  rules  concerning  captures  on  land,  or  water. 

XII.  To  raise  and  support  armies ;  but  no  appropriation  of  money 
to  that  use  shall  be  for  a  longer  term  than  two  years. 

XIII.  To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy. 

XIV.  To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regulation  of  the  land 
and  naval  forces. 

XV.  To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the  laws 
of  the  Union,  suppress  insurrections,  and  repel  invasions. 

XVI.  To  provide  for  organizing,  arming,  and  disciplining  the  mi- 
litia, and  for  governing  such  part  of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  reserving  to  the  states  respectively,  the 
appointment  of  the  officers,  and  the  authority  of  training  the  militia, 
according  to  the  discipline  prescribed  by  congress. 

XVII.  To  exercise  exclusive  legislation,  in  all  cases  whatsoever, 
over  such  district,  (not  exceeding  ten  miles  square,)  as  may,  by  ces- 
sion of  particular  states,  and  the  acceptance  of  congress,  become  the 
seat  of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  and  to  exercise  like 
authority  over  all  places  purchased  by  the  consent  of  the  legislature 
of  the  state  in  which  the  same  shall  be,  for  the  erection  of  forts, 
magazines,  arsenals,  dock-yards,  and  other  needful  buildings  : — and 

XVIII.  To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for 
carrying  into  execution  the  foregoing  powers,  and  all  other  powers 
vested  by  this  constitution  in  the  government  of  the  United  States,  or 
in  any  department,  or  office  thereof. 


SECTION    IX. 

I.  The  migration  or  importation  of  such  persons  as  any  of  the 
states  now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  prohibited    ^f  "^P** 
by  the  congress,  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eight,  but  a  tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed  on  such  importation,  not  ex- 
ceeding ten  dollars  for  each  person. 

II.  The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be  sus-     Right  of 
pended,  unless  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion  the  public       *" 
safety  may  require  it. 

m.  No  bill  of  attainder,  or  ex  post  facto  law,  shall  be  passed.  Attainder. 

IV.  No  capitation,   or  other  direct  tax  shall  be  laid,  unless  in  .     . 
proportion  to  the  census,  or  enumeration,  herein  before  directed  to  ^^^     "* 
be  taken. 

V.  No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  articles  exported  from  any  state. 

No  preference  shall  be  given,  by  any  regulation  of  commerce  or  Commereia 
revenue,  to  the  ports  of  one  state  over  those  of  another  :  nor  shall     revenue. 
vessels,  bound  to  or  from  one  state,  be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or  pay 
duties  in  another. 

VI.  No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury,  but  in  conse-   „ 
quence  of  appropriations  made  by  law  ;  and  a  regular  statement  and 


taxes. 


476  CONSTITUTION. 

account  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  all  public  money  shall 

be  published  from  time  to  time. 

VII.  No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States ; 

Interdiction  and  no  person  holding  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  under  them,  shall, 

of  titles,     without  the  consent  of  congress,  accept  of  any  present,  emolument, 

office,  or  title  of  any  kind  whatever,  from  any  king,  prince,  or  foreign 

state. 

SECTION   X. 

I.  No  state  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or  confederation , 
Conserva-    grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal ;  coin  money ;  emit  bills  of  credit ; 

•rs  vested  in  '^^ke  any  thing  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender  in  payment  of  debts ; 
the  Union,    pass  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex  post  facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the 
obligation  of  contracts,  or  grant  any  title  of  nobility. 

II.  No  state  shall,  without  the  consent  of  congress,  lay  any  imposts 
or  duties  on  imports  or  exports,  except  what  may  be  absolutely  ne- 
cessary for  executing  its  inspection  laws  :  and  the  net  produce  of  all 

Further  de-  duties  and  imposts,  laid  by  any  state  on  imports  and  exports,  shall 
fined.  be  for  the  use  of  the  treasury  of  the  United  States,  and  all  such  laws 
shall  be  subject  to  the  revision  and  control  of  congress.  No  state 
'  shall,  without  the  consent  of  congress,  lay  any  duty  of  tonnage, 
keep  troops,  or  ships  of  war,  in  time  of  peace,  enter  into  any 
agreement  or  compact  with  another  state,  or  with  a  foreign  power, 
or  engage  in  war,  unless  actually  invaded,  or  in  such  imminent 
danger  as  will  not  admit  of  delay. 

ARTICLE    II. 

SECTION   I. 

I.  The  executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  president  of  the  United 
The  chief  States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  office  during  the  term  of  four 
magistrate,    years,  and,  together  with  the  vice-president,  chosen  for  the  same 

term,  be  elected  as  follows  : 

II.  Each  state  shall  appoint,  in  such  manner  as  the  legislature 
thereof  may  direct,  a  number  of  electors,  equal  to  the  whole  number 

•f  his  elec-    of  senators  and  representatives  to  which  the  state  may  be  entitled  in 
tion         the  congress  ;  but  no  senator  or  representative,  or  person  holding  an 
office  of  trust  or  profit  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  appointed 
an  elector. 

III.  The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  states,  and  vote  by 
by  the  peo-  \^^q'^  ^^^  ^^^o  persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an  inhabit- 
ant of  the  same  state  with  themselves.  And  they  shall  make  a  list  ot 
all  the  persons  voted  for,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each  ;  which 
list  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit,  sealed,  to  the  seat  ot 
government  of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the  president  of  the 
senate.     The  president  of  the  senate  shall,  in  the  presence  of  the 

i»y  the  house  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  open  all  the  certificates,  and 

ofrejjresen-  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted.     The  person  having  the  greatest 

tatives,      number  of  votes  shall  be  the  president,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of 

the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed  ;  and  if  there  be  more  thar 


CONSTITUTION.  4T7 

<ma  who  have  such  majority,  and  have  an  equal  number  of  votes, 
then  the  house  of  representatives  shall  immediately  choose,  by  ballot, 
one  of  them  for  president :  and  if  no  person  have  a  majority,  then 
from  the  five  highest  on  the  list,  the  said  house  shall,  in  like  manner, 
choose  the  president.     But  in  choosing  the  president,  the  votes  shall 
be  taken  by  states,  the  representation  from  each  state  having  one 
TOte;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member  or  mem- 
bers from  two-thirds  of  the  states,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  states 
ahall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.     In  every  case,  after  the  choice  of   and  of  the 
the  president,  the  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  of  the    vice-presi- 
electors,  shall  be  the  vice-president.     But  if  there  should  remain  two         ^^^ 
or  more  who  have  equal  votes,  the  senate  shall  choose  from  them  by 
ballot,  the  vice-president. 

IV.  The  congress  may  determine  the  time  of  choosing  the  elec- 
tors, and  the  day  on  which  they  shall  give  their  votes  :  which  day 
shall  be  the  same  throughout  the  United  States. 

V.  No  person,  except  a  natural  born  citizen,  or  a  citizen  of  the 

United  States  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  shall     Require- 
be  eligible  to  the  office  of  president,  neither  shall  any  person  be  eligi-  ment  for  of 
ble  to  that  office,  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the  age  of  thirty-five 
years,  and  been  fourteen  years  a  resident  within  the  United  States. 

VI.  In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  president  from  office,  or  of  his 
death,  resignation,  or  inability  to  discharge  the  powers  and  duties  of 

the  said  office,  the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  vice-president,  and  the    Proviso  la 
congress  may,  by  law,  provide  for  the  case  of  removal,  death,  resig-  caseof  deatii 
nation,  or  inability,  both  of  the  president  and  vice-president,  declaring 
what  officer  shall  then  act  as  president,  and  such  officer  shall  act 
accordingly,  until  the  disability  be  removed,  or  a  president  shall  be 
elected. 

VII.  The  president  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  his  services, 

a  compensation,  which  shall  neither  be  increased  nor  diminished  Comoensa 
during  the  period  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  and  he  shall  ' 

not  receive,  within  that  period,  any  other  emolument  from  the  United 
States,  or  any  of  them. 

VIII.  Before  he  enters  on  the  execution  of  his  office,  he  shall 
take  the  following  oath,  or  affirmation  : 

"  I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  ftie 
office  of  president  of  the  United  States,  and  will,  to  the  best  of  m>    ^^%^J  °' 
ability,  preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  Unites 
States." 


SECTION   II. 

I.  The  president  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  and 
navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  several  states, 
when  called  into  the  actual  service  of  the  United  States;  he  Hisooliei, 
may  require  the  opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal  officer  in  each 
of  the  executive  departments,  upon  any  subject  relating  to  the  du- 
ties of  their  respective  offices,  and  he  shall  have  power  to  grant  re- 
prieves and  pardons  for  offenses  against  the  United  States,  except  in 
cases  of  impeachment. 


478  CONSTITUTION. 

II.  He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  ol 

the  senate,  to  make  treaties,  provided  two-thirds  of  the  senators 

present  concur  ;  and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  advice 

,  and  consent  of  the  senate,  shall  appoint  ambassadors,  other  public 

and  powers        .    .  ,  ,      .    i  r    ^  ,     „       , 

in  making    mmisters,  and  consuls,  judges  oi  the  supreme  court,  and  all  other 

treaties,      officers  of  the  United  States,  whose  appointments  are  not  herein 

otherwise  provided  for,  and  which  shall  be  established  by  law.     But 

the  congress  may,  by  law,  vest  the  appointment  of  such  inferior  oflS- 

cers  as  they  think  proper  in  the  president  alone,  in  the  courts  of  la^w^, 

or  in  the  heads  of  departments. 

III.  The  president  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  that 
clef  ^S'^'  ^^^  happen  during  the  recess  of  the  senate,  by  granting  commissions, 

which  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  their  next  session. 

SECTION  in. 

He  shall,  from  time  to  time,  give  to  the  congress  information  of 
the  state  of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their  consideration  such 
measures  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient ;  he  may,  on 
.  extraordinary  occasions,  convene  both  houses,  or  either  of  them,  ana 
'*«nf^ess.**  i"  c^se  of  disagreement  between  them,  with  respect  to  the  time  of 
adjournment,  he  may  adjourn  them  to  such  time  as  he  shall  think 
proper  ;  he  shall  receive  ambassadors  and  other  public  ministers ;  he 
shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faithfully  executed,  and  shall  com 
mission  all  the  officers  of  the  United  States. 

SECTION   IV. 

The  president,  vice-president,  and  all  civil  officers  of  the  United 
Removal  States,  shall  be  removed  from  office  on  impeachment  for,  and  con- 
rom  o  ce.  ^j^j^-^j^  ^^  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors. 


ARTICLE   III. 

SECTION   I. 

The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  be  vested  in  one  su- 
preme court,  and  in  such  inferior  courts  as  the  congress  may,  from 
an-!"  n?"  *i"^^  ^^  ^^"^^'  ordain  and  establish.     The  judges,  both  of  the  supreme 
method  of  and  inferior  courts,  shall  hold  their  offices  during  good  behavior,  and 
investiture,  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  their  services  a  compensation 
which  shall  not  be  diminished  during  their  continuance  in  office. 

SECTION  II. 

I.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all  cases,  in  law  and  equity, 

arising  under  this  constitution,  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and 

Their  paw-  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their  authority ;  to  all 

•*'•         cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers  and  consuls  ;  to 

all  cases  of  admiralty  and  maritime  jurisdiction  ;  to  controversies  to 

which  the  United  States  shall  be  a  party ;  to  controversies  between 


COIfSTlTUTION.  479 

^0  or  more  states,  between  a  state  and  citizens  of  another  state, 
between  citizens  of  different  states,  between  citizens  of  the  same 
state  claiming  lands  under  grants  of  different  states,  and  between  a 
state,  or  the  citizens  thereof,  and  foreign  states,  citizens,  or  subjects. 

II.  In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers,  and 

consuls,  and  those  in  which  a  state  shall  be  a  party,  the  supreme  Rules  of  pro^ 
court  shall  have  original  jurisdiction.     In  all  other  cases  before  men-      ^^  *"*• 
tioned,  the  supreme  court  shall  have  appellate  jurisdiction,  both  as 
to  law  and  fact,  with  such  exceptions,  and  under  such  regulations  as 
the  congress  shall  make. 

III.  The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment,  shall 
be  by  jury ;  and  such  trials  shall  be  held  in  the  state  where  the  said 
crime  shall  have  been  committed ;  but  when  not  committed  within 
auiy  state,  the  trial  shall  be  at  such  place  or  places  as  the  congress 
may,  by  law,  have  directed. 


SECTION  III. 

I.  Treason  against  the  United  States  shall  consist  only  in  levying 

war  against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  enemies,  giving  them  aid    Mature  of 
and  comfort.     No  person  shall  be  convicted  of  treason,  unless  on  the  treason,  ind 
testimony  of  two  witnesses  to  the  same  overt  act,  or  on  confession 
in  open  court. 

II.  The  congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the  punishment    ^^^ 
of  treason,  but  no  attainder  of  treason  shall  work  corruption  of      ished 
Hood,  or  forfeiture  except  during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted 


ARTICLE    IV. 

SECTION    I. 

Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  state  to  the  public  acts, 
records,  and  judicial  proceedings  of  every  other  state.     And  the  con-  Guaranty  of 
fress  may,  by  general  laws,  prescribe  the  manner  in  which  such  *^*^®  rights, 
acts,  records,  and  proceedings  shall  be  proved,  and  the  effect  thereof 

SECTION   II. 

I.  The  citizens  of  each  state  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges       ,       ^ 
and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  states.  ^\aSn. 

II.  A  person,  charged  in  any  state  with  treason,  felony,  or  other 
crime,  who  shall  flee  from  justice,  and  be  found  in  another  state,  j, 
shall,  on  demand  of  the  executive  authority  of  the  state  from  which     \ition, 
he  fled,  be  delivered  up,  to  be  removed  to  the  state  having  the  juris- 
diction of  the  crime. 

III.  No  person,  held  to  se;  vice  or  labor  in  one  state,  under  the  laws 
thereof,  escaping  into  another,  shall,  in  consequence  of  any  law,  or       , 
regulation  therein,  be  discharged  from  such  service  or  labor,  but        der- 
shall  be  delivered  up  on  c'.aim  of  the  party  to  whom  such  service  or 

labor  may  be  due.       oi 


480  CONSTITUTION. 

SECTION   III. 

I.  New  states  may  be  admitted  by  the  congress  into  this  Union 
New  states  ^"*  ^^  ^^'^  ^^^^^  ^^^^^  ^®  formed  or  erected  within  the  jurisdictiop 

*  of  any  other  state  ;  nor  any  state  be  formed  by  the  junction  of  two 
or  more  states,  or  parts  of  states,  without  the  consent  of  the  legisla- 
tures of  the  states  concerned,  as  well  as  of  the  congress. 

II.  The  congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  and  make  all 
•nd  public    needful  rules  and  regulations  respecting  the  territory,  or  other  pro- 
perty, belonging  to  the  United  States  ;  and  nothing  in  this  constitu- 
tion shall  be  so  construed  as  to  prejudice  any  claims  of  the  United 
States,  or  of  any  particular  state. 

SECTION    IV. 

The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  state  in  this  Union, 
Protection  of  republican  form  of  government,  and  shall  protect  each  of  them  against 
vemment.     invasion  ;  and  on  application  of  the  legislature,  or  of  the  executive, 
(when  the  legislature  cannot  be  convened)  against  domestic  violence. 

ARTICLE    V. 

The  congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  houses  shall  deem  it 
menS?f  the  necessary,  shall  propose  amendments  to  this  constitution,  or,  on  the 
institution,  application  of  the  legislatures  of  two-thirds  of  the  several  states, 
shall  call  a  convention  for  proposing  amendments,  which,  in  either 
case,  shall  be  valid,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  part  of  this  consti- 
tution, when  ratified  by  the  legislatures  of  three-fourths  of  the  several 
states,  or  by  conventions  in  three-fourths  thereof,  as  the  one  or  the 
other  mode  of  ratification  may  be  proposed  by  the  congress  :  Pro- 
vided, that  no  amendment,  which  may  be  made  prior  to  the  year  one 
withprovi-    thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight,  shall,  in  any  manner,  affect  the 
^°^*        first  and  fourth  clauses  in  the  ninth  section  of  the  first  article  ;  and 
that  no  state,  without  its  consent,  shall  be  deprived  of  its  equal  suf- 
frages in  the  senate. 

ARTICLE    VI. 

Reco'fniticn      I-  ^^^  debts  contracted,  and  engagements  entered  into,  before  the 
of  antece-    adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  as  valid  against  the  United 
dent  claims   grates  under  this  constitution,  as  under  the  confederation. 

II.  This  Constitution  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  which 
_    .      .        shall  be  made  in  pursuance  thereof;    and    all  treaties  made,  or 

verament     which  shall  be  made,  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  shall 
consoli-      be  the  supreme  law  of  the  land  ;  and  the  judges  in  every  state  shall 
dated,       j^^  bound  thereby,  any  thing  in  the  constitution  or  laws  of  any  state 
to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

III.  The  senators  and  representatives  before  mentioned,  and  the 
•nd  oblip  members  of  the  several  state  legislatures,  and  all  executive  and  ju- 
tion  of  Its    dicial  officers,  both  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  several  states, 

officers.      gj^^jj  ^^  ^^^^^j  jjy  ^^^^^  ^^  affirmation,  to  support  this  Constitution ; 


CONSTITUTION.  481 

and  no  religious  test  shall  ever  be  required,  as  a  qualification  to  any 
office  or  public  trust  under  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE    VII. 

The  ratification  of  the  conventions  of  nine  states,  shall  be  suf-    Constit». 
ficient  for  the  establishment  of  this  Constitution,  between  the  states        tion. 
so  ratifying  the  same. 

Done  in  convention  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  states  present^ 
the  seventeenth  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  and  of  the  Indpendence  of 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  the  twelfth.  In  witness  whereof, 
we  have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names. 

The  Constitution,  although  formed  in  1787,  was  not  adopted  until 
1788,  and  did  not  commence  its  operations  until  1789.     The  number     lijne  of 
of  delegates  chosen  to  this  convention  was  sixty-five,  of  whom  ten     adoption, 
did  not  attend,  and  sixteen  refused  to  sign  the  Constitution.     The 
following  thirty-nine  signed  the  Constitution  : — 

New  Hampshire. — John  Langdon,  Nicholas  Gelman. 

Massachusetts. — Xathaniel  Gorham,  Rufus  King. 

Connecticut. — William  Samuel  Johnson,  Roger  Sherman. 

New  York. — Alexander  Hamilton. 

Neio  Jersey. — William  Livingston,  David  Brearley,  William  Pat- 
terson, Jonathan  Dayton. 

Pennsylvania. — Benjamin  Franklin,  Thomas  Mifflin,  Robert  Mor-  t  •  ,    r   • 
ris,  George  Clymer,  Thomas  Fitzsimons,  Jared  Ingersoll,  James        en 
Wilson,  Gouverneur  Morris. 

Delaware. — George  Read,  Gunning  Bedford,  jr.,  John  Dickinson, 
Richard  Bassett,  Jacob  Broom. 

Maryland. — James   M'Henry,    Daniel  of  St.   Thomas  Jenifer, 
Daniel  Carroll. 

Virginia. — John  Blair,  James  Madison,  jr. 

North  Carolina. — William  Blount,  Richard  Dobbs  Spaight,  Hugh 
Williamson. 

South  Carolina. — John  Rutledge,  Charles  C.  Pinkney,  Charles 
Pinkney,  Pierce  Butler. 

Georgia. — ^William  Few,  Abraham  Baldwin. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  Presidmt 
WILLLAM  JACKSON,  Secretary. 


31' 


482  CONSTITUTION. 


AMENDMENTS 


7h  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States^  rattled  according  to  the  Pro* 
visions  of  the  Fifth  Article  of  the  foregoing  Constitution. 

[Congress,  at  their  first  session  under  the  Constitution,  held  in  th* 
city  of  New  York,  in  1789,  proposed  to  the  legislatures  of  the 
several  States  twelve  amendments,  ten  of  which  only  were 
adopted.  They  are  the  first  ten  of  the  following  amendments; 
and  they  were  ratified  by  three-fourths,  the  constitutional  number, 
of  the  States,  on  the  15th  of  December,  1791.  The  eleventh 
amendment  was  proposed  at  the  first  session  of  the  third  Con- 
gress, and  was  declared  in  a  message  from  the  President  of  the 
United  States  to  both  Houses  of  Congress,  dated  the  8th  of 
January,  1798,  to  have  been  adopted  by  the  constitutional  number 
of  States.  The  twelfth  amendment,  which  was  proposed  at  the  first 
session  of  the  eighth  Congress,  was  adopted  by  the  constitutional 
number  of  States  in  the  year  1804,  according  to  a  public  notice 
by  the  Secretary  of  State,  dated  the  25th  of  September,  1804.] 

ARTICLE    I. 

Religious        Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establishment  of  religion, 

toleration,    ^j.  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof;  or  abridging  the  freedom  ot 
Rights  of  the       ^   ,  °  ,  ,       .  ,         l    ^  ■,  1 1 

press ;  and  speech,  or  of  the  press  ;  or  the  rights  of  the  people  peaceably  to  as- 

petition.     semble,  and  to  petition  the  government  for  a  redress  of  grievances. 

ARTICLE    II. 

A  well  regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the  security  of  a  free 
fhe  militia,  state,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms,  shall  not  be  in- 
fringed. 

ARTICLE    III. 

No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any  house  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  owner,  nor  in  time  of  war,  but  in  a  manner  to 
be  prescribed  by  law. 

ARTICLE    IV. 
The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  pa- 
Search  war-  P^^^'  ^"^  effects,  against  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures,  shaP 
rants  and     not  be  violated  ;  and  no  warrants  shall  issue,  but  upon  probable  cause, 
seizures,     supported  by  oath,  or  affirmation,  and  particularly  describing  the  plact 
to  be  searched,  and  the  persons  or  things  to  be  seized. 

ARTICLE    V. 

Presentment      -jy    p^j-go^  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital,  or  otherwise  infa- 
of  grand  ju-  *^  ,  •    ■,-  ^    c  j   • 

ries.        mous  crime,  unless  on  a  presentment  or  mdictment  ot  a  gr*nd  jury. 


and  wit- 
nesses* 


CONSTITUTION  483 

except  in  cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  militia, 

when  in  actual  service,  in  time  of  war,  or  public  danger  ;  nor  shall 

any  person  be  subject  for  the  same  offense  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy 

of  life  or  limb  ;  nor  shall  be  compelled,  in  any  criminal  case,  to  be  a     Judicial 

mtness  against  himself,  nor  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  safeguards 

without  due  process  of  law ;  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for 

public  use  without  just  compensation. 

ARTICLE     VI. 
In  all  criiamal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  enjoy  the  right  to  a     Trial  by 
speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  state  and  district       i^^> 
wherein  the  crime  shall  have  been  committed,  which  district  shall 
have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law,  and  to  be  informed  of  the 
nature  and  cause  of  the  accusation  ;  to  be  confronted  with  the  wit- 
nesses against  him ;  to  have  compulsory  process  for  obtaining  wit- 
nesses in  his  favor,  and  to  have  the  assistance  of  counsel  for  his 
defense. 

ARTICLE    VII. 
In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  controversy  shall  ex- 
ceed twenty  dollars,  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved,  and  regulated  bj 
no  fact,  tried  by  jury,  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any  court  of 
the  United  States,  than  according  to  the  rules  of  the  common  law, 

ARTICLE  VIII. 
Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive  fines  imposed,       BaiL 
Bor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted. 

ARTICLE   IX. 

The  enumeration  in  the  Constitution,  of  certain  rights,  shall  not    ^^"®  ^ 

twGGn.  con* 
be  construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by  the  people.  stitutional 

ARTICLE    X. 
The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by  the  Constitution,    and  state 
nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  states,  are  reserved  to  the  states  respect-  rights  drawa. 
ively,  or  to  the  people. 

ARTICLE   XI. 

The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  not  be  construed  to  Ljnjitatioo 

extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity,  commenced  or  prosecuted  against  of  judicial 
one  of  the  United  States,  by  citizens  of  another  state,  or  by  citizens      power. 
or  subjects  of  any  foreign  state. 

ARTICLE    XII. 

The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  states,  and  vote  by 
ballot,  for  president  and  vice-president,  one  of  whom,  at  least,  shall 
not  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  same  state  with  themselves  ;  they  shall  A.mendmen» 
name,  in  their  ballots,  the  person  voted  for  as  president,  and,  in     Sect.  IV.'* 
distinct  ballots,  the  person  voted  for  as  vice-president  ;  and  they    respecting 
shall  make  distinct  lists  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  president,  and  of    ^'^^'"'^ 

33 


484  CONSTITUTIOH. 

all  persons  voted  for  as  vice-president,  and  of  the  number  of  votea 
for  each,  which  lists  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit,  sealed, 
to  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the  pre- 
sident of  the  senate.  The  president  of  the  senate  shall,  in  the  presence 
of  the  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  open  all  the  certificates, 
and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted.  The  person  having  the  greatest 
number  of  votes  for  president,  shall  be  the  president,  if  such  a  num- 
ber  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed  ;  and 
if  no  person  have  such  a  majority,  then  from  the  persons  having  the 
highest  numbers,  not  exceeding  three  on  the  list  of  those  voted  for 
as  president,  the  house  of  representatives  shall  choose  immediately, 
by  ballot,  the  president.  But,  in  choosing  the  president,  the  votes 
shall  be  taken  by  states,  the  representation  from  each  state  having 
one  vote  ;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member  oi 
members  from  two-thirds  of  the  states,  and  a  majority  of  all  the 
states  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  And  if  the  house  of  represen- 
tatives shall  not  choose  a  president,  whenever  the  right  of  choice 
shall  devolve  upon  them,  before  the  fourth  day  of  March  next  follow- 
ing, then  the  vice-president  shall  act  as  president,  as  in  the  case  of 
the  death,  or  other  constitutional  disability  of  the  president. 

The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  as  vice-president, 
shall  be  the  vice-president,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole 
number  of  electors  appointed ;  and  if  no  person  have  a  majority, 
then,  from  the  two  highest  numbers  on  the  list,  the  senate  shall 
choose  the  vice-president — a  quorum  for  the  purpose  shall  consist  of 
two-thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  senators,  ana  a  majority  of  the 
whole  number  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice. 

But  no  person,  constitutionally  ineligible  to  the  office  of  president, 
shaJI  be  eligible  to  that  of  vice-president  of  the  United  States. 


QUESTIONS. 


CHRONOGRAPHICAL    PLAN. 


At  what  epoch  of  time  does  the  History 
Mgm  ?     Into  how  many  parts  is  it  divided  ? 

Part  I. — In  what  year  does  the  first  part 
oegin  ?  In  what  year  does  it  close  ?  On 
what  subject  does  it  treat  ?  Into  how  many 
periods  is  it  divided  ?  When  docs  the  first 
period  begin  ?  What  event  marks  it  ?  When 
does  the  first  period  terminate  ?  What  event 
marks  that  time  ?  When  does  the  second 
period  begin  ?  When  does  it  terminate  ? 
What  event  marks  the  termination  ?  When 
does  the  third  period  begin  ?  W' hen  does 
it  terminate  ?  What  marks  its  termina- 
tion? 

Part  II. — At  what  time  does  the  second 
part  begin  ?  What  event  marks  this  point  of 
time  ?  In  what  year  does  it  terminate  ?  What 
event  marks  the  termination  ?  What  are  the 
Kubjects  of  the  second  part  ?  Into  how  many 
periods  is  it  divided  ?  When  does  the  first 
period  begin  ?  When  does  it  terminate  ? 
What  event  marks  the  commencement  of  the 
period? — What  its  termination?  At  what 
time  does  the  second  period  begin?  When 
does  it  terminate  ?  What  marks  its  com- 
mencement ?  What  its  close  ?  At  what  time 
does  the  third  period  begin  ?  When  does  it 
end  ?  What  event  marks  the  commencement? 
What  the  close  ? 

Part  III. — At  what  time  does  the  third  part 


begin  ?  When  does  it  close  f  Whut  evcmt 
marks  its  commencement?  What  its  termi- 
nation ?  On  what  subject  does  it  treat  ?  Into 
how  many  periods  is  it  divided  ?  When  doe» 
the  first  period  begin  ?  When  does  it  cose  ? 
What  marks  the  beginning  of  the  fin«t  period  ? 
What  its  termination  ?  When  doei»  the  sec 
ond  period  begin  ?  When  does  it  close  ? 
What  marks  its  commencement  ?  What  its 
termination  ? 

Part  IV. — At  what  time  does  the  fourth 
part  begin?  At  what  time  does  it  terminate  ? 
On  what  subject  does  it  treat?  Into  how 
many  periods  is  it  divided?  At  what  time 
does  the  first  period  begin  ?  When  does  it 
terminate  ?  What  event  marks  its  commence- 
ment ?  What  its  end  ?  At  what  time  does 
the  second  period  begin?  At  what  time  .]oes 
it  close?  What  event  marks  its  begim.ms? 
What  its  conclusion  ?  At  what  time  d(M.s  tne 
third  period  begin  ?  When  does  itteriuinate? 
What  event  marks  the  commencement?  What 
the  close  ? 

What  centuries  does  the  entire  History  em 
brace  ?  How  many  years  of  each  century  ? 
How  many  years  are  embraced  in  the  whole 
time  ?  Name  the  events  which  fall  in  the  fif- 
teenth century — those  which  fall  in  the  six 
teenth — those  in  the  seventeenth — those  io 
the  eighteenth — and  those  in  the  nineteenth 


INTRODUCTION. 


CHAPTER  I 

What  are  the  limits  of  the  country  of  which 
the  history  treats  ?  By  what  other  name  is  it 
called  ?  Why  is  the  latter  name  a  proper  one  ? 
Was  the  country  inhabited  when  first  known 
to  the  Europeans  ?  Were  the  inhabitants 
civilized  or  savage?  How  far  back  can 
we  trace  their  authentic  history  ?  On  what 
can  we  form  conjectures  in  relation  to  it? 
Who  was  the  second  father  of  the  human 
family  ?  In  what  part  of  the  world  was  he 
found  after  the  deluge  ?  At  what  place  do 
the  eastern  and  western  comments  most 
nearly  approach?  Who  were  the  early  in- 
aabitants  of  this  region  found  to  resemble  ? 


Wliat  is  inferred  from  this  fact  ?  Why  is  i: 
supposed  that  a  more  civilized  race  had  pre- 
ceded the  inhunitants  found  by  the  Europe- 
ans ?  How  then  is  it  supposed  that  Ameiica 
was  peopled  ? 

Where  did  the  more  civilized  inhabitants 
settle  after  being  expelled  from  the  north? 
What  nations  did  not  migrate  ?  Did  the 
Indians  possess  any  books  on  manuscripts' 
What  supplied  their  i)lace  ?  According  to 
tradition,  where  did  the  Lenni  Lenape  dwell  ? 
When  they  came  east  to  the  Mississippi,  what 
tribe  did  they  meet  with?  By  whom  was 
the  country  east  of  the  Mississippi  inhabited* 
What  is  said  of  the  AUegewi?  What  • 
485 


PART    I.J 


QUESTIONS. 


fPERIOD    L 


the  Lenape  ask  ?  What  did  they  then  do  ? 
What  course  did  the  Allege wi  adopt  ?  What 
was  the  consequence  ?  What  became  of  the 
AUegcwi  ?  What  did  the  victorious  nations 
then  do  ? 

Which  part  did  the  Iroquois  take  ?  Which 
part  did  the  Lenape  occupy  ?  What  became 
the  centre  of  their  territory  ?  Into  how  many 
tribes  did  they  divide  themselves,  and  what 
were  they  called  ?  WTiat  country  was  occu- 
pied by  the  Turtle  and  Turkey,  and  what  by 
the  Wolf?  When  the  country  became  peo- 
pled by  the  Europeans,  what  became  of  the 
Lenape  or  Delawares  ?  What  country  did 
the  Mohegans  occupy  ?  From  whom  were 
they  supposed  to  descend  ?  Where  did  the 
Iroquois  first  settle  ?  Did  they  afterwards  en- 
croach on  the  Lenape  or  Delawares  ?  What 
nation  did  they  conquer  ?  Did  this  nation  de- 
scend from  the  Lenape  or  the  Iroquois  ? 

Did  difficulty  at  length  arise  between  the 
Delawares  and  Iroquois  ?  What  singular  fact 
appears  in  regard  to  the  Delawares  ?  What 
reason  did  the  Iroquois  give  for  this  ?  What 
reason  did  the  Delawares  give  ? 

What  did  the  Iroquois  declare  in  council  ? 
What  was  the  name  of  the  distinguished 
Delaware  chief?  Does  the  tradition  of  the 
Indians  appear  to  coincide  with  the  most  pro- 
bable hypothesis  concerning  them  ?  Which 
race  is  supposed  to  have  come  first  from  across 
Bhering's  Straits  ?  Where  did  they  first  set- 
tle ?  What  hordes  afterwards  followed  and 
expelled  them?  Where  is  it  supposed  that 
the  AUegewi  fled  to  ?  To  what  three  primi- 
tive stocks  may  the  languages  of  the  aborigi- 
nes be  traced  ?  Why  is  it  supposed  that  a 
portion  of  the  primitive  race  may  have  settled 
in  the  vales  of  the  Mobile  ? 

Which  tribes  have  resisted  the  influence  of 
civilization  ?  Which  have  made  some  ad- 
vances in  it,  and  received  Christianity  ?  What 
has  our  own  nation  done  in  regard  to  the 
Indians  ? 

CHAPTER  II. 

By  what  other  names  were  the  Lenni  Le- 
nape known  ?  By  what  other  name  were  the 
Mengv^e  known  ?      What   were   they   after-  j 


wards  called  ?     Of  what  did  the  Delaware.^ 

claim  to  be  the  head  ?  What  nations  did  our 
forefathers  find  on  the  shores  of  the  i^t' antic? 
What  Indians  were  earliest  known  to  the 
English  '  When  was  the  first  settlement  of 
the  colony  of  Virginia  made  ?  W^hat  was 
then  observed  in  regard  to  the  Indians  ?  Un- 
der whom  were  the  tribes  in  the  lowlanda 
united  ?  How  many  tribes  did  the  confede- 
racy contain  ?  How  many  persons  ?  Who 
was  the  great  sachem  of  the  confederacy? 
Where  was  the  seat  of  his  hereditary  do- 
mains ''  Of  what  distinguished  person  was 
this  the  native  land  ?  What  occurred  soon 
after  the  settlement  of  Jamestown  ?  Against 
whom  were  the  tribes  combined  ? 

How  many  principal  tribes  were  there 
in  New  England?  Which  was  the  first 
known  ?  What  distinguished  chiefs  did  it 
produce  ?  What  part  of  the  country  did  they 
occupy  ?  Where  was  the  seat  of  their  sa- 
chems ?  What  occurred  in  1614  ?  With  what 
were  the  Pokanokets  and  the  other  New  Eng 
land  tribes  afilicted  ?  What  were  the  remain* 
ing  four  tribes  in  New  England  ?  Where  was 
the  principal  seat  of  the  Pawtuckets  ?  What 
was  their  number  ?  What  part  did  the  Massa- 
chusetts occupy  ? 

Who  was  the  principal  person  of  this 
confederacy  found  by  the  English  ?  Who 
was  she  ?  What  occurred  in  1621  ?  WTiero 
was  the  seat  of  the  Narragansetts?  What 
is  observed  of  their  location  ?  What  of  the 
character  of  the  tribe?  WTiat  is  said  of 
Canonicus  ?  What  country  did  the  Pe- 
quods  occupy?  Who  was  their  grand  sa- 
chem? Where  was  his  residence?  What 
tribe  was  subject  to  the  Pequods  ?  What  the 
name  of  its  chief?  Where  his  residence  ? 
What  names  were  given  to  the  Indians  of 
northern  New  England?  What  is  said  of 
them  I  What  tribes  were  found  by  the  first 
settlers  on  the  St.  Lawrence?  What  do 
the  Iroquois  become  ?  W^here  do  they  set- 
tle ?  What  is  said  of  the  Five  Nations  ? 
Which  of  them  was  the  most  warlike  ?  Name 
the  principal  tribes  of  the  southern  Indians 
and  their  locations?  What  is  said  of  the 
Natchez  ?     What  of  the  Shawanese  ? 


PART    I. 


PKRIOD    I. 

At  what  time  does  the  first  Period  begin  '^ 
Wliat  event  marks  that  time  ?  To  what  time 
does  it  extend  ?  What  event  marks  the  close 
of  the  Period?  By  whom  were  the  lands 
granted'     To  whom? 


CHAPTER  I. 

On  what  ground  did  the  European  sove- 
rereigns  claim  the  country?  Was  the  new 
world  discovered  by  accident  ?  In  what  year 
was  Columbus  born  ?  At  what  place  ?  What 
was  his  character  ? 

What  is  said  of  the  spirit  of  the  times  ? 

486 


What  first  stimulated  the  mind  of  Columbus  ! 
What  form  did  he  attribute  to  the  earth  ?  Ta 
whom  did  he  first  offer  his  services,  and  with 
what  result?  What  did  he  then  do?  What  oc- 
curred at  the  court  of  Spain?  WTio  finally 
offered  him  aid  ?  How  did  she  offer  to  raise 
the  money  ?  In  what  year  did  Columbus  make 
his  first  voyage  ?  On  what  day  did  he  dis- 
cover land?  Where  was  it,  and  what  was  it 
called  ?  What  occurred  in  his  third  vo)-age  ? 
Who  gave  name  to  the  continent?  In  what 
year  did  Columbus  make  his  fourth  voyage? 
What  occurred  on  his  return?  What  preten 
sion  is  set  up  by  the  Welsh?  What  by  the 
Norwegians  ? 


PXBT    I.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[period    11. 


CHAPTER  II. 

What  are  the  principal  European  nations 
who  first  discovered  and  settled  America? 
Under  whose  reign  was  the  continent  dis- 
covered?— l)y  whom? — in  what  j'ear? — and 
where  did  they  first  land  ? 

Who  first  explored  the  coast  ? — and  when? 
Whom  did  Francis  I.  send  out  ?  Describe 
his  voyage  and  discoveries  ?  Who  was  the 
great  discoverer  under  tiie  French  govern- 
ment ?  In  what  year  did  he  make  liis  first 
voyage  ?  Describe  his  voyage.  In  what  year 
did  he  make  his  second  voyage  ? 

Descril>e  that  voyage.  What  name  was 
giren  to  the  newly  discovered  country  ?  Who 
was  appointed  its  viceroy  ?  What  was  the 
rharacter  of  the  colonists  ?  Who  founded 
Quebec  ?  In  what  year  ?  What  was  the  re- 
fcult  ?  What  were  the  French  protestanls 
called  ?     What  admiral  befriended  them  ? 

Who  did  he  send  out  to  colonize  them  ?  In 
what  year?  W'here  did  they  land?  What 
became  of  the  colony  f  What  did  Coligni 
Men  do  ? 


CHAPTER  III. 

What  were  the  objects  of  Ponce  de  Leon  ? 
What  country  did  he  discover?  In  what 
year  ?  Who  visited  the  coast  of  South  Caro- 
lina? 

In  what  year  ?  What  did  he  do  ?  Wlio  at- 
tempted ihe  conquest  of  Florida?  In  what 
year?  What  was  the  result?  Who  after- 
wards attempted  it  ?  In  what  year  ?  What 
was  the  result  ?  ^Vhat  animated  the  hope  of 
De  Soto  ?  What  became  of  him  ?— Of  the 
^nmant  of  his  army?  What  expedition  was 
sent  out  by  Philip  H.  of  Spain?  WTio  com- 
manded the  expedition  ? 

What  place  did  he  discover?  In  what 
year?  What  is  said  of  this  settlement? 
Describe  the  proceedings  of  Melendez  ? 
When  the  news  of  the  massacre  reached 
France,  did  the  French  government  avenge 
it  ?  Who  attempted  to  punish  the  Spaniards 
for  it  ?  Which  proved  to  be  the  first  perma- 
nent settlement  in  the  limits  of  the  United 
States  ? 


PERIOD  II. 

At  what  time  does  this  period  begin  ?  At 
what  time  does  it  end  ?  What  event  distin- 
guishes the  beginning  of  the  period  ?  What 
event  marks  its  end  ? 


CHAPTER  I. 

By  what  right  did  the  English  monarchy 
claim  the  country  ?  To  whom  did  Queen 
Elizabeth  grant  a  patent  ?  What  rights  did 
the  patent  confer  ?  What  did  it  require  ? 
What  was  the  result  of  Gilbert's  first  voyage  ? 

Give  an  account  of  the  second.  In  what 
jeai  did  he  die, — and  how?  Who  pursued 
his  plans  ?  Who  did  he  first  send  out  ?  In 
what  year,  and  where  did  they  land  ?  By 
whom  were  they  received,  and  how?  Who 
ftained  Virginia,  and  why  ? 

Who  commanded  the  expedition  sent  out 
m  1585  ?    Of  how  many  ships  did  it  consist  ? 


Where  was  a  colony  left?  Under  whom  f 
What  became  of  it  ?  When  was  the  second 
colony  planted  ? — Under  whom  ?  Of  how 
many  did  it  consist  ?  What  Ijccamc  of  the 
colony  ?  What  did  Raleigh  do  with  his  pa- 
tent ?  In  what  year?  In  what  year  did  Go*. 
nold  visit  New  England  ?  Give  an  account 
of  his  voyage — where  he  first  landed,  &(;. 

How  did  he  find  the  natives  ?  What  did  he 
carry  back  to  England  ?  To  whom  did  Henry 
IV.  grant  a  patent?  Of  what  country?  In 
what  year  ?  Give  an  accoimt  of  the  voyage 
of  De  Monts.  Between  whom  did  James  I. 
divide  the  country  ?  Which  part  did  he  grant 
to  the  London,  and  which  to  the  Plymouth 
company?  What  did  he  authorize  the  com- 
panies to  do?  VVhen  did  the  Plymouth  com- 
pany PPtuI  nut  the  first  vessel?  What  became 
of  her?  Wliom  did  they  send  out  in  1507 1 
What  was  the  result  •» 

How  long  from  the  discovery  of  North  Ame^ 
rica  to  this  period  1  Was  this  then  an  English 
settlement  ? 


CHAPTER  II. 

Who  commanded  the  expedition  sent  out 
by  the  London  company  in  1607?  Of  how 
many  ships  and  men  did  it  consist  ?  What 
distinguished  man  came  with  it  ?  Give  a 
sketch  of  his  early  life  and  character.  What 
bay  did  the  fleet,  under  Newport,  enter? 
What  river  did  they  explore  ?  What  did  they 
call  it?  Where  did  they  fix  the  first  settle- 
ment?— At  what  time  ?  What  is  said  of  the 
government  of  the  colony  ? 

Who  was  the  first  president?  What  is  said 
of  him?  Who  succeeded  him  ?  What  course 
did  the  neighboring  Indians  take  ?  What  was 
the  condition  of  the  colonists  ?  Wliat  did  the 
London  company  direct  ?  What  did  Smith 
do?  Who  was  the  principal  chief  of  the 
neighboring  savages  ?  Where  was  his  resi 
dence  ?  What  was  the  result  of  Smith's  ex 
pedition  ? 

When  captured,  how  did  he  interest  the 
Indians  ?  What  impression  did  he  make  on 
them  ?  How  was  he  treated  by  them  ?  Who 
finally  decided  his  fate  ?  State  the  circum- 
stances attending  it.  By  whom  was  he  res 
cued  ? 

Was  his  captivity  of  advantage  to  the  colo- 
ny ?  What  was  the  state  of  the  colony  on  his 
return  ?  What  part  of  the  country  did  he  ex- 
plore ?  Of  what  tribe  did  he  hear  of?  What 
happened  on  his  return  ? 

CHAPTER  III. 

What  change  was  now  effected  in  the  chai 
ter  of  the  company  ? 

How  many  new  adventurers  were  .sent  out? 
What  was  their  character  ?  VVho  was  ap 
pointed  governor?  What  happened  to  the 
fleet  ?  How  many  reached  Jamestown  ?  Itt 
what  situation  did  Smith  find  himsplf?  How 
did  Pocahontas  conduct  toward  the  colony^ 
How  did  she  save  Smith's  life  a  seccnd  time. 
AVhat  happened  to  Smith  soon  after?  Whal 
did  he  do  ?  What  h;ip{)cn?d  after  his  depar 
ture  ?  How  many  coloii'sts  did  Smith  leave ' 
How  many  remained  filler  six  months  ?   How 

487 


PART    ll 


QUESTIONS. 


[period   III. 


did  Sir  Thomas  Gates  and  his  companions 
reach  the  colony?  In  what  condition  did 
they  find  the  colonists  ?  What  plan  did  they 
adopt  ?     What  prevented  its  execution? 

At  what  time  did  Lord  Delaware  leave  the 
colony  ?  By  whom  was  he  succeeded  ?  Who 
joined  the  colony  soon  after  ?  By  whom,  and 
in  what  manner  was  Pocahontas  betrayed 
and  made  prisoner  ?  Whom  did  she  marry  ? 
At  what  time  ?  What  were  the  consequences 
to  the  colony  ?  Whence  did  she  go  after 
marriage?  What  arc  the  incidents  of  her 
history  after  reaching  England?  Who  suc- 
ceeded Dale  as  governor?  In  what  year? 
What  is  said  of  his  administration?  Who 
succeeded  him  ?  In  wliat  year  ?  When  was 
the  first  general  assembly  called,  and  by 
whom?  How  many  boroughs  were  repre- 
sented? Was  this  measure  agreeable  to  the 
colonists  ?  What  expedient  was  adopted  to 
augment  the  colony?  Whom  did  King  James 
introduce  into  the  colony  ?  At  what  period 
aid  slavery  begin,  and  how  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

In  what  year  was  the  Hudson  river  dis- 
'•overed  ?  By  whom  ?  In  whose  service  was 
ne  ?  In  what  year  was  Quebec  founded  ? 
By  whom  ?  What  expedition  did  he  under- 
take? What  lake  did  they  traverse  ?  Where 
was  the  main  battle  fought  ?  What  became 
of  the  Plymouth  company  1  What  occurred 
m  the  voyage  of  Smith  and  Hunt  to  the  north  ? 
Why  the  name  New  England?  What  expe- 
dition did  Argall  undertake  ?  With  what 
success  ? 


PERIOD    III. 

In  what  year  does  this  Period  commence  ? 
»n  what  year  does  it  end  ?  What  event  marks 
»he  commencement  ?     What  rts  termination? 


CHAPTER  I. 

At  what  period  of  the  history  have  we  now 
arrived?  What  event  in  the  history  of  the 
world  most  affected  social  institutions  ?  What 
tended  to  the  corruption  of  Christianity? 
Who  overran  the  Roman  Empire  ?  In  what 
centuries  ?  What  changes  in  the  social  sys- 
tem followed  ? 

What  arrested  the  course  of  the  feudal 
tyranny?  What  is  its  character?  What  im- 
portant events  transpired  in  the  fifteenth  and 
sixteenth  centuries  ?  What  monarch  of  Eng- 
land favored  the  reformation?  Why  did  he 
so  favor  it?  Who  translated  the  Bible  into 
English  ?  In  what  year  ?  Who  succeeded 
Henry  ?  What  was  done  in  his  reign  ?  Who 
succeeded  Edward  VI.?  In  what  year? 
What  was  her  character,  and  consequences  of 
her  conduct  ?  Into  how  many  parts  were  the 
Protestants  divided  ?  What  distinguished  one 
from  the  other  ?  In  what  year  did  Mary  die? 
The  consequences? 

Who  succeeded  Mary  ?  What  were  her 
private  feelings  ?  How  did  she  find  the  peo- 
nle''  What  was  done  by  the  parliament? 
What  court  did  they  create  ?  Wlio  was  tried 
oefore    the    court?     Who  prevsided?      What 

488 


were  the  points  of  difference  ?  Who  were 
the  Separatists?  Who  plead  the  rights  oi 
conscience  before  the  Court  of  High  Com 
mission?  To  what  sect  did  they  belong' 
What  was  the  condition  of  the  Puritans? 


CHAPTER  II. 

Wh*  law  was  passed  in  1592?  Who  did 
not  comply  with  the  law  ?  Where  did  thoy 
decide  to  emigrate  ?  What  was  the  result  of 
the  fii-st  attempt?  When  was  the  second 
attempt  made  ?  Under  what  circumstances, 
and  with  what  success  ?  What  occurred  on 
the  passage  ?     Where  did  they  settle  ? 

To  what  place  did  they  afterwards  remove? 
What  induced  them  to  remove  from  Holland? 
To  what  country  did  they  wish  to  emigrate? 
What  measures  did  they  adopt  ?  Wiio  were 
their  leading  men  ?  What  reasons  did  they 
give  why  they  should  succeed?  By  whose 
aid  was  the  patent  obtained?  How  did  they 
raise  money  for  the  enterprise  ? 

How  many  vessels  were  prepared  ?  VtiTiat 
were  their  names  ?  Did  they  accommodate 
all  ?  What  transpired  previous  to  their  sepa- 
ration ?  From  what  place  did  they  depart  f 
To  what  part  did  they  sail  ?  Who  were  theii 
leading  men?  What  occurred  after  sailing 
from  Southampton  ?  From  whence  did  they 
finally  sail  ?  On  what  day  ?  In  what  vessel ? 
At  what  place  in  the  United  States  did  they 
first  land  ?  On  what  day  ?  What  place  had 
been  selected  ?  Why  a  change  ?  Where  did 
they  finally  land  ?  What  was  the  first  act  on 
arriving  in  the  harbor  ?  What  covenant  did 
they  sign  ? 

What  great  principle  of  government  did 
this  compact  set  forth  ?  How  many  persons 
arrived  in  the  May  Flower?  Who  was  cho 
sen  governor?  Who  captain?  On  what  day 
did  they  land  ?  In  what  condition  did  they 
find  themselves  ?  What  was  undertaken  by 
some  of  the  number?  What  dangers  did 
they  encounter  from  the  savages  ?  What 
from  the  elements  ? 

On  what  day  did  they  land  on  the  rock  of 
Plymouth  ?  From  what  did  they  name  the 
place  ?  What  time  did  they  begin  to  build? 
Into  how  many  families  did  they  divide  the 
company  ?  What  transpired  during  the  win- 
ter ?  How  many  of  the  company  perished  ? 
Were  they  disheartened?  Did  they  wish  to 
retun;  in  the  spring  ? 


CHAPTER  III. 

How  did  the  pilgrims  regard  the  destrui 
tion  of  the  savages  by  the  plague  ?  Who  first 
welcomed  them  ?  Whom  did  he  afterwards 
luring  with  him  ?  Who  was  the  sachem  of  the 
Pokanokets  ?  W^ho  went  out  to  confer  with 
him  ? 

What  was  the  result  of  the  embassy  ?  Who 
went  on  an  embassy  to  Massasoit  ?  To  what 
place  did  they  go?  What  was  their  oltject? 
What  present  did  they  make?  WTiat  w^as 
the  re|)ly  of  Massasoit  ?  What  the  advan 
tage  of  the  traffic?  What  vessel  ai rived 
in  November?  How  many  persons  did  sne 
bring  over  ?     Whv  did  Massasoit  cultivate  the 


PART    I.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[period    III 


friendship  of  the  Endish?  Who  was  the 
great  chief  of  the  Narrai;;aiisc'tts  ?  What  did 
he  send  to  Governor  liradforii  ?  For  wiiat 
object  ?  What  did  the  governor  send  in  re- 
turn .'  At  what  time  does  Winslow  visit 
Massasoit  ?  For  what  reason  ?  Who  accom- 
panied hiiri  f     How  did  he  find  tiie  chief  ? 

How  did  Massasoit  receive  Winslow? 
What  did  Winslow  do  for  him  I  What  im- 
portant fact  was  communicated  '.  What  meas- 
ures were  taiien  to  arrest  the  conspiracy  ? 
Was  the  conspiracy  provoked  ?  By  whom? 
Why  did  it  particuhiHy  alarm  the  pilgrims  ? 
What  was  said  by  the  company  in  London  ? 
What  measures  did  they  adopt  '.  What  did 
the  colonists  do  ?  What  did  the  (xjmpany  re- 
teive  for  their  interest  ?  Why  did  the  colony 
now  begin  to  flourish?  What  was  the  form 
of  their  government  ?  What  form  did  it  after- 
wards assume  ?  By  whom  were  the  pilgrims 
joined.  Did  Robinson  join  the  colony  .'  In 
what  year  did  he  die  ?  At  what  place  ?  How 
many  inhabitants  were  there  in  the  cohnty  ten 
years  after  its  settlement  (  Did  the  colony 
aow  flourish?  What  was  the  character  of 
ihe  pilgrims  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 
By  whom  was  the  charter  granted  to  the 
Plymouth  council  ?  At  what  time  ?  For 
what  was  it  granted  ?  What  territory  did  it 
cover?  What  had  the  territoiy  previously 
been  called  ?  What  was  it  afterwards  called  ? 
From  what  patent  were  the  other  grants  in 
New  England  derived?  How  were  the  af- 
fairs of  the  corporation  managed?  Who  was 
made  president  of  the  grand  council  of  Ply- 
mouth :'  What  was  his  character  and  proba- 
ble moti.ves  ?  What  patent  did  Mason  pro- 
cure ?  What  patent  did  Gorges  and  Mason 
procure  in  the  next  year  ?  What  name  was 
given  to  the  tract  ?  What  settlements  were 
made  under  this  grant  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 

How  were  the  Puritans  treated  under 
James  I.?  What  were  the  consequences? 
Who  patronized  the  Massachusetts  settle- 
ment ?  In  what  year  was  Cape  Ann  settled  ? 
From  whom  was  the  patent  for  Massachu- 
setts obtained  ?  Who  became  the  pioneer  of 
the  Salem  settlement?  In  what  year?  Who 
nad  selected  the  site  ?  What  did  the  [(roprie- 
t»rs  do  in  IG29  ?  What  was  the  company 
called  ?  When  was  the  first  general  court 
held  in  England  *  Who  was  made  go- 
vernor ^ 

When  was  Charlestown  founded?  How 
many  persons  sailed  for  America  this  year  ? 
What  feelings  did  the  new  settlements  pro- 
duce in  England  ?  What  enterprise  was 
started  ?  What  objection  was  raised  ?  How 
was  it  obviated  ?  Who  was  chosen  governor? 
What  is  said  of  Winthrop?  Whom  only  did 
the  company  wish  to  colonize  ?  How  many 
persons  emigrated?  Where  did  they  land  ? 
How  dc  they  find  the  settlers  ?  What  do 
they  decide  upon?  How  many  churches  are 
established  in  Massachusetts  at  the  close  of 


1G32  ?     What  were  the  consequences  of  the 

hardships  of  the  colonists  ? 

For  what  did  the  royal  charter  provide? 
What  regulations  were  agrecfi  upon  ?  Who 
was  chosen  governor?  Who  de[)uiy  gover- 
nor? Who  were  allowed  to  vote  at  first? 
What  was  decided  in  May,  IG31  ?  What 
reason  was  given  for  this?  To  v  ^  (]u\  the 
early  settlers  owe  their  elevation  of  charac- 
ter ?  Who  first  inculcated  liberal  doctrines  ? 
Where  did  he  first  settle  ?  In  what  year? 
What  Indiancliiefscame  this  year  to  Boston? 
What  did  Uncas  say? 

Who  visited  the  pilgrims  at  Plymouth  ?  For 
what  object !  \\\io  received  them  ?  With 
whom  had  the  northern  colonies  intercourse? 
What  eff'ect  had  the  prosperity  of  the  colonies 
in  England  ?  How  many  came  out  in  August, 
IG33  ?  What  was  the  early  government  of 
Massachusetts  ?  What  did  it  liecome  ?  In 
what  year  ?  Were  the  representatives  elect- 
ed by  all  the  people  ?  When  the  rejiresenta- 
tives  met,  what  was  the  body  called  ?  How 
many  courts  were  holden  in  each  year? 
What  was  made  the  basis  of  the  crimioal 
code  ?  Who  succeeded  James  I.  ?  In  what 
year  ?  What  was  his  character  ?  How  many 
emigrants  came  out  in  1G35?  What  distin- 
guished person  came  out  at  this  time  I  What 
honor  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  colony? 
In  what  year  ? 


CHAPTER  VI.. 

^^^\at  was  the  character  of  Roger  Williams? 
When  did  he  arrive  ?  What  did  he  declare 
to  be  the  only  subjects  of  human  laws  ?  What 
did  he  say  of  interference  with  religious  feel- 
ings ?  What  did  he  condemn?  W'hat  was 
he  called  ?  Where  was  he  invited  to  settle  ? 
Who  forbade  it  ?  What  did  Williams  do  ? 
What  proceeding  did  the  court  take  !  What 
sentence  did  the  court  finally  pronounce  ? 
Did  the  people  favor  Williams? 

What  did  the  authorities  finally  do?  Where 
did  Williams  take  refuge  ?  How  did  Gover- 
nor Winslow  receive  him  ?  To  what  did  he 
advise  him  ?  To  whom  did  Williams  then 
appeal  ?  With  what  success  ?  What  land 
was  ceded  to  him  ?  What  did  they  name  the 
place  ?  What  service  did  Williams  after- 
wards render  to  the  Massachusetts  colony  ? 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Who  claimed  to  be  the  discoverers  of  Con 
necticut  river  ?  Who  probably  discovered  itf 
Why  did  the  Indians  of  the  valley  desire  the 
presence  of  the  English? 

In  what  year  did  the  sachem  Wahquimacut 
visit  Boston  to  invite  the  English?  Did  go- 
vernor Winthrop  accept  the  ofi^er  ?  Who  did? 
Who  first  advised  the  Plymouth  colony  to 
settle  in  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut?  What 
did  the  Dutch  at'terwards  do  ?  Where  did 
they  erect  the  first  trading-house  ?  What  did 
they  call  it?  In  what  year  did  the  Plymouth 
colony  settle  at  Windsor  ?  Who  commanded 
the  expedition  ?  What  occurred  on  his  pas- 
sage up  the  Connecticut  river?  To  whom 
did   the   grand   council  patent  Connecticut? 

489 


QUESTIONS 


tPERIOD  in 


Who  became  agent  for  the  patentee?  What 
was  he  ordered  to  do  ?  What  territory  did 
the  patent  cover  ?  Who  emigrated  from  Mas- 
sachusetts bay  in  J 633,  to  settle  on  the  Con- 
necticut river?  What  places  were  first  set- 
tled ? 

What  was  the  result  of  the  first  attempt  ? 
Did  they  abandon  the  enterprise,  or  persevere  ? 
Where  did  Winthrop  make  a  settlement  ? 
What  obstacle  did  he  meet  with  ?  What  did 
e  call  the  place  ?  And  why  ?  Did  differ- 
ences arise  in  the  first  settlements  ?  How 
were  they  adjusted  ?  Who  is  regarded  as  the 
principal  founder  of  Connecticut  ?  What 
was  his  character  ?  Why  did  he  leave  Eng- 
land? 

After  he  left  England,  did  his  congregation 
follow  him?  What  occurred  at  Cambridge 
when  he  again  nrtet  part  of  them  ?  W^hat  were 
his  motives  for  leaving  the  Massachusetts  co- 
lony? Who  was  associated  with  H(X)kcr? 
At  what  time  did  the  company  leave  New- 
town ?  Where  did  their  route  lie  i  Was  it 
attended  with  difficulties?  At  what  place 
did  they  locate  ?  What  was  to  be  done  ?  How 
was  it  accomplished  ? 


CHAPTER  VIIl. 

What  is  the  conduct  of  the  Pequods? 
Whom  do  they  murder?  Where?  What 
depredations  do  they  commit?  in  what  year 
was  war  declared?  By  whom?  How  many 
towns  were  now  settled?  How  many  troops 
was  each  to  furnish?  Who  was  chosen  to 
command  them?  W"hat  route  did  the  trooj)s 
take  ?  How  many  warriors  were  furnished 
by  Miantonomoh  ?  How  many  by  Uncas  ? 
How  many  English  were  actually  embodied  ? 
Who  guided  them  to  the  fort  ?  On  wliat  day 
was  the  battle  fought  ?  Describe  the  battle. 
How  many  perished  ?  What  occurred  as 
Mason  was  retreating  to  the  river? 

What  was  done  by  the  subjects  of  Sassa- 
cus?  What  became  of  the  chief?  Who 
joined  Mason?  What  was  effected  by  the 
united  force  ?  How  many  Pequods  were  de- 
stroyed? What  was  done  with  the  captives? 
How  was  the  land  of  the  Pequods  regarded  ? 
And  their  tribe?  How  was  the  event  com- 
memorated in  New  England  ?  What  effect  had 
the  war  on  the  colonies  ?  In  what  year  did 
the  colonies  of  Windsor,  Hartford,  and 
Wethersfield  unite?  What  did  their  consti- 
tution ordain  ?  Was  church-membership  made 
necessary  to  vote  ?  How  wer?  taxes  to  be 
laid  ?  Why  has  Connecticut  been  called  the 
land  of  steady  habits  ? 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Wh  ■  were  the  founders  of  the  colony  of 
New  Haven?  How  did  Davenport  become 
favorable  to  the  reformation?  What  were 
his  views  of  theology?  Who  was  his  near 
friend  ?  In  what  year  did  they  arrive  in  Bos- 
ton? In  what  year  did  they  reach  Quinnipi- 
ac?  What  difficulties  did  they  encounter? 
Where  did  they  woiship  on  the  first  Sabbath? 
Where  did  they  afterwards  meet  ?  What  did 
they  form  ?    To  what  did  they  bind  thtim- 

490 


selves?     What  was  done  in  thj  succeedinj 


year  i 


How  were  the  governor  and  magis 


rates  to  be  elected  ?  Who  was  elected  the 
first  governor?  What  did  tliey  finally  call  th« 
place  ? 


CHAPTER  X. 

Who  appeared  to  sow  discord  in  the  co.anj  T 
What  principles  did  she  first  lay  down  ?  With 
what  was  she  charged  ?  Who  censured  her  ? 
What  doctrine  did  she  finally  hold  ?  What  is 
this  doctrine  called  ?     W  ho  defended  her  ? 

Against  whom  was  the  opposition  most 
violent  ?  Who  succeeded  Vane  as  governor  ? 
What  prevented  the  departure  of  the  troops 
for  the  Pequod  war  ?  What  was  done  in  thi? 
extremity?  To  what  colony  did  she  fleei 
Where,  and  how  did  she  finally  meet  her 
death  ?  At  what  English  university  were  the 
learned  men  of  New  England  educated  ?  In 
what  year  did  they  found  a  college  at  New- 
town? What  was  the  place  afterwards  called? 
Who  made  a  bequest  to  the  college  ?  In  what 
year? 

Where  do  the  followers  of  Mrs,  Hutchinson 
settle  ?  From  whom  do  they  obtain  the  grant  ? 
By  whose  influence?  On  what  principles 
did  they  establish  the  government?  Where 
did  another  portion  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson's  fol- 
lowers settle?  In  what  year  were  the  scat- 
tering settlements  of  New  Hampshire  united 
with  the  colony  of  Massachusetts? 


CHAPTER  XI. 

From  w^hat  country  was  Delaware  settled  ? 
In  what  year  ?  Who  settled  near  Cape  Hen- 
lopen?  In  what  year?  In  what  year  was 
Maryland  settled?  By  whom?  At  what 
])lace?  ,  Give  the  history  of  George  Calvert.^ 
the  first  Lord  Baltimore.  After  his  death, 
who  obtained  the  revival  of  his  patent  ?  What 
country  did  it  em<brace  ?  Who  was  appointed 
governor  ?  In  what  year  was  the  settlement 
made?  At  what  place?  What  policy  does 
Calvert  adopt?  What  effect  had  this  on  the 
prosi«rity  of  the  colony?  What  was  Lord 
Baltimore's  conduct  towards  the  colony? 
How  was  it  appreciated  1 

What  did  Lord  Baltimore  offer  to  emigrants 
from  other  colonies  ?  Who  interfered  to  check 
the  prosperity  of  the  colony?  How  was  U 
done?  How  early  were  the  English  engaged 
in  the  slave-tride?  What  was  the  state  of 
public  sentiment  at  that  time?  In  what  year 
were  slaves  first  brought  to  Virginia?  By 
whom?  In  what  year  did  Sir  Francis  Wyatt 
arrive  ?  Wnat  did  he  bring  with  him  ?  Wliat 
were  its  general  provisions  ?  What  effect 
had  this  on  the  colony  ?  In  what  year  was 
the  first  cotton  planted  in  Virginia?  Who 
was  Opechancanough  ?  What  plan  did  he 
form  ?  How  long  was  he  jjj  maturing  it  ?  At 
what  time  was  it  to  Ije  executed  ?  What  was 
the  success  of  it  ?  What  partially  defeateJ 
it  ?  What  consequences  flowed  from  this  at 
tempt? 

When  was  the  London  company  dissolved? 
By  whom  ?  What  reasons  were  given  for  this 
act  ?     Who  attempted  to  frame  a  ode  of  laws 


PART    n.j 


QUESTIONS. 


[PERion  I. 


for  the  rolony?  What  provonted  ?  In  what 
year  did. lames  die  '  Under  wliose  authority 
did  the  Vir^iinians  fall  '.  What  was  the  char- 
acter of  his  measures  ?  Whom  did  he  send 
over  to  govern  ?  What  did  the  colonists  do? 
What  measures  did  the  king  then  adopt? 
Who  superseded  Harvey?  In  what  year? 
What  was  done  in  consequence  of  the  short 
tobacco  crop?     Who  succeeded  Wyatt  .'     In 

hat  year?     What    great   principle   did   tlu; 

lonists  now  assert  ? 


CHAPTER  XII. 

How  was  the  settlement  of  New  England 
in  its  infancy  ?  How  was  it  regarded  by  the 
Puritans  in  England  ?  What  was  the  conse- 
quence ?  How  did  the  government  view  these 
proceedings  ?  What  information  was  com- 
municated by  those  who  returned  from  ^Mas- 
sachuseits?  What  measures  did  the  king 
take  to  bring  the  colonies  into  subjection? 
V\Tiat  did  this  council  decree  ?  WTiom  did  it 
appoint  governor-general  ?  Did  he  leave  Eng- 
land I  Against  which  colony  were  the  meas- 
ures of  Laud  first  directed  ?  What  measures 
did  the  colony  adopt  ?  What  were  the  char- 
acters of  Gorges  and  Mason  ?  What  their 
proceedings  against  the  colony  of  Massachu- 
setts '    What  w^as  the  result? 


What  measures  did  the  conneil  adopt  to 
prevent  emigration?  Were  th(;y  cirectual? 
What  tended  to  increase  eniijiralion?  How 
many  came  over  to  New  England  in  1638? 
Did  the  nobility  wish  to  emigrate  ?  What 
laws  did  they  wish  made  in  the  colonies': 
What  re[)ly  did  Mr.  Cotton  make  in  the  name 
of  the  <'ourl  of  Massachusetts  ?  Wastheplaa 
for  hereditary  nobility  adopted?  \N'hat  de- 
mand did  the  council  in  England  make  on 
Governor  Winthrop !  What  reply  did  h» 
make  ?  What  wrought  a  favorable  change  for 
the  colonies  ?  What  did  King  Charles  at- 
tempt in  Scotland?  What  was  the  result? 
What  was  the  fate  of  Laud  ? 

Did  the  lome  parliament  favor,  or  oppose  the 
Puritans  ?  Did  the  colonists  seek  the  support 
and  aid  of  England?  Whom  did  the  West- 
minster assembly  of  divines  invite  to  join 
them  ?  Did  they  accept  ?  What  measures 
was  now  adopted  by  the  colonies  for  their  mu- 
tual safety?  What  colonies  appointed  com- 
missioners? In  what  year  did  they  meet? 
At  what  place  ?  Why  did  not  Rhode  Island 
join  ?  What  was  the  name,  or  style  adopted  ? 
Of  how  many  members  was  the  first  congress 
composed?  How  often  was  it  to  assemble? 
What  were  its  powers?  After  what  time  was 
the  assembly  nominally  discontinued?  Of 
what  may  it  be  considered  the  germ  f 


PART    II. 


PERIOD   1. 

At  what  time  does  Part  U.  begm  ?  To  what 
fear  does  it  extend  ?  At  what  time  does  Pe- 
riod I.  begin?  At  what  time  does  it  end? 
What  event  marks  the  beginning  of  the  Pe- 
riod ?     What  its  termination? 


CHAPTER  L 

In  whose  administration  did  the  Virginians 
enjoy  liberty  and  prosperity  ?  What  occurred 
in  the  Virginia  colony  in  1644?  How  many 
Indians  perished?  What  was  the  fate  of 
Opechancanough  ?  In  what  year  was  Charles 
I.  beheaded  ?  Who  assumed  the  management 
of  affairs  in  England?  What  measure  did 
he  devise  to  oppress  the  colonies  ?  What  did 
this  act  recpiire  ?  What  did  it  jjrohibit?  In 
^at  year  was  Charles  II.  restored?  Under 
whom  was  Berkeley  exercising  the  authority 
of  governor  of  Virginia?     What  did  he  do? 

How  did  the  restore  lion  affect  the  interests 
of  the  Virginia  colony  ?  Into  what  classes 
were  the  colonists  of  Virginia  divided? 
Which  side  did  Berkeley  espouse  ?  In  what 
way  were  the  rights  of  the  people  abridged  ? 
What  did  the  assembly  do?  What  did  this 
lake  from  the  people  ?  What  right  alone  re- 
mained? VVTiat  grant  did  Charles  II.  make 
on  his  accession  in  1C60?  What  grants  did 
he  make  afterwards  in  the  colony  of  Virginia? 
What  Ixidian  hostilities  began  in  1675  ?    What 


was  the  conduct  of  John  Washington  ?   What 
was  the  sentiment  of  Berkeley? 

What  was  the  conduct  of  the  Indians  ^ 
What  was  the  desire  of  the  people  ?  Whom 
did  they  wish  for  their  leader?  Did  Berkeley 
sanction  it  ?  What  did  he  do  ?  What  did  the 
people  demand?  Did  they  prevail?  Under 
whom  did  the  people  rally  in  arms?  What 
was  the  conduct  of  Berkeley  ?  And  what  the 
reply  of  Bacon?  How  was  the  matter  ar- 
ranged? What  was  afterwards  the  conduct 
of  Berkeley?  What  the  fate  of  Bacon  and 
his  party '.  What  did  Charles  II.  say  of 
Berkeley  ? 

Who  was  appointed  governor  of  Virginia 
under  the  new  charter?  What  was  the  char- 
acter of  his  government?  How  did  the  colo 
ny  escape  from  his  oppression  ?  Wiio  sue 
ceeded  Lord  Culpepper?  In  what  year? 
What  was  the  ruling  motive  of  his  conduct? 
What  cause  of  alarm  now  disturbed  the  colo- 
nies?  Where  was  the  grand  council  held? 
What  was  the  result  of  the  negotiations? 


CHAPTER  IL 

Who  came  to  Maryland  and  produced  aa 
insurrection?  Where  did  Governor  Calvert 
take  refuge?  How  long  before  he  returned? 
In  the  contest  between  the  king  and  the  par- 
liament, which  sid^  did  the  colonies  of  New 
England  espouse  ?     VVhich  side  did  the  south- 

491 


PART    II.] 


QUESTIONS 


[per  od 


em  colonies  take?  For  what  were  com- 
missioners appointed?  To  what  did  this 
give  rise?  Which  side  adhered  to  the  pro- 
prietor? In  what  year  did  he  surrender  the 
government?  What  was  declared  by  the  as- 
sembly of  the  victorious  party  ?  What  other 
sects  were  persecuted?  What  course  did 
Oromwell  take  ?  Who  i)ossessed  the  actual 
power  ?  Whom  did  Lord  Baltimore  appoint 
to  act  as  his  successor?  To  whom  did  the 
colony  finally  submit?  What  did  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  colony  finally  declare? 
Wha*  step  was  taken  by  Charles  II.  ?  Whom 
did  Uharles  make  governor  of  the  province  ? 
In  what  year?  In  what  year  did  Cecil  Cal- 
vert, the  second  Lord  Baltimore,  die  ?  What 
steps  were  taken  by  the  people  ?  What  was 
forbidden  by  the  English  ministry?  What 
was  the  determination  of  James  II.?  And 
what  measures  did  he  adopt  ?  In  what  year 
did  the  revolution  occur?  Who  succeeded 
James  II.  ?  What  did  the  agent  of  Lord  Bal- 
timore now  demand?     Did  the  people  acqui- 


CHAPTER  III. 

What  is  the  geographical  position  of  New 
York?  Who  discovered  the  Hudson  river? 
In  what  year?  In  whose  service  was  he  at 
the  time  ?  In  what  year  was  a  company  of 
merchants  fitted  out  to  trade  with  the  newly 
discovered  regions  ?  Where  was  the  first  fort 
constructed?  Who  discovered  that  Long 
Island  is  not  connected  with  the  mam  land  ! 
In  what  year  did  the  Dutch  sail  up  the  Hud- 
son? Where  did  they  first  build  a  fort? 
Where  did  they  finally  locate  ? 

What  name  was  given  to  the  settlement  on 
Manhatten  Island?  Who  was  its  first  gover- 
nor ?  To  whom  did  the  Dutch  send  an  en- 
voy ?  What  was  the  result  ?  What  was  the 
name  of  the  new  company  created  liy  the 
states'  general  ?  What  did  the  states'  gener- 
al decree  ?  To  whom  was  the  manor,  em- 
bracing Fort  Orange,  conveyed?  In  what 
year^  How  much  was  it  afterwards  extend- 
ed? Who  settled  Levvistown,near  the  Dela- 
ware? Why  did  Governor  Minuets  leave  the 
colonj'?  Who  succeeded  him?  Who  inter- 
fered with  the  Dutch  on  the  Connecticut 
river?  Who  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware? 
Who  succeeded  Van  Twiller  ?  What  was  his 
conduct  to  the  Indians  ?  What  were  the  con- 
sequences? 

What  tribe  friendly  to  the  D-:tch  inter- 
fered? With  what  success ?  L".  vhat  year? 
What  was  the  feelii.g  tcwardi  Governor 
Keift  ? — what  his  fate  ?  Who  succeeded  him  ? 
In  what  year  does  he  relinquish  the  territory 
at  Hartford?  What  was  divided  between  the 
two  parties?  Who  settled  Newcastle  in 
Delaware?  What  occurred  between  tlie 
Swedes  and  the  Dutch?  In  what  year  did 
Governcf  Stuyvesant  sail  from  New  Am- 
sterdam to  conquer  the  Swedes?  Was  he 
successful?  As  the  colony  increased,  what 
feeling  in  regard  to  political  rights  grew  up 
among  them?  What  did  the  people  demand? 
What  course  did  the  governor  pursue  ?    What 

492 


was  the  decision  of  the  "  Nineteen."  What 
were  some  of  the  causes  which  retarded  the 
prosperity  of  the  Dutch  settlements  ?  What 
grant  does  Charles  II.  make  to  his  brother, 
Duke  of  York  ?  In  what  year  ?  Who  was 
dispatched  to  take  possession?  Where  were 
the  commissioners  landed  ?  What  did  he  next 
do  ?  When  asked  to  surrender,  what  was  tae 
reply  of  the  Dutch  governor?  What  w^as  th« 
result?  What  was  New  Amsterdam  then 
called?  What  settlement  under  the  Dutch 
finally  surrendered  ?  What  coasi  was  now  in 
the  possession  of  the  English  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

After  whom  was  Pennsylvania  named  ?  In 
what  year  was  Penn  born  ?  What  occurred 
while  he  was  at  Oxford  school?  At  what  age 
did  he  enter  Oxford  college  ?  Under  whose 
preaching  was  his  religious  character  formed  ? 
What  were  the  feelings  of  his  father?  In 
what  year  did  he  travel  abroad  ?  In  what 
countries?  With  what  result ?  Where  does 
his  father  next  send  him?  What  were  the 
incidents  of  his  life  while  in  Ireland,  and  ira 
mediately  on  his  return  ?  What  compromise 
did  his  father  propose  to  him,  and  what  his 
reply?  What  happened  to  him  in  the  yea? 
1 G70  ?  On  the  death  of  the  father,  who  was 
appointed  guardian  of  the  son? 

In  what  year,  and  whom  does  he  marry"? 
From  whom  does  Penn  obtain  a  grant  of  Penn 
sylvania?  What  are  the  boundaries  of  the 
grant?  In  what  year  is  it  made  ?  What 
other  grants  are  made  soon  after  ?  In  what 
year  did  Penn  sail  for  his  new  province? 
Where  did  he  land?  How  was  he  received? 
What  was  his  assurance?  What  place  did 
he  next  visit  ?  Where  did  Penn  call  the  first 
assembly?     In  what  year? 

What  was  required  of  each  member  as  a 
religious  test  ?  W^hat  new  principle  did  Penn 
introduce  into  the  criminal  code  ?  How  long 
did  the  assembly  sit  ?  How  many  laws  did 
they  pass  ?  What  directions  were  given  to 
Colonel  Markham?  Give  an  account  of  t^je 
council  held  by  Penn  with  the  Indians.  Wh.'t 
did  Penn  declare  to  the  Indians?  Whi\ 
did  the  chiefs  then  promise  ?  After  thi» . 
where  did  Penn  reside  ?  In  what  yenr  doa 
Penn  call  a  second  assembly?  What  as 
surances  did  he  give  them?  Vv'hat  claim- 
are  set  up  by  Lord  Baltimore  ?  Are  they  al 
lowed?  In  what  year  does  Penn  return  U 
England? 

CHAPTER  V. 

V/ho  made  a  grant  of  New  Jersey  ?  Tc 
whom  was  it  granted?  In  what  year?  Wh> 
was  it  called  New  Jersey?  In  what  yeai 
was  the  constitution  framed  ?  Who  was 
made  governor  ?  Where  was  the  seat  of  go 
vernment? 

What  difficulties  occurred  in  1C72?  Id 
what  way  did  William  Penn  become  inter 
ested  in  New  Jersey  ?  What  course  of  poliojf 
did  he  adopt  ?  With  what  success  ?  Who 
])urchased  East  Jersey?  In  what  year?  Ol 
whom  did  the  purchasers  obtain  a  new  patent  ? 


PART   II. J 


QUESTIONS. 


[pERion  I 


Wliat  in  England  tended  to  the  settlement  of 
East  Jersey  ?  Who  usurped  the  government 
of  the  Jerseys  ?  In  what  year  >.  How  did 
he  oppress  the  people  ?  Wiiat  was  the  course 
of  Penn  ?  In  what  year  was  Billingc  made 
governor  I  When  did  he  call  the  first  assem- 
bly ?     What  did  the  people  do  1 

CHAPTER  VI. 

How  does  Miantonomoh  seek  the  life  of 
L'ncas  ?  Failing  in  his  attempt,  what  does  he 
next  do?  After  Uricas  captures  him,  how 
does  he  dispose  of  him  ?  What  does  the 
court  do  with  him  ?  What  is  his  fate  ?  Who 
obtained  the  charier  for  Rhode  Island  and 
Providence  Plantations  ?  In  what  year  ?  By 
whose  aid  was  it  obtained  ?  Did  this  settle 
the  affairs  of  the  colony?  Why  not  ?  Who 
again  went  over  to  obtain  a  new  charter  ?  In 
what  year?  What  noble  example  did  Rhode 
Island  set  ?  Give  the  character  of  Williams 
and  some  of  the  incidents  of  his  life. 

Who  succeeded  the  long  parliament  in  Eng- 
land ?  In  what  year  ?  In  what  way  did  he 
injure  the  interests  of  the  colonies  ?  What 
were  the  promient  provisions  of  the  navigation 
act  ?  What  further  acts  were  passed  in  16G3  ? 
In  what  year  did  Connecticut  apply  for  a 
charter  ?  Whom  did  she  send  to  England  for 
;his  purpose? 

What  was  the  result  of  Winthrop's  mis- 
sion ?  What  was  the  date  of  the  charter 
granted  by  Charles  II.  ?  What  colony  besides 
Hartford  was  included?  Did  the  New  Ha- 
ven colony  at  first  object?  In  what  year  was 
the  union  effected  ?  Who  was  elected  the 
fii  St  governor  ?  For  how  many  successive 
yi-ars  was  he  chosen  ?  Who  was  sent  over  to 
command  the  expedition  against  the  New- 
Netherlands  ?  In  what  year  ?  What  was  the 
nature  of  the  commission  of  which  he  was 
the  head  I  How  did  the  colonists  regard  this 
commission?  Which  colony  most  strenuous- 
ly opposed  it  ?  What  finally  became  of  the 
commission  :  Under  whom  did  Elliot  re- 
ceive his  first  religious  impressions  ?  In  what 
year  did  he  come  to  Boston? 

At  v\  hat  age  ?  What  were  his  objects,  and 
what  his  first  efforts  for  the  conversion  of  the 
Indians  ?  What  had  he  accomplished  in 
1655?  Were  there  many  converts  in  1674? 
With  what  feelings  did  the  chiefs  regard 
cliristianity  ? 


offer  for  the  head  of  Philip?  To  what  place 
did  the  Indian  king  retreat '.  Wliat  befel  Cap- 
tain Hutchinson?  How  many  mm  were 
slain  ?  Give  an  account  of  the  battle  of 
Bloody  Brook.  At  what  time  was  it  fought? 
What  was  done  by  the  Springfield  Indians? 
What  was  now  the  condition  of  tlie  colonies? 
What  was  the  object  of  the  Indians  ? 

What  was  the  conduct  of  Conanohet  in 
1675?  How  many  men  proceeded  to  attack 
him?  By  whom  were  they  commanded? 
Where  was  his  fort  located  ?  Describe  the 
position  of  the  fort,  and  the  way  it  was  ap- 
proached. Also,  the  battle  and  the  number 
slain  on  either  side.  What  became  of  the 
tribe,  and  what  was  the  fate  of  Conanchet  ? 
What  was  tlie  state  of  the  war  in  the  spring 
of  1G76?  How  did  Philip  attempt  to  arouse 
the  Mohawks?  Did  Philip's  enmity  suljside? 
By  w  hom  was  he  finally  killed  ?  At  what 
place  ?  How  many  inhabitants  of  New  Eng- 
land were  slain  in  this  war?  How  many 
towns  destroyed  ?  What  were  the  consequen- 
ces of  Philip's  war  to  the  whites?  What  to 
the  savages  ?  What  was  the  fate  of  the  con- 
verted Indians  ?  How  many  towns  did  they 
lose  ?     Who  adhered  to  them  ? 


CHAPTER  VII 

What  was  the  parentage  of  King  Philip  ? 
Wliat  embittered  iiim  against  the  English  ?  Of 
what  trilie  did  he  become  the  chief?  What 
alarmed  and  united  the  savage;  trilies  ?  What 
tril)e  unites  with  Philip  ?  Who  was  its  chief? 
^Tio  betrayed  the  designs  of  Philip  to  the 
English?  What  was  his  fate?  By  whom 
was  the  murder  committed  ?  What  town  was 
first  attacked  by  Philip  ?  In  what  year  ? 
What  was  the  result? 

WTiat  did  the  commissioners  who  met  at 
Boston  decide  ?  How  many  men  were  to  be 
raised  ?  What  was  the  first  movement  made 
by  the  troo[)S  ?     What  did  the  commissioners 


CHAPTER  Vni. 

To  whom  does  the  term  "  regicides"  apply? 
How  many  of  the  regicides  came  to  this 
country  ?  What  were  their  names  ?  Where 
did  they  find  refuge  ?  What  remarkable  ser- 
vice was  rendered  to  the  inhabitants  by  Goffe  ? 
Were  either  of  the  judges  betrayed  by  the 
colonists  ? 

What  occurred  between  the  government  of 
Massachusetts  and  Gorges  in  the  year  1677? 
What  claims  of  Mason  were  revived  in  1675? 
When  was  New  Hampshire  made  a  royal  pro- 
vince ?  By  whom  ?  What  were  the  condi- 
tions of  the  charter  ?  What  did  the  colony 
declare  ?  Whom  did  Mason  select  as  govern- 
or of  the  colony  ?  In  what  year  was  he  sent? 
Did  he  carry  out  his  schemes? 

Did  Massachusetts  regard  the  navigation 
acts  ?  What  was  she  summoned  to  do  ?  Wha 
was  sent  over  to  enforce  the  acts  ?  In  what 
year  ?  With  what  success  ?  In  what  year 
was  he  again  sent  ?  What  was  demanded  of 
the  colony  ?  What  instructions  were  given 
to  the  agents?  What  was  the  origin  of  the 
two  parties  which  sprung  up  in  Massachu- 
setts ?  What  were  they  called  ?  Was  the 
charter  finally  annulled  ?  In  what  year  did 
Charles  dir  '.  Who  succeeded  him  ?  What 
did  he  deel.ire?  What  did  he  do?^  What 
was  the  conduct  of  the  colonists  ?  Wno  waa 
the  first  governor-general  of  New  England? 
By  whom  was  he  succeeded?     In  what  year? 

What  were  Andross'  professions  ?  What 
was  said  of  him?  What  did  he  do  in  regard 
to  the  press?  What  did  he  demand  of  the 
colony  of  Connecticut  ?  In  what  year?  \\'hat 
occurred  in  regard  to  the  charter  ?  Where  was 
the  principal  seat  of  his  tyranny?  What  col- 
onies were  added  to  his  jurisdiction  ?  VVhaT 
transpired  in  England  in  the  year  1688* 
What  measures  were   taken   at    Boston   on 

493 


PaRT    II.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[period  t. 


hearing  of  the  revolution  in  England  ?  How 
did  the  removal  of  Andross  affect  New  Hamp- 
shire ?  What  did  the  people  desire  on  tiie 
death  of  Mason  ?  How  were  their  wishes 
frustrated?  In  what  year  was  Allen  made 
governor  ?  After  the  revolution  what  colonies 
resumed  their  charters  ?  To  what  colonies 
were  the  old  charters  denied  T 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Who  was  the  first  governor  of  New  York 
after  the  surrender  of  the  Dutch  !  Who  suc- 
ceeded him  ?  In  what  year?  In  what  year 
did  the  Dutch  re-take  New  York?  (n  what 
year  WHS  it  restored  to  the  English?  Wiiat 
stejis  did  the  Duke  of  York  take  to  confirm 
his  title?  Whom  did  he  appoint  <rovernor  ? 
What  territory  did  he  claim  ?  Where  is  he 
repulsed  ?  In  w!iat  year  was  Andross  remo- 
ved ?  Who  succeeded  lam  ?  What  was  his 
policy  towards  the  colony? 

When  the  Duke  of  York  succeeded  to  the 
crown  of  England,  did  he  favor  his  own  colo- 
ny ?  What  eff'ects  did  the  revolution  [>roduce 
in  the  colony  ?  What  was  the  conduct  of 
Captain  Leisler  ?  Did  the  magistrates  of 
New  York  oppose  or  favor  him  ?  "  What  dis- 
patches fell  into  his  hands  ?  What  course  did 
the  people  at  Albany  adopt  ?  Who  subdued 
them?  Whom  did  King  William  commission 
as  governor  of  New  York?  In  what  year? 
What  was  his  character?  What  was  the 
fate  of  Lcislcr  and  his  son-in-law  ?  In  what 
j'car  did  congress  meet  in  New  York? 


CHAPTER  X. 
What  right  did  the  Puritans  believe  them- 
selves lo  have'?  What  new  sect  in  England 
caniH  over?  Who  was  their  foumJer?  How 
was  lie  treated?  What  Quaker  women  ar- 
rived in  liostoii  ?  What  treatment  dui  they 
receive?  How  many  came  soon  after ]  What 
iiep-s  were  taken  hy  the  coannissJoiiersI  Did 
the  Quakers  persevere  7  What  was  tlie  result? 
Wli;it  (lid  Christison  tell  the  tribunal?  Was 
he  iinally  released?  Who  soon  after  inter- 
fered ? 


CHAPTER  XI. 

What  missionaries  came  over  from  France  ? 
What  two  objects  did  they  attempt  to  unite  ? 
By  whom  were  their  efforts  seconded  ?  Who 
■went  to  the  country  of  the  Hurons  in  1634? 
With  what  success  ?  What  places  were  then 
settled  ?  In  what  year  was  Montreal  found- 
ed ?  Between  what  years  were  the  Hurons 
visited  by  the  missionaries  ?  How  many  mis- 
sionaries visited  them  ?  Who  went  on  a  mis- 
sion to  the  Mohawks  ?  With  what  success  ? 
In  what  year  was  peace  made  with  the  Five 
Nations?  What  did  they  declare?  In  what 
year  did  Jougcs  go  on  a  mission  to  the  five 
nations  ?  Wtat  was  the  result  ?  What  na- 
tion makes  war  ?  What  nation  destroyed  St. 
Josephs  ?     In  what  year  ? 

In  what  year  was  the  massacre  of  St.  Igna- 
ius  ?  What  was  the  fate  of  St.  Louis  ?  Of 
fche  two  missionaries  ?  What  was  the  bearing  of 
the  Mohawks  ?  What  outrages  did  they  com- 
mit? By  what  means  did  the  missionaries 
gain  accesF  to  the  Iroquois  ?      Where  did  Le 

494 


Moyne  finally  settle  ?  What  nation.*!  received 
the  missionaries  at  this  time  ?  How  did  the 
attempt  of  the  French  to  colonize  New  York 
terminate  ?  In  what  year  ?  What  voyage  of 
discovery  was  made  by  father  Allouez  in 
1G65?  What  occurred  at  the  great  village  of 
the  Chippewas  ? 

How  was  he  received  by  the  Indians? 
What  mission  did  he  found  ?  What  infoima- 
tion  did  he  collect  concerning  the  country  ' 
Of  what  river  did  he  hear  ?  What  did  he 
recommend  ?  Who  founded  the  first  French 
settlement  within  the  limits  of  the  Unite! 
States?  At  what  place?  In  what  year? 
W^hat  was  done  by  Marquette  in  1671  ?  What 
country  does  he  explore  in  1673  '.  How  was 
he  received  by  the  natives  on  the  Mississippi? 
What  other  rivers  do  they  discover  ?  How 
far  down  does  he  descend  ? 

By  what  route  does  he  return  to  Green  Bay? 
In  what  year?  Where  did  Marquette  die  ? 
How?  In  what  year?  What  is  now  belie- 
ved l)y  the  Indians  ?  Who  accompanied  Mar- 
quette ?  To  whom  did  Joliet  communicate 
an  account  of  their  discoveries?  At  what 
place?  To  what  resolution  did  the  informa- 
tion give  rise  ?  "W^hat  did  La  Salk  do  after 
his  return  from  France?  What  route  did  he 
take  up  the  lakes,  and  what  settlements  did 
he  found?  After  sending  back  his  furs,  what 
further  enterprises  did  he  prosecute  ?  What 
Jesuit  accompanied  him  ?  Where  did  he  part 
with  Hennepin  ?  For  what  purpose  ?  What 
did  Hennepin  explore  ?  On  the  return  of  La 
Salle  to  the  Illinois  river,  what  further  enter 
prises  did  he  pursue?  What  did  he  call  the 
new  country?  On  his  return  to  France,  what 
undertaking  was  confided  to  him?  Where 
was  he  landed  ?  Wl:iat  was  the  manner  of 
his  death  ?     In  what  year  ? 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Was  Charles  II.  scrupulous  in  his  grants  ol 
land-?  In  what  year  did  he  grant  Carolina? 
To  whom  was  it  given?  What  additional 
trust  did  the  company  receive  ?  What  fur- 
ther grant  did  King  Charles  make  in  1667? 
To  whom  was  the  task  of  framing  the  govern 
ment  assigned  ?     Who  was  invited  to  assist  1 

Where  was  the  first  settlement  made  ?  Bj 
whom?  In  what  year?  Where  was  the  oth 
er  colony  located  ?  From  whence  did  it  come  ? 
What  was  its  success?  By  whom  was  the 
settlement  continued?  Who  was  their  first 
governor''  How  many  inhalntants  did  tne 
cohmy  contain  in  1666?  How  did  the  con 
stitution  of  Locke  and  Shaftsbury  succeed  i 
In  what  year  was  it  abrogated  ?  Who  was 
the  first  proprietory  governor  of  Carolina?  In 
what  year  was  Charleston  founded  ?  What 
settlors  were  sent  out  by  King  William  ?  In 
what  year?    W^here  did  they  settle  ? 


CHAPTER  XHI. 

What  gave  rise  to  King  William's  war? 
In  what  part  of  the  country  did  the  French 
establisli  themselves  in  1686?  In  what  year 
did  the  Lxxjuois  surprise  Montreal?  How 
many  of  the  inhabitants  were  slain  ?  What 
was  said  of  the  Five  Nations  at  this  time  f 


»ART    II.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[IKRIOU    II. 


What  tribe  of  Indians  attacked  Dover,  in 
New  Hainp.siure  /  Give  an  arcount  of  the 
death  of  Major  Waldron  ?  Wliat  expedition 
was  seat  out  from  Quebec  by  Governor  Fron- 
lenac  ?  In  what  year.'  What  was  its  suc- 
cess ?  How  many  prisoners  perished  f  Who 
was  a  distinguished  k-ader  of  this  expedition  ? 
What  phice  was  destroyed  by  the  second  par- 
ly sent  from  Quebec.'  What  liy  the  third? 
What  means  did  the  colonies  adopt  for  de- 
fense ?  Where  did  congress  assemble  ?  What 
was  the  first  measure  adopted  lor  protection  ? 
What  defeated  it .'  What  was  the  second  ? 
What  success  attended  it  I 

What  means  did  Massacliusetts  adopt  to 
relieve  the  treasury?  What  were  the  conse- 
quences of  failure  '.  What  was  done  to  pre- 
serve the  friendship  of  the  Indians?  In  what 
year  did  Massachusetts  receive  a  new  char- 
ter? What  territoiy  was  embraced  in  the 
new  charier  ?  What  privileges  did  it  grant  to 
the  people  ?  What  rights  did  it  reserve  to  the 
sovereign  ? 


PERIOD    II. 

At  what  time  does  this  Period  begin?  At 
what  time  does  it  close?  What  event  marks 
its  commencement?     What  its  conclusion. 


CHAPTER  I. 

At  what  time  was  the  new  charter  of  Mas- 
sachusetts received  at  Boston  ?  By  whom 
were  the  officers  under  it  nonnnated  ?  Who 
was  nominated  for  governor?  Of  what  place 
was  he  a  native  i*  How  did  he  acquire  fame 
and  wealth  ?  What  singular  delusion  appear- 
ed in  Massachusetts  about  IGlo?  Where 
did  it  begin  ?  In  what  year  did  it  prevail  ex- 
tensively in  Salem  t 

Who  were  at  first  supposed  to  be  witches  ? 
Did  governor  Phipps  and  the  clergy  give 
countenance  to  the  belief  in  witches  ?  What 
was  the  common  method  of  proceeding  on  the 
trials  ?  What  were  the  proceedings  of  Sanm- 
el  Parris?  How  many  were  executed  in  Sa- 
lem? What  ground  did  the  general  court 
take  in  these  matters  ?     With  what  effect ' 

What  steps  did  Massachusetts  take  on  the 
subject  of  genera]  education?  What  was 
done  by  Connecticut?  In  what  year?  In 
what  year  was  the  general  law  passed  on  the 
subject?  What  did  that  law  ordain  for  com- 
mon schools  ?  What  for  grammar  schools  ? 
Who  proposed  the  establishment  of  a  college 
in  Connecticut  in  ]  G51  ?  Who  left  a  legacy 
for  the  establishment  of  the  college  ?  In  what 
year?     Where  was  the  school  located? 

Plow  was  the  charter  of  incorjjoration  ob- 
tained ?  In  what  year  ?  Who  were  made 
the  trustees?  W^here  did  they  first  meet? 
What  did  they  do?  In  what  year  was  the  lo- 
cation changed  to  New  Haven?  Why  was 
the  present  name  adopted  ?  Which  are  now 
the  most  flourishing  institutions  in  the  United 
States?  What  is  said  of  Colonel  Fletcher's 
attempt  to  take  comtnand  of  the  Connceticut 
iniliiia?  In  what  year  was  the  first  Episco- 
pal church  esta'jlished  in  Connecticut  ?     At 

32 


what  place  ?  In  what  year  did  the  clergy  of 
C-onncicticut  meet  at  Saybrook  ?  What  did 
they  call  the  constitution  which  they  formed? 


CHAPTER  II. 

In  what  year  did  King  William's  war  ter 
minate  ?  What  was  the  peace  called  ?  What 
was  stipulated  ?  What  did  Louis  XI V  do  in 
Europe  to  provoke  a  new  war  ?  \\  liat  did  he 
do  in  America?  In  what  year  was  war  de 
clared  by  Queen  Anne  ?  What  did  the  Indi 
ans  effect  in  Maine  ?  Wliat  at  Dcerfield  in 
Massachusetts  ?  What  clergyman  was  taken 
prisoner  ?     What  was  the  fate  of  his  wife  ? 

What  was  the  conduct  of  Benjamin  Church' 
What  did  he  accomplish  ?  In  what  year ; 
What  was  proposed  by  Governor  Vaudreuil 
in  1705?  What  was  the  conse(|\ience  ?  De- 
scril)e  the  expedition  of  Colonel  Nicholson  in 
1710.  In  what  manner  were  the  settlements 
in  New  York  protected?  Who  among  the 
settlers  exercised  great  influence  over  the 
Indians  ?  In  what  year  was  Queen  Anne's 
war  closed  ?  By  what  treaty  ?  What  was 
ceded  to  the  English  by  the  treaty?  What 
were  the  consequences  of  this  war?  What 
new  settlers  came  ovei  from  Germany  in 
1710? 

In  what  year  did  Queen  Anne  die  ?  WTio 
succeeded  her  ?  What  step  is  taken  by  Mas- 
sachusetts to  enlarge  her  boundaries  ?  What 
plan  was  adopted  by  Fathei  Rasles  to  escape 
from  the  English  authority?  What  dcpreda- 
tions  did  the  Indians  co^aimit?  What  was 
the  consequence  ?  Between  what  years  did 
these  events  occur  ?  Who  was  the  last  of  the 
Jesuit  missionaries  ?  In  what  year  was  peace 
concluded  with  the  Eastern  Indians  ? 


CHAPTER  III. 

In  what  year  did  Governor  Sloughter,  ol 
New  York,  die  ?  Who  succeeded  him  ?  What 
was  the  character  of  Fletcher?  What  course 
did  he  take  on  the  subject  of  religion  ?  Who 
succeeded  Fletcher?  In  what  year?  To 
what  particular  sul)ject  was  his  attention  di- 
rected ?  Who  was  ap{)ointed  to  command  the 
expedition  against  the  pirates  ?  What  did  he 
do?     What  was  his  fate  ? 

What  occasioned  di fficulties  iji  the  Jerseys ? 
In  what  years  ?  What  did  Queen  Anne  then 
do?  Whom  did  Queen  Anne  appoint  gover- 
nor of  the  Jerseys  ?  What  was  his  conduct 
a-id  his  character?  Who  succeeded  hitn? 
In  what  year  ?  Who  succeeded  Lovelace  ? 
In  what  year  ?  Who  succeeded  Schuyler  as 
governor  of  New  York?  What  policy  did  he 
adopt  in  regard  to  trade?  Whom  did  it  I'is- 
please?  Where  was  a  trading-house  estab- 
lished? What  did  it  afterwards  become' 
Who  succeeded  Burnet?  After  the  death 
of  Montgomery,  who  assumed  the  reins  of 
government?  What  did  he  permit  to  the 
French?  In  what  year  did  George  I.  die? 
Who  succeeded  him  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 
How  was  Penn  treated  by  James  II.?     Km 

495 


PART    II.1 


QUESTIONS. 


[period    III. 


what  ends  did  he  use  his  influence  ?  After 
James  was  deposed,  of  what  was  Penn  sus- 
pected ?  What  measures  were  adopted  against 
him  ?  When  was  he  restored  ?  In  what  year 
did  Fenn  again  visit  the  colony  ?  How  did 
he  find  it?  What  did  he  do  ?  What  were 
the  provisions  of  the  new  charter?  Were 
they  acceptable  ?  What  course  did  The  Terri- 
tories adopt  ?     In  what  year  did  Penn  return 

o  Ensiland?     In   what   year   was  Maryland 

estore'd  to  Lord  Baltimore  I 


CHAPTER  V. 

What  cause  gave  rise  to  a  division  among 
the  people  of  Carolina  ?  What  was  declared 
m  regard  to  marriages?  What  was  the  con- 
duct of  the  Huguenots  ?  Who  was  sent  out 
as  governor  to  reconcile  differences?  Wilh 
what  success?  How  were  the  difficulties 
finally  adjusted?  How  was  rice  introduced 
into  Carolina?  Where  did  the  proprietary 
governor  reside  ?  How  did  he  govern  the  north- 
ern province ''  Who  introduced  the  Quaker 
doctrines  into  North  Carolina  ?  What  expe- 
dition was  undertaken  on  the  breaking  out  of 
Queen  Anne's  war?  In  what  year?  With 
what  success  ?  What  consequences  fol- 
lowed • 

What  expedition  did  the  governor  next  un- 
dertake ?  With  what  success  ?  In  what 
year?  W^ho  attacked  Charleston ?  In  what 
year?  Wilh  what  success  ?  What  plan  was 
formed  in  1712?  How  far  was  it  executed? 
How  was  succor  afforded?  What  was  the 
result  of  the  war?  What  combination  was 
formed  against  South  Carolina  in  the  year 
1715?     How  many  warriors  did  it  embrace  ? 

What  was  the  conduct  of  Governor  Cra- 
ven ?  What  was  the  result  of  the  war  ?  How 
did  this  war  give  rise  to  dissensions  between 
the  proprietors  and  the  assembly?  What 
measures  of  relief  did  the  inhabitants  adopt  ? 
Whom  did  they  first  name  as  governor? 
Whom  did  they  finally  elect '.  W^ere  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  people  confirmed  by  the 
crown?  Who  was  appointed  the  first  gover- 
nor? In  what  year?  What  desirable  object 
did  he  efTect?  In  what  year  were  the  difli- 
culties  finally  arranged  .'  Were  the  Carolinas 
then  separated  ' 

CHAPTER  VI. 

In  what  year  was  Pensacola  settled  ?  What 
French  discoverer  soon  appeared  on  the  coast  ? 
What  rivers  and  lakes  did  he  visit !  Where 
did  he  finally  plant  his  colony  ?  In  what  year 
was  Mobile  fcur.'ied?  In  what  year  was  a 
settlement  made  at  Natchez?  By  whom? 
In  what  year  was  New  Orleans  founded  I  By 
what  nation?     Who  claimed  Louisiana? 

Who  claimed  Lake  Chaiuplain?  In  what 
year  was  a  fort  erected  at  Crown  Point?  Be- 
tween what  years  were  Niagara  and  Detroit 
founded  ?  Wiiat  were  the  boundaries  of  New 
Fran"e,  as  claimed  by  the  French  geogra- 
pheti  ? 


CHAPTER  VII 
What  fittempt  was  made  in  1701  to  destroy 

496 


the  independence  cf  the  colonies  ?  How  waa 
the  salary  of  the  governors  in  the  colonies 
paid  ?  What  change  was  attempted  in  1702 
in  Massachusetts  '.  What  course  did  the  as 
sembly  adopt  ?  How  was  it  in  the  other  co 
lonies  ? 

What  effect  had  the  issuing  of  paper  noney 
by  Massachusetts  on  the  coin?  How  many 
diff'erent  parties  proposed  remedies  ?  Name 
the  plan  of  each.  What  was  finally  the  re 
suit  ?  What  were  the  views  of  Cooke  ?  Hcjw 
did  the  general  court  attempt  to  punish  the 
governor  ?  How  did  the  governor  treat  the 
assembly  ?  What  course  did  the  people  pur- 
sue ? 

Wliat  did  the  governor  demand  ?  Did  the 
people  yield  ?  What  principle  did  they  as 
sert?  Wliat  amendments  to  the  charter  did 
the  governor  procure  ?  Who  succeeded  Go- 
vernor Shute  ?  In  what  year?  What  was 
the  sul)ject  of  his  controversy  with  the  general 
court  ?  Was  he  successful  ?  In  what  year 
did  he  die  ?  Who  succeeded  him  ?  In  what 
year?  Was  the  old  controversy  again  re 
newed?     How  finally  settled? 

What  settlement  was  made  from  Ireland  in 
1719  ?  What  remarkable  appearance  of  the 
heavens  was  exhibited  in  1719?  In  what 
year  was  Vermont  settled  ?  By  whom,  and 
at  what  place  ?  W^hat  political  considerations 
led  to  the  settlem.ent  of  Georgia?  What 
philanthropic  measures  aided  it?  Under 
whose  guidance  was  it  made  ?  In  what  year? 
What  number,  and  which  of  the  present 
United  States  was  now  settled  ? 


PERIOD   III. 

At  what  time  does  tliis  Period  commei.^j? 
At  what  time  does  it  terminate  ?  What  event 
marks  its  commencement  ?     What  its  conclu 


CHAPTER  I. 

By  what  assistance  did  Oglethorpe  com 
mence  the  settlement  of  Georgia  ?  At  what 
time  did  he  embark?  With  how  many  emi- 
grants ?  How  were  supplies  furnished  to  the 
colonists  ?  At  what  time  did  they  arrive  at 
Charleston  ?  What  were  the  motives  of  Gov 
ernor  Johnson  in  assisting  them?  At  what 
place  did  they  settle  ?  What  were  the  prin- 
cipal Indian  tribes  of  the  neighborhood  ?  How 
many  warriors  could  they  muster?  What 
measures  did  Oglethorpe  adopt  to  secure  their 
friendship  ?  What  was  the  character  of  the 
population?  What  steps  were  taken  to  oh 
tain  a  l)etter?     With  what  success  ? 

What  predominant  interest  regulated  the 
laws  ?  What  measures  did  Oglethor{)e  adopt 
to  protect  the  country  against  the  Spaniards? 
In  what  year?  In  what  year  does  he  go  tt) 
England?  Who  is  appointed  commander-in- 
chief?  Where  does  he  establish  his  head- 
quarters ?  In  what  year  did  the  slaves  rise  at 
Stono?  By  whom  were  they  instigated? 
What  was  the  result  ?  In  what  year  did  Ogle- 
thorpe invade  Florida  ?  What  calami.ty  visits 
Charleston  about  this  time  ?     In  what  year  i» 


9ART   II.] 


QUESTIONS. 


IrERicn  HI 


Georgia  invaded  from  Havanna  ?    With  what 

result  { 

Wliat  measures  are  adopted  by  Oglethorpe 
to'apture  them?  How  are  they  thwarted ? 
Wnat  device  does  he  then  resort  to  ?  With 
what  success  ?  What  was  the  character  of 
Ogletliorpe  ?  Who  upheld  the  slave-trade  ? 
How  many  negroes  were  brought  from  Africa 
before  the  American  revolution  ? 

Were  slaves  at  first  admitted  into  Georgia? 
What  was  the  consequence  ?  What  were  the 
easons  given  for  their  admission?  Who  ad- 
vocated the  employment  of  slave  labor?  In 
what  year  did  Georgia  become  a  royal  prov- 
ince ?  In  what  year  did  Louisiana  become  a 
French  province  ?  Who  was  appointed  its 
first  governor  ?  What  Indians  threatened  the 
people?  Whom  did  the  Indians  favor?  In 
what  year  do  the  French  make  war  upon  the 
Chickasaws  ?  What  expedition  was  planned 
in  France  ?  What  was  its  success,  and  the 
consequen'^.es  to  those  engaged  in  it ' 


CHAPTER  11. 

In  what  year  was  war  declared  between 
England  and  France  ?  Where  is  Louisburg 
situated?  Who  planned  an  attack  on  Louis- 
burg? How  was  the  plan  received  by  the 
general  court  ?  By  what  vote  was  it  finally- 
Carried  ?  Who  raised  troops  for  the  expedi- 
tion? To  whom  was  the  command  given? 
At  what  time  did  he  sail?  Who  commanded 
Jie  naval  forces  I 

At  what  time  did  the  army  effect  a  landing? 
At  what  time  did  the  fort  surrender  ?  What 
eflfect  did  this  surrender  produce  in  France  ? 
What  was  the  result  of  the  expedition?  In 
what  year  was  peace  concluded?  At  what 
place  ?     What  was  stipulated  ? 

What  claims  to  territory  were  set  up  by  the 
French?  What  was  claimed  by  the  British? 
By  what  right  ?  How  was  the  question  to  be 
settled  ?  What  chain  of  forts  did  the  French 
intend  to  establish  ?  Who  obtained  a  patent 
of  lands  in  1750?  How  did  the  French  re- 
gard this  grant  ?  What  were  the  resolutions 
of  Governor  Dinwiddle  ?  Whom  does  he  se- 
lect as  his  agent  ? 


CHAPTER  III. 

Who  were  the  ancestors  of  (Vorge  Wash- 
ington? In  what  county  in  Vi  ••'{•*.«.  did  they 
reside  ?  In  what  year  was  Waui.  mgton  bom  ? 
In  vhat  year  did  his  father  die  ?  Lnder  whose 
care  did  he  then  fall  ?  What  were  the  early 
indications  which  foretold  his  future  great- 
aess  ?  How  was  the  want  of  early  advanta- 
ges supplied? 

Under  whom  did  Lawrence  Washington 
serve?  After  whom  was  Mount  Vernon  na- 
med? What  appointment  was  tendered  to 
George  Washington  ?  What  prevented  him 
from  accepting  it  ?  What  enijjloyment  did  he 
afterwards  engage  in?  What  was  his  first 
military  appointment?  At  what  age?  For 
what  object  did  he  go  to  the  West  Indies  ? 
On  the  death  of  the  brother,  what  was  left  to 
freuTg©  Washington?     What  appointment  did 

32* 


he  receive  from  Govemoi  Dinwiddle?  In 
what  year  was  he  sent  envoy  to  the  French  ? 

Describe  his  route.  What  Indian  tribe  did 
he  visit .'  What  did  the  principal  chief  de- 
clare to  him?  What  further  ''  OS  the  chief 
do?  Who  commanded  the  French  camp? 
When  Washington  delivered  Dinwiddie's  or- 
ders, what  reply  was  given  ?  What  did  th« 
French  attempt  in  regard  to  the  Indian  chief? 
Was  it  successful  ? 

What  perils  did  he  encounter  on  his  jour 
ney  home  ?  At  what  time  did  he  arrive  at 
Willi;unsburg?  How  long  had  he  been  ab- 
sent ?  What  were  the  impressions  produced 
by  the  manner  in  which  he  accomplished  the 
enterprise  ?  What  appointment  was  confer- 
red upon  him  in  1751  ?  To  what  place  did  he 
march?  What  place  had  the  French  taken 
from  the  English?  What  fort  do  they  build? 
Who  comes  to  attack  Washington  at  the  great 
Meadows  ?  What  did  Washington  do  ?  What 
was  the  result  ?  Does  Washrngton  march  to 
attack  Fort  du  Quesne  ?  Why  tloes  he  aban 
don  the  enterprise  ?  Where  did  he  afterwardis 
entrench  himself?  Why  does  he  capitulate? 
What  were  the  conditions  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

What  did  the  English  propose  to  the  colo- 
nies in  1753?  At  what  place  did  congress 
meet?  In  what  year?  What  colonies  were 
represented?  With  whom  did  the  colonists 
form  a  union  ?  What  did  the  colonists  resolve 
upon?  Who  drew  the  articles  of  union  ?  In 
what  year  and  on  what  day  were  they  signed? 
Did  the  delegates  from  either  of  the  colonies 
decline  to  sign  the  articles  ?  How  were  the 
articles  received  by  the  colonial  legislatures? 
Were  they  acceptable  to  the  crown  of  Eng- 
land? Why  were  they  rejected  by  both  paj- 
ties? 

What  plan  did  the  ministry  propose  to  Gov- 
emor  Shirley  for  taxing  the  colonies  ?  Did 
the  colonies  assent?  How  then  did  the  Brit- 
ish government  propose  to  carry  on  the  war? 
What  troops  arrive  from  Europe  ?  By  whom 
commanded  ?  Whom  does  General  Braddock 
call  to  advise  him  ?  What  was  the  plan 
adopted  ?  Do  the  French  send  out  re-inforce- 
ments  ?  How  many  men  attacked  Nova  Sco- 
tia? By  whom  were  they  commanded?  What 
was  the  result  of  the  expedition  ?  After  Wash- 
ington's return,  what  notice  was  taken  of  his 
services  ?     What  orders  did  he  receive  ? 

In  the  re-organization  of  the  militia  by  Gov 
ernor  Dinwiddle,  what  change  was  made  in 
the  grades  ?  What  was  Washington's  con- 
duct ?  What  place  does  he  finally  accept  ? 
At  what  time  docs  Braddock  commence  his 
march  for  Fort  du  Quesne  ?  What  arrange- 
ment, under  the  advice  of  Washington,  does 
he  make  ?  With  how  many  men  does  he  ad- 
vance ?  What  is  his  conduct  towards  the 
friendly  Indians? — His  opinion  of  the  coloni- 
al officers? — His  acquaintance  with  Indian 
warfare?  On  what  day  was  Braddock  at- 
tacked by  the  Indians  ?  How  was  the  attack 
made?  How  were  the  Indians  posted''  What 
was  the  conduct  of  Braddock  ? 

497 


riRT  II.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[period  lit 


Which  one  of  the  mounted  officers  escaped  ? 
What  was  the  impression  of  the  Indians  in 
regard  to  him  ?  What  occurred  when  Brad- 
dock  was  wounded  ?  How  many  officers 
were  wounded  or  slain  ?  How  many  pri- 
vates ?  Who  conducted  the  retreat  ?  How 
far  did  the  army  retreat  before  it  halted  ?  x\f- 
ter  meeting  Colonel  Dunbar  do  they  still  re- 
treat ?  Do  the  Cherokees  remain  faithful  to 
h«  E.iglish  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 

How  many  troops  were  destined  for  the  at- 
tack on  Crown  Point .'  By  whom  were  they 
commanded  ?  At  what  time  did  they  reach 
Albany?  Where  did  General  Johnson  estab- 
lish a  fort? 

At  what  time  did  he  reach  Lake  George  ? 
When  Dieskau  reached  Crown  Point,  what 
measures  did  he  adopt  ?  Whom  does  he  first 
meet  and  defeat  ?  When  he  encounters  the 
army  under  Johnson,  what  is  the  result? 
What  is  the  fate  of  Dieskau  ?  In  what  under- 
taking does  General  Johnson  waste  the  re- 
mainder of  the  season  ?  At  what  time  do  most 
of  the  troops  return  to  their  colonies  ?  Who 
commanded  the  expedition  against  Niagara  ? 
At  what  time  did  he  reach  Osv\-ego?  What 
is  the  result  of  the  campaign?  In  what  year 
is  war  declAred  between  England  and 
France  ? 

What  difficulties  did  Washington  experi- 
ence in  the  execution  of  his  duties  ?  W'hat 
was  the  conduct  of  Dinwiddle  ?  Who  was 
appointed  commander-in-chief?  On  what 
business  did  Washington  visit  Boston  ?  How 
was  the  matter  decided  ?  Who  had  provided 
for  the  campaign  of  1756?  By  whom  were 
their  plans  defeated?  W^hat  was  Shirley's 
conduct?  Who  was  appointed  to  succeed 
Shirley  ?  To  what  station  was  Lord  Loudon 
afterwards  appointed  ?  Was  the  campaign 
generally  successful  or  otherwise  ? 


CHAPTER  VI. 

For  what  is  the  campaign  of  1757  memora- 
ble ?  What  was  the  force  of  Montcalm  ?  Who 
commanded  Fort  William  Henry  ?  Who  com- 
manded at  Fort  Edward  ?  How  large  was 
his  army  ?  When  Monroe  surrendered,  what 
A-ere  the  terms  of  the  capitulation?  What 
was  the  fate  of  the  garrison  ? 

What  dispute  arose  in  Pennsylvania  this 
year?  Who  went  to  England  to  adjust  the 
difllculty  ?  What  was  the  result  ?  In  what 
year  was  William  Pitt,  afterwards  Earl  of 
Chatham,  made  prime  minister?  What  was 
his  character?  What  did  the  minister  prom- 
ise the  colonies  m  his  circular?  To  what  did 
he  exhort  them  ?  What  was  the  consequence  ? 
Who  was  appointed  commander-in-chief? 
What  armament  came  out  under  Admiral  Bos- 
cawen  ?  What  army  was  thus  raised  in  the 
colonies? 

What  was  the  plan  of  the  campaign  for 
1758?  Why  was  Louisburg  desired?  Wlio 
conducted  the  expedition?  On  what  day  did 
it  surrender?  What  was  the  number  of  the 
farrison  ?      What  was  done  with  the  prison- 

498 


ers  ?  What  with  the  inhabitants  ?  What  feD 
into  the  hands  of  the  British  with  Louisburg  t 
What  expedition  was  undertaken  by  Genera. 
Abercrombie?  With  how  large  an  arnur 
What,  was  the  result  ?  What  promising  tmi 
cer  was  killed  ?  Was  Abercrombie  success 
ful  in  his  assault  ?  What  was  his  loss  ?  Ti 
what  place  did  he  then  retreat?  What  was 
the  enterprise  undertaken  by  Colonel  Brad 
street  ? 

What  enterprise  was  entrusted  to  General 
Forbes  ?  What  army  was  assigned  L»  this 
service?  What  new  route  was  chosen  ?  What 
was  the  conse(|uence  ?  On  reaching  Fort  Du 
Quesne  in  what  condition  was  it  found?  How 
was  Major  Grant  surprised  and  defeated? 
What  was  the  fate  of  General  Foi  bes  ?  What 
was  the  nev/  fort  named  ?  What  is  the  to\vn 
occupying  the  site  now  called?  Where  was 
the  great  Indian  council  held  ?  What  tribes 
sent  delegates  to  it  ?  Who  attended  on  the 
part  of  the  English  ?     What  was  the  result' 


CHAPTER  VIL 

What  was  the  object  of  the  campaign  of 
1759?  Who  commanded  the  British  forces? 
What  was  the  plan  of  the  campaign  ?  At  what 
time  did  Prideaux  besiege  Niagara  ?  What 
was  the  result?  Of  what  number  did  the 
garrison  consist  ?  Who  is  selected  to  com 
mand  the  expedition  against  Quebec  ?  How 
large  an  army  is  detailed?  What  admirals 
are  sent?  Where  does  Wolfe  make  a  land 
ing  ?  In  what  month  ?  How  is  Quebec  situ 
ated  ? 

Who  commands  the  French  army  ?  What 
place  does  Wolfe  first  capture?  Where  does 
he  next  attack  Montcalm  ?  With  what  result'! 
What  was  the  success  of  General  Amherst 
and  what  his  plans?  W^hat  were  Wolfe's 
prospects  of  aid  from  the  co-operation  of  tht 
two  other  armies  ?  What  plan  of  attack  wai 
resolved  upon  ?  What  device  was  adopted  tc 
deceive  the  enemy?  Describe  the  ditlicultie. 
of  landing  and  ascending  the  heights.  Wha 
did  the  morning  exhibit?  What  were  tht 
measures  adopted  by  Montcalm  ?  What  wert 
the  results  of  the  battle  ?  What  the  gallani 
declarations  of  Wolfe?  What  the  exclama 
tions  of  Montcalm  ? 

Who  succeeded  General  Wolfe  in  the  com 
mand  ?  Who  General  Montcalm  ?  Does  Que- 
bec capitulate  ?  Who  attacks  Quebec  in  tha 
spring  of  1760?  With  what  force?  With 
what  success  ?  What  took  place  in  Septem 
ber  of  this  year  ? 


CHAPTER  Vin. 

Where  rlid  the  French  retreat  to  when  they 
left  F'ort  du  Quesne  ?  What  did  they  effect 
with  the  Cherokee  Indians  ?  Who  was  sent 
to  subdue  them  ?     With  what  success  ? 

What  occurred  in  the  following  year  ?  What 
was  the  expedition  planned  by  General  Am- 
herst ?  What  its  results?  What  were  the 
feelings  of  the  Indians  towards  the  French  ? 
What  did  they  say  of  them  ?  Who  sought  to 
unite  the  north  western  Indians  against  the 
English  ?     What  were  his  objects  and  plans  ? 


TART   III.  I 


QUESTIONS 


[period  l 


What  his  character?  At  wliat  timo  did  ho 
cominiMioe  tiio  exeoucioii  of  liis  pliins  /  By 
what  stratagem  was  Maumce  captured  ?  How 
was  Mackinaw  taken  ?  What  was  the  con- 
duct of  the  Indians? 

What  post  did  Pontiac  invest  in  person? 
How  are  liis  plans  betrayed,  and  his  designs 
thwarted?  Does  he  afterwards  besiege  the 
garrison?  At  what  time  did  the  United 
Brethren,  or  Moravians  plant  themselves  in 
America  ?  What  was  their  previous  history? 
Where  do  they  finally  settle  ?  Where  else 
do  they  found  missions  ? 


Why  were  they  expelled  from  New  York  T 
How  do  they  succeed  in  Pennsylvaiiia  !  Who 
was  the  American  bishoj)  of  the  Moravians? 
How  did  the  French  war  affect  them?  In 
what  year  was  the  Indian  massacre  of  Maho- 
ny  ?  Wiial  was  afterwards  the  policy  of  the 
Moravians  !  Why  did  Mr.  Pitt  resign  on  the 
accession  of  George  III.''  Who  succeeded 
liim?  What  was  the  first  object  of  ths  nevr 
administration?  When  and  where  was  the 
peace  concluded  ?  What  were  the  conditions 
of  the  treaty  ? 


PART    III 


PERIOD    I. 
CHAPTER  I. 

What  differences  of  opinion  in  England 
and  America  led  to  the  revolution?  What 
influence  may  be  supposed  to  have  arisen  by 
the  use  of  the  term  Mother  Country  ?  What 
did  England  claim  in  regard  to  the  colonies  ? 
On  what  pretension  was  the  most  decided  op- 
position made  ?  What  right  did  the  Ameri- 
cans not  dispute  ?  What  did  England  finally 
resolve  to  do  ?  What  had  delayed  the  rup- 
ture? How  did  England  propose  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  war? 

In  what  year  did  the  jealousies  between  the 
colonies  and  England  begin  to  appear  ?  At 
what  place  ?  On  what  occasion  ?  What 
were  the  "writs  of  assistance?"  What 
measures  did  the  people  of  Boston  adopt  in 
regard  to  these  writs  ?  Whom  did  they  em- 
ploy to  oppose  rhem?  At  what  time  was  it 
said  that  American  independence  begun  ? 
In  what  year  were  plans  matured  for  changing 
the  American  governments  ?  By  whom  ? 
What  measures  did  he  propose  for  the  ac- 
complishment of  this  object  ?  How  were  his 
plans  discovered  ?  What  effect  was  produced 
by  his  letters  f 


What  were  the  provisions  of  the  act?  In 
what  courts  was  the  act  to  be  enforced  ?  Did 
this  admit  of  trial  by  jury  ?  Why  was  this 
act  obnoxious  to  the  colonists  ?  Was  oppo 
sition  anticipated?  What  laws  did  parlia- 
ment pass  to  enforce  it  ?  On  w  hat  day  was 
it  to  take  effect  ? 

Who  was  at  this  time  agent  in  London  for 
Pennsylvania?  What  did  he  write  home  to" 
Mr.  Thompson  ?  What  was  Thompson's  re- 
ply ?  How  was  the  act  received  by  the  colo- 
nists ?  What  was  done  by  the  house  of  bur- 
gesses in  Virginia?  Who  proposed  the  reso- 
lutions and  advocated  them?  What  was  the 
emphatic  remark  of  Henry  on  the  occasion  ? 


CHAPTER  II. 

What  notice  did  Lord  Grenville  give  to  the 
Ainerican  agents  in  London?  In  what  year? 
What  resolutions  were  passed  in  the  house  of 
commons  ?  What  was  done  by  the  colonial 
agents  in  London  ?  What  course  did  Massa- 
chusetts adopt?  What  other  colonies  took 
part  against  the  taxes?  For  what  objects 
were  associations  formed  in  the  colonies  ? 
What  were  the  opinions  of  Walpole,  in  the 
reign  of  George  II.  ?  What  of  Mr.  Pitt  ?  In 
what  year  did  Lord  Grenville  introduce  the 
stamp  act  ? 

How  was  the  proposition  received  by  the 
house  of  commons  ?  Who  particularly  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  the  defense  of  the  rights 

of  America  ?  What  did  he  assert  in  regard  opposed  the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act  in  the 
to  the  claims  of  the  colonies?  What  did  he  house  of  commons  ?  Who  nt-  c-ated  it?  On 
Bay  <)'  their  loyally  ?  Who  opposed  the  pas-  I  what  principles  did  he  oppose  iif  What  waa 
«age  of  the  act  ?    How  many  voted  against  it?  |  the  result  in  *\ie  commons  ?     Did  it  meet  witb 

34  499 


CHAPTER  III. 

What  was  proposed  by  the  general  court  of 
Massachusetts  ?  From  what  colonies  were 
delegates  elected  ?  On  what  day  did  the  con 
gress  meet  ?  At  what  place  ?  What  was 
their  first  measure  ?  Whom  did  the  congress 
address  ?  Could  the  provisions  of  the  stamp 
act  be  avoided  ?  Could  the  government  be 
carried  on  without  compliance  ?  What  meas- 
ures were  taken  to  oppose  it?  What  was 
done  by  the  populace  at  Boston  ?  What  was 
the  conduct  of  Mr.  Oliver?  W^hat  measures 
were  adopted  towards  Governor  Hutchinson  ? 
What  towards  Mr.  Ingersol  of  New  Haven  ? 

On  what  day  was  the  act  to  take  effect  ?  In 
what  year?  How  was  the  day  ushered  in? 
What  demonstrations  were  made  in  Nevf 
York?  What  was  done  in  Portsmouth,  New 
Hampshire  ?  Was  the  opposition  general  ? 
Did  the  women  of  the  country  join  in  the  ex- 
citement ?  Wh;it  proceedinL's  were  adopted? 
What  occurred  in  England  at  tliis  crisis? 
How  were  the  new  ministers  supposed  to  be 
affected  towards  the  colonies  ?  What  reso 
lutions  did  General  Conway  introduce  into 
the  house  of  commons  ?  Were  they  adopted  ? 
On  what  were  the  miiiistr>-  now  resolved? 
Whom  did  they  examine  liefore  the  house  of 
commons?     Wiiat    was    his   opinion?     Who 


PAET    III.] 


QUESTIONS. 


{.PERIOD   t 


ojiposition  in  the  house  of  lords?  Who  ad- 
vocated it  there?  What  ivas  the  result? 
What  declaratory  act  also  passed  with  it  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Why  did  the  colonists  continue  jealous  of 
the  British  government  ?  What  measures 
were  reconainended  to  the  colonies  by  Gene- 
ral Conway  ?  What  did  Governor  Bernard 
recommend  to  the  assembly  of  Massachusetts  ? 
What  did  the  assembly  do  ?  Who  was  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  new  ministiy  ?  At  what 
time  was  it  formed  ? 

Who  was  chancellor  of  the  exchequer  in 
May,  1767  ?  What  measures  did  he  propose  ? 
With  what  result  ?  What  was  enacted  in  re- 
gard to  New  York  ?  What  other  means  were 
adopted  to  collect  the  taxes  ?  What  were  the 
three  acts  which  followed  each  other?  What 
feelings  did  they  inspire  in  the  colonies  ? 
What  measures  were  adopted  by  the  assem- 
bly of  Massachusetts  in  1708  ?  How  was  the 
recommendation  for  union  viewed  by  the 
British  ministry  ?  What  measures  dkl  they 
lake  to  prevent  it  ?  What  was  done  by  the 
custom-house  ofllcers  iuJune,  17G8?  What 
measures  were  adopted  by  the  people  of  Bos- 
ton? What  did  they  solicit  of  the  governor? 
Wliat  was  his  reply  ? 

After  the  governor's  refusal,  what  did  the 
people  do  ?  VvTien  did  the  convention  assem- 
ble '.  What  were  their  proceedings  ?  What 
orders  were  given  to  General  Gage  ?  How- 
many  regiments  were  ordered  from  Halifax  ? 
Did  they  meet  with  resistance  from  the  inhab- 
itants ?  Where  were  they  quartered  ?  What 
effect  did  their  presence  produce  ?  In  what 
month  did  they  arrive  ? 

What  news  was  received  in  Massachusetts 
early  in  17G9  ?  What  resolutions  were  adopt- 
ed by  the  two  houses  of  parliament  ?  On  the 
receipt  of  the  address,  what  measures  were 
adopted  by  the  house  of  burgesses  in  Virgin- 
ia? What  retaliatory  steps  were  taken  by 
the  governor?  What  did  the  members  of  the 
house  then  do  ?  By  whom  were  the  resolu- 
tions introduced?  What  agreemfnts  were 
entered  into  in  the  other  colonies  ? 

At  what  time  in  1770  did  the  assembly  of 
Massachusetts  convene  ?  Wiiy  did  they  not 
proceed  to  business  ?  To  what  place  did  the 
governor  adjourn  them  ?  What  resolves  did 
they  then  pass  ?  What  did  they  refuse  to  do  ? 
When  was  the  governor  recalled?  In  whose 
hands  was  the  government  left  ?  At  \\  hat 
time  did  the  affray  between  the  soldiers  and 
citizens  of  Boston  t.ike  place  ?  What  was 
the  result  of  it?  Were  the  soldiers  tried? 
Who  defended  them  ?  Who  was  appointed 
to  the  head  of  the  ministry  in  January,  1771  ? 
What  bill  did  he  introduce  into  parliament  ? 
Did  this  satisfy  the  colonists?  Why  not? 
What  was  done  in  1772?  How  did  Great 
Britain  regard  these  meetings?  What  occur- 
red in  Rliode  Island  during  thJK  year  ? 


resisted  by  the  colonists  ?  What  was  done  at 
Philadelphm?  What  at  New  York?  What 
in  Boston  ?  How  many  chests  were  destroy- 
ed ?  When  the  news  reached  England,  what 
did  the  parliament  resolve  ?  Wlirt  bill  waa 
passed  in  regard  to  Boston  ?  At  what  time'^ 
How  did  parliament  enlarge  the  powers  of  rhe 
crown  ?  How  did  they  attempt  to  secure  the 
execution  of  the  obnoxious  laws  ?  How  far 
did  they  extend  the  province  of  Quebec  ? 
What  was  the  object  of  this  act  ? 

In  what  year  was  Governor  Hutchinson  re- 
called ?  For  what  reasons  ?  Who  succeeded 
him  ?  When  the  bill  shutting  up  the  port  of 
Boston  was  received,  what  measures  were 
adopted  by  the  inhabitants?  To  what  jilace 
was  the  assembly  removed  ?  What  did  the 
assembly  here  propose  ?  What  did  the  gov 
ernor  attempt  ?  What  advantage  did  the  gov 
ernor  expect  Ity  shutting  up  the  port  of  Bos- 
ton ?  What  reply  was  made  by  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Salem  ?  What  feeling  was  exhibited 
tow^ards  Boston  by  the  colonies  ?  Who  suc- 
ceeded Botetourt  as  governor  of  Virginia? 
When  the  assembly  heard  of  the  Boston  port 
bill,  what  measures  did  they  adopt  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 
What  measures  i'd  Great  Britain  adopt  to 
Ifttroduce  her  teas        How  was  the  measure 

500 


CHAPTER  VI. 

At  what  time  did  the  general  congress  con 
vene  at  Philadelpliia  ?  How  many  of  the  col- 
onies were  represented  ?  Which  were  not  ? 
Who  was  chosen  president  ?  How  did  they 
decide  the  relative  weight  of  each  colony? 
What  were  their  first  measures  ?  What  did 
the  committee  report? 

What  was  deemed  the  most  likely  means 
of  obtaining  redress?  What  was  the  nature 
of  the  non-importation  compact  ?  What  reso- 
lution did  they  pass  in  regard  to  the  slave- 
trade  ?  How  long  was  the  congressional  un- 
ion to  continue  ?  What  did  Lord  Chatham 
say  of  this  congress  ?  What  did  the  petition 
to  the  king  state  ?     By  whom  was  it  drafted? 

What  do  they  claim  in  their  address  to  the 
people  of  England  ?  By  whom  was  it  prepar 
ed  ?  By  whom  drafted  ?  What  was  the  na- 
ture of  their  address  to  their  constituents! 
At  what  time  did  the  congress  adjourn  ?  Were 
the  proceedings  generally  approved  by  the 
people  ? 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Were  the  colonists  unanimous?  What  was 
the  party  called  which  adhered  to  the  cause 
of  the  colonies  ?  What  that  which  espoused 
the  cause  of  England?  What  seizures  were 
made  by  order  of  General  Gage  ?  How  was 
the  assembly  of  Massachusetts  interfered 
with?  What  did  they  then  do?  Whom  did 
they  elect  president  ?  Wliat  measures  were 
adopted  ?  How  many  men  Avas  it  proposed  tc 
raise  ?  Vv'hat  feelings  were  manifested  in  the 
southern  colonies  ?  At  what  time  in  1774  did 
the  British  parlian)ent  convene  ?  What  were 
the  sentiments  of  the  king's  speech  ?  What 
the  reply  of  the  house  of  commons?  WTio 
was  at  thai  time  the  general  agent  of  the  colo- 
nies?    What  did  he  write  home? 

When  the  measures  were  brought  forward. 


Part  in.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[PKSIOD    I 


who  espoused  the  cause  of  the  colonists? 
Who.t  were  the  arguments  and  sentiments  of 
his  speech?  What  the  fate  of  Lord  Chat- 
hams  conciliatory  measures  ?  Why  were  the 
agents  of  the  colonies  refused  a  hearing? 
What  resolutions  were  passed  by  both  houses 
of  parliameut?  What  measures  were  adopt- 
ed on  the  10th  of  February  ?  To  what  other 
colonies  were  the  prohibitions  afterwards  ex- 
tended (  What  results  were  anticipated  from 
these  measures  ?  What  plan  of  conciliation 
was  proposed  by  Lord  North?  What  was  its 
true  cliaracter  ?  Who  attempted  privately  to 
settle  the  difficulties  ?    With  what  result '. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

To  what  were  things  tending  in  America  ? 
What  was  recommended  by  the  provincial 
congress  ?  What  attempt  was  made  by  Gen- 
eral Gage  on  the  2Gth  of  February  ?  How- 
was  it  frustrated  ?  What  was  the  object  of 
the  expedition  to  Concord  ?  Who  command- 
ed it?  How  many  troops  were  sent?  At 
what  place  was  the  first  blood  shed  ?  On  what 
day?  Were  the  stores  destroyed?  What 
was  the  loss  of  the  British  during  the  day  ? 
What  that  of  the  Americans  ?  What  feelings 
did  this  event  produce  ?  What  means  were 
taken  to  arouse  the  colonists?  What  meas- 
tires  were  adopted  by  the  legislatures  ?  How 
many  men  were  soon  collected  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Boston  ? 


CHAPTER  IX. 

What  was  the  situation  of  General  Gage 
and  his  army  ?  What  measures  were  adopted 
to  cut  off  his  supplies  ?  W^hat  posts  at  the 
north  were  deemed  of  essential  importance  ? 
Who  originated  the  plan  of  taking  them  ? 
What  co-operation  was  expected  from  Ver- 
mont? To  whom  was  the  command  of  the 
troops  intrusted  ?  Who  at  Boston  had  matu- 
red the  same  plan  ?  At  what  time  did  the 
force  reach  Lake  Champlain  ? 

Who  commanded  Fort  Ticonderoga  ?  When 
asked  by  what  authority  the  surrender  was 
demanded,  what  was  Allen's  reply  ?  On  what 
day  was  it  captured?  Of  what  number  did 
the  garrison  consist  ?  Who  captured  Crown 
Point?  Wliat  was  accomplished  by  Arnold? 
Who  took  Skeensborough  ?  Now  called  by 
what  name  ?  Why  was  this  success  import- 
ant ?  At  what  time  did  the  congress  meet  in 
Philadelphia?  Who  was  chosen  president? 
What  was  done  ?  What  wa<5  done  by  Lord 
Dunmore  of  Virginia?  Who  aroused  the 
people?     What  induced  them  to  disperse  ? 

What  incensed  the  people  of  Virginia 
against  Lord  Dunmore  ?  How  does  he  es- 
cape from  them  ?  What  other  governors  fol- 
lowed his  example  ?  Who  prevented  dele- 
gates being  elected  in  season  from  New  York  ? 
What  event  hastened  an  election  ? 


CHAPTER  X. 

^^'hen  was  the  army  in  Boston  reinforced  ? 
What  generals  joined  at  this  time  ?  What 
measures   were   adopted  by  General  Gage? 


Whom  would  he  not  pardon  ?  How  dirt  q« 
Tiolatc  his  promise  to  the  people  of  Boston  ! 
What  measures  were  adopted  to  prevent  the 
British  from  penetrating  into  the  country? 
Where  did  the  Americans  entrench  thenv 
selves  ?  When  were  they  discovered  by  the 
British  ?  How  many  men  did  General  Gage 
send  to  dislodge  them?  How  did  they  land? 
Where?  What  was  done  by  the  British  be 
fore  advancing  to  the  attack  ? 

How  were  they  received  by  the  Americans  ? 
What  was  the  effect?  How  often  are  the 
British  repulsed  ?  Why  are  the  Americans 
obliged  to  quit  the  field  ?  How  many  British 
were  engaged?  What  number  was  killed  Oi 
wounded?  How  many  of  the  Americans T 
Whom  did  congress  elect  comniander-in 
chief?  Atwhatlime?  What  were  his  feel 
ings  ?  What  course  did  he  adopt  in  regard  to 
compensation  ? 

Where  did  Washington  join  the  army  ?  How 
was  it  stationed — and  of  how  many  men  was 
it  composed  ?  In  what  condition  did  he  find 
them  ?  Towards  what  objects  were  his  efforts 
directed  ?  What  measures  were  adopted  by 
congress  to  arouse  and  unite  the  people? 
What  did  they  say  in  their  manifesto  ?  What 
colony  came  into  the  confederacy  at  this 
time  ?  W^hat  title  was  now  assumed  ?  When 
was  the  post-office  establishment  organized  t 
Who  was  the  first  postmaster  general  ? 


CHAPTER  XL 

What  expedition  was  contemplated  by  con 
gross  ?  To  avert  what  danger  ?  Who  were 
to  command  ?  Who  was  charged  with  fortify- 
ing New  York  ?  What  movements  were 
made  by  generals  Schuyler  and  Montgomery  ? 
Why  was  Montgomery  delayed  at  St.  Johns  ? 

W'hat  rash  expedition  was  undertaken  by 
Colonel  Allen  and  Major  Brown  ?  What  was 
the  result?  When  was  Chamble  taken? 
What  advantages  were  derived  from  it  ?  What 
measures  were  adopted  by  Carleton  for  the 
relief  of  St.  Johns?  With  what  result? 
What  followed  immediately  after?  After  the 
surrender  of  St.  Johns,  what  was  the  conduct 
of  Carleton?  After  Montgomery  entered 
Montreal,  what  difficulties  did  he  encounter? 
Describe  the  march  of  Arnold,  and  his  ap- 
pearance before  Quebec.  To  what  place  did 
he  retire — and  for  what  reason  ? 

What  was  the  force  of  General  Carleton  ? 
W>iat  that  of  the  Americans  ?  ^^'hat  does 
General  Montgomery  attempt  ?  What  does 
he  finally  resolve  upon  ?  How  was  the  at- 
tack conducted  ?  What  was  the  fate  of  Mont- 
gomery ? — And  what  the  result  of  the  assault? 
WTiat  was  the  conduct  of  Arnold,  and  that  of 
his  men  ?  What  was  the  loss  of  the  Ameri 
cans  ?  What  was  the  conduct  of  Arnold,  a( 
ter  the  battle  ? 


CHAPTER  XII. 
What  orders  were  issued  in  regard  to  the 
sea-ports  of  New  England  ?  What  town  wae 
burnt?  What  effect" was  produced?  What 
did  congress  resolve  upon  in  December? 
What  efforts  did  the  ministry  make  to  retain 

501 


PART  in.  J 


QUESTIONS. 


(period  il 


New  York?      What  law  was  passed  to  pre- 
vent it  ? 

What  did  Lord  Dunmore  calculate  on  as 
regarded  Virginia  ■?  How  did  he  attempt  to 
effect  it  ?  What  was  the  result  of  the  first 
conflict?  What  did  Lord  Dunmore  then  do? 
How  did  he  afterwards  attempt  to  supply  his 
wants  ?  To  what  was  he  finally  obliged  to  re- 
sort ?  What  last  step  was  taken  by  congress 
for  the  purpose  of  producing  a  reconciliation  ? 
In  what  year  ?  Who  was  the  agent  employ- 
ed? What  was  evident  on  the  meeting  of 
pailiament?  What  was  the  purport  of  the 
king's  speech  ?  Before  whom  was  Penn  ex- 
ammed !  What  did  he  declare  ?  What  act 
was  passed  in  December  ?  V/hat  arrange- 
ments did  England  make  with  the  German 
States?  What  disposition  did  parliament 
make  of  the  petition  of  the  colonies  ?  What 
measures  closed  the  door  to  reconciliation  ? 


CHAPTER  Xin. 

At  what  time  did  the  enlistment  of  the 
troops  expire  ?  What  measure  did  Washing- 
ton propose  to  increase  the  army  ?  What  was 
the  number  of  the  army  in  February,  1776? 
How  was  the  army  employed  in  the  winter  of 
1775-6  ?  What  measures  did  General  Wash- 
ington adopt  to  gain  possession  of  Boston? 
On  what  day  did  the  British  evacuate  it? 
What  objects  did  the  British  propose  in  the 
campaign  of  1776  ?  Who  was  to  regain  New 
York  ?  What  difficulties  sunounded  Arnold 
at  Quebec?  Who  superseded  him?  What 
was  the  consequence  ?  At  what  time  do  the 
Americans  evacuate  Canada? 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Who  commanded  the  expedition  agamst 
Charleston?  At  what  time  did  it  arrive? 
Were  the  Carolinians  unprepared?  Where 
had  they  constructed  a  fort  ?  Who  command- 
ed the  militia?  Of  what  number  did  they 
consist  ?  Of  what  material  was  the  fort  con- 
structed ?  What  was  the  result  of  the  attack  ? 
Wliat  interesting  incident  occurred  during  the 
battle  ?  Upon  what  point  did  the  British  re- 
treat ?  After  the  evacuation  of  Boston  where 
did  the  commander-in-chief  fix  his  head-quar- 
ters ?  Who  made  the  motion  in  congress  for 
declaring  the  colonies  independent?  On  what 
day?  Who  was  one  of  the  most  pov.erful 
writers  in  favor  of  independence  ?  On  what 
day  was  the  declaration  of  independence 
agreed  to?  Who  were  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  it?  Who  drafted  the  one 
adopted  ?  What  were  the  causes  for  separa- 
tion f     What  did  the  instrument  set  forth  ? 


PERIOD    II 

CHAPTER  I. 
How  is  the  declaration  of  independence  to 
be  regarded?  How  was  it  u.  affect  the  inter- 
ests of  America?  At  what  time  did  the  troops 
under  Howe  take  possession  of  Staten  Island  ? 
When  did  those  from  England,  under  Admi- 
ral Howe,  arrive  ?  What  others  joined  them  ? 
What   was  the  whole   number  destined   for 

502 


New  York  ?  Whai  were  the  expectation*  oi 
Lord  Howe  ? 

What  did  he  attempt  by  proclamation  ?  In 
what  light  did  congress  view  the  proceeding? 
How  did  he  address  the  commander- in-chief? 
What  w-as  the  course  of  Washington  ?  Whom 
did  Lord  Howe  then  send  ?  What  was  the 
reply  of  Washington?  What  was  the  plan 
of  the  campaign?  WTiat  advantages  were 
offered  by  the  possession  of  New  York? 
What  incidents  prevented?  Whatmeasire* 
were  taken  for  the  defense  of  New  York  ' 

Hovv  many  men  were  assembled  there  ?  f r\ 
what  condition  ?  How  much  efficient  foice  ? 
What  causes  had  produced  these  results? 
Describe  the  position  of  the  American  army 
in  New  York.  Where  did  the  British  land  ? 
On  what  day  ?  Describe  the  position  of  their 
army.  Where  did  Washington  intend  to  ar- 
rest their  progress?  How  did  the  British 
commence  the  attack  ? 

Where  was  the  true  point  of  attack?  By 
what  stratagem  was  it  rendered  successful? 
Who  commanded  the  American  troops  in  that 
quarter  ?  Who  conducted  the  British  ?  What 
was  the  loss  of  the  Americans  ?  Of  the  Brit- 
ish ?  Did  General  Washington  visit  the  field 
of  battle  ?  What  was  his  determination  ? 
What  orders  did  he  issue  to  his  troops? 
V/here  did  they  finally  assemble  ? 


CHAPTER  n.  . 

Who  was  sent  by  General  Washington  as  h 
spy  to  Long  Island  ?  What  was  his  fate ' 
What  were  his  last  words  ?  On  what  day 
did  the  British  take  possession  of  New  York-. 
Were  overtures  of  reconciliation  again  made  < 
Who  was  appointed  to  treat  on  the  part  of  tho 
Americans  ?  What  basis  did  they  insist  up 
on  ?  "What  were  the  consequences  of  th«. 
surrender  of  New  York?  To  what  were  the 
efforts  of  Washington  directed? 

What  did  he  represent  to  congress  ?  What 
inducements  were  offered  ?  What  policy  did 
Washington  adopt?  What  occurred  on  the 
16th  of  September?  With  what  result  r 
What  was  the  wish  of  the  British  command 
er  ?  Failing  in  this,  what  plan  did  he  adopt  1 
To  what  place  did  Washington  remove  his 
forces  ?  By  whom  was  he  attacked  at  White 
Plains  ?  With  what  result  ?  To  what  place 
did  he  then  remove  the  army  ?  At  what  tima 
did  he  cross  the  Hudson  ? 

On  what  points  did  General  Howe  now 
turn  his  attention?  What  instructions  had 
General  Washington  given  to  General  Green? 
Who  commanded  at  Fort  Washington  ?  How 
many  men  were  in  the  garrison  ?  On  what 
day  was  it  attacked?  With  what  result? 
How  many  British  were  killed  ?  How  many 
Americans  surrendered?  What  did  the  Brit- 
ish next  attempt  ?  When  was  Fort  Lee  evac- 
uated? What  policy  does  Washington  still 
pursue  ?  Of  what  numljer  was  his  army  still 
composed  ?  Through  what  places  does  Wash- 
ington retreat  ?  In  what  did  General  Howe 
make  a  mistake  ?  Where  did  he  finally  post 
his  army  ?  Why  did  he  not  imniediatelv 
cross  tiie  Delaware?  What  anangemt^iil* 
did  he  make  ? 


rxnr  ni.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[riRIOD    II. 


CHAPTER  III.  i 

"What  was  the  condition  of  Washington's  I 
army  in  December  177U  ?  How  docs  he  soothe 
and   encourngc   them .'     What  measures  did 
Howe  adopt  to  hring  Ijack  the  people  to  the 
royal  cause  ?     With  what  effect  ? 

What  measures  did  Washington  take  to  in- 
crease his  army  .'  What  was  the  conduct  of 
General  Lee  I  What  was  the  consecjuence 
to  himself?  After  the  reinforcements  had 
arrived,  to  what  number  was  the  army  aug- 
mented? What  bold  plan  does  Washington 
form  ?  Give  an  account  of  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  executed.  How  many  prisoners 
were  taken  ! 

At  what  time  did  Cornwallis  reach  the 
neighborhood  of  Trenton  ?  What  movement 
did  General  Washington  then  make  ?  Give  a 
particular  account  of  it,  and  the  result.  What 
distinguished  officer  fell  at  Trenton!  What 
emotions  did  these  successes  give  rise  to  in 
the  country  ?  To  what  place  did  Washington 
retire  ?  W'hat  posts  did  he  afterwards  cap- 
ture ?  Where  did  he  finally  take  up  his  win- 
ter-quarters ?  With  whom  is  Washington 
compared  as  a  commander  ? 

What  new  feelings  prevail  in  regard  to  the 
contest?  What  defeat  did  the  Americans 
suffer  on  Lake  Champlain  ?  At  what  time 
was  Rhode  Island  taken  ?  At  what  time  were 
the  articles  of  confederation  adopted  ?  What 
did  they  ordain  ?  What  name  did  they  give 
to  the  colonies  ?  What  was  the  character  of 
the  congress  of  177G?  What  difficulties  sur- 
rounded them?  What  means  did  they  adopt 
to  raise  money?  Whom  did  they  send  to 
France  ?  For  what  object  ?  What  were 
their  special  instructions  ?  What  powers  did 
congress  grant  to  General  Washington  ?  W^hat 
specific  objects  was  he  authorized  to  accom- 
plish ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

What  was  the  conduct  of  the  English  and 
German  troops  in  New  Jersey  ?  What  was 
said  of  them  in  England  ?  Who  were  called 
tories  ^  Where  did  they  threaten  to  join  the 
British  standard?  With  what  disease  was 
the  army  threatened?  What  precautions 
were  taken  by  Washington  ?  What  were  the 
first  movements  of  the  British  in  1777?  By 
whom  was  Peekskill  taken  ?  At  what  time  ? 
Who  attacked  Danbury  ?  With  what  force? 
What  was  the  fate  of  the  town  ?  Wliat  oc- 
curred in  the  retreat  of  the  army  ?  What  was 
the  loss  of  each  party  ?  Describe  the  expe- 
dition of  Colonel  Meigs  to  Sag  Harbor.  Who 
was  the  most  prominent  of  the  commission- 
ers sent  to  France  ?  What  was  his  character  ? 
Wliat  may  be  said  of  the  value  of  his  ser- 
vices ? 

WTiat  distinguished  Frenchman  espoused 
the  American  cause  at  this  time  ?  What  was 
his  reply  when  told  the  colonies  were  in  great 
distress  ?  What  appointment  did  he  receive 
from  congress  ?  What  were  his  relations 
with  General  W^ashington  ?  What  two  ob- 
jects did  the  British  propose  to  accomplish  in 
tlie  campaign  of  1777^     What  measures  did 


Washington  adopt  to  prevent  thcjn  ?  What 
stratagem  did  General  Howe  resort  to?  With 
what  success  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 

By  whom  was  General  Prescott  captured  . 
In  what  manner  ?  At  what  time  ?  What  pkn 
had  the  British  formed  to  reduce  America! 
To  whom  was  the  command  of  the  expedition 
given  ?  To  whose  prejudice  ?  What  was 
the  conduct  of  Governor  Carleton?  Who 
were  the  principal  officers  to  accompany  Bur- 
goync  ?  What  was  the  strength  of  his  army? 
What  was  his  plan  of  operations  ?  At  what 
time  does  the  army  advance  ?  What  means 
did  Burgoyne  use  to  operate  on  the  Indians 
and  on  the  Americans?  What  vtjls  the  force 
of  St.  Leger  ?  What  fort  did  he  invest  ?  By 
whom  was  it  commanded  ?  Wiio  went  to  its 
relief?  What  was  the  result?  Who  retreat 
ed  from  the  fort  ?  For  what  purpose  ?  Who 
was  sent  to  the  relief  of  the  fort  ?  What  was 
done  by  St.  Leger  ^  What  was  the  conduct 
of  the  Indians  ? 

What  place  did  Burgoyne  first  invest !  On 
what  day  ?  How  many  troops  garrisoned  it ! 
By  whom  commanded  ?  What  circumstance 
connected  with  its  defense  had  been  overlook 
ed?  After  the  British  had  gained  Mount  De 
fiance,  what  course  did  the  Americans  adopt ! 
Who  pursued  the  Americans?  With  what 
force  ?  Where  did  he  overtake  them  ?  What 
was  the  result  ?  What  effect  had  this  on  the 
movements  of  St.  Clair  ?  What  post  of  safe- 
ty did  he  finally  reach  ?  Where  is  Fort  Ed- 
ward ? 

Of  what  place  did  Burgoyne  take  posses 
sion?  Where  is  Skeenesborough  situated! 
What  measures  were  adopted  by  General 
Schuyler?  What  effect  was  produced  in 
England  by  these  partial  successes  ?  What 
in  America?  What  means  did  General 
Schuyler  adopt  to  impede  the  {)rogress  of  the 
British  ?  Why  was  he  superseded  ?  Who 
was  appointed  to  the  command?  What  other 
officers  joined  the  northern  army  ?  At  what 
time  did  Burgoyne  reach  Fort  Edward  ?  How 
did  he  obtain  supplies  ?  How  many  men  did 
he  send  to  seize  the  provisions  at  Bennington! 
Who  commanded  them  ?  Who  commanded 
the  Americans  ?  What  was  the  result  ?  Who 
was  sent  with  a  re-inforcement  ?  By  whom 
was  he  met  ?  With  what  result  ?  What  was 
the  loss  of  the  British  in  both  engagements  ? 

In  what  point  of  view  was  the  battle  of 
Bennington  particularly  important?  Relate 
the  tragical  story  of  Miss  M'Crea.  What 
were  its  effects  on  the  inhabitants  of  the  ad- 
jacent country? 

At  what  time  did  Burgoyne  cross  the  Hud 
s(>n  ?  At  what  time  did  the  first  battle  occur? 
At  w  hat  place  ?  With  what  result  ?  What 
was  the  loss  of  the  British  ?  Who  claimed 
che  victory  ?  Who  had  it  ?  When  was  the 
general  battle  fought  ?  Describe  the  position 
of  the  British  army.  What  distinguished  gen- 
erals belonged  to  it  ? 

Describe  the  manner  in  which  the  attack 
was  made.  What  is  said  of  the  bat'le?  Wliat 
was  the  result  ?     What  British   ccJ/^dcI  was 

503 


fAHT    HI.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[PERIOD   n 


billed?  What  general  officer  was  mortally 
wounded  ?  What  was  now  the  situation  of 
the  British  army  ?  What  move  does  General 
Burgoyne  make  ?  What  does  he  next  attempt '( 
From  whom  had  he  expected  supplies  ?  On 
what  day  did  he  finally  capitulate  .' 

How  many  men  were  surrendered?  How 
many  had  been  previously  lost?  What  were 
the  stipulations  of  the  capitulation?  How 
were  they  treated  by  the  Americans  ?  What 
consequence  followed  the  surrender?  How 
did  it  affect  the  great  cause  of  America? 
What  expedition  was  planned  from  New 
York  ?  By  whom  commanded  ?  What  did 
it  effect?  When  did  Burgoyne  learn  that  aid 
was  at  hand  ?  W^hen  the  news  of  Burgoyne's 
surrender  reached  Clinton,  what  course  did 
he  adopt  ?  What  the  character  of  the  expe- 
dition ? 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Wliat  expedition  was  undertaken  by  Admi- 
ral and  General  Howe  ?  On  what  day  did 
they  leave  Sandy  Hook  ?  Where  did  they 
disembark  their  troops  ?  How  many  in  num- 
ber? What  movement  was  made  by  General 
Washington?  What  generals  accompanied 
Washington?  What  position  did  the  two  ar- 
mies assume  ?  On  what  day  did  the  battle  of 
the  Brandywine  take  place  ?  Describe  the 
battle. 

What  was  the  loss  of  the  Americans  ?  What 
the  loss  of  the  British  ?  What  officers  par- 
tic'i.arly  distinguished  themselves  ?  After  the 
battle,  to  what  place  did  the  Americans  re- 
treat ?  What  move  did  Washington  make  to 
recover  his  loss  ?  What  defeated  his  plans  ? 
What  move  is  now  made  by  Howe  ?  What 
does  Washington  do?  Where  does  congress 
adjourn  to  ?  What  powers  do  they  confer  on 
Washington? 

At  what  time  did  Howe  cross  the  Schuyl- 
kill ?  Where  did  his  army  halt  ?  Who  com- 
manded the  detachment  which  entered  Phila- 
delphia ?  How  large  was  the  American  ar- 
my ?  Where  was  it  encamped  ?  How  did 
Howe  regard  the  capture  of  Philadelphia? 
What  measures  did  the  Americans  adopt  to 
cut  off  the  supplies  of  the  British  army  ?  Did 
the  British  endeavor  to  prevent  it?  Were 
they  successful  ?  What  induced  Washington 
to  attack  the  British  at  Germantown  ?  De- 
scribe the  battle  and  its  results.  What  move 
did  the  American  army  then  make  ? 

In  what  light  did  congress  view  the  affair  at 
Germantown  ?  What  move  was  soon  made 
by  the  British  army?  Why  was  this  move 
necessary  ?  What  was  said  by  Dr.  Franklin  ? 
Why  did  the  British  wish  to  keep  open  the 
navigation  of  the  Delaware  ?  Describe  their 
attack  on  Red  Bank.  What  was  the  result  ? 
W^hat  place  did  they  next  attack  ?  WTiat  was 
the  result  ?  What  mode  did  Cornwallis  adopt 
of  attacking  Fort  Mercer?  With  what  suc- 
cess ?     What  was  the  consequence  ? 

By  what  troops  was  Washington  now  re- 
inforced? What  was  the  numbcj-  of  his  ar- 
my? To  what  place  did  he  advance  ?  W^hat 
transpired  there  ?     At  what  time  does  Wash- 

504 


ington  go  into  winter-quarters  ?  What  was" 
the  condition  of  his  army  ?  How  did  they 
bear  their  sufferings  ?  What  are  the  rellee 
tions  of  the  authoress  ? 


CHAPTER  VII. 

What  were  the  causes  of  the  distress  of  tho 
army  ?  What  did  congress  insist  on,  in  re- 
gard to  the  bills  of  credit  ?  Would  they  pur- 
chase necessaries  for  the  army?  What  course 
were  the  officers  forced  to  adopt?  What  feel- 
ings stimulated  the  intrigues  against  Wash- 
ington? What  was  their  object?  Who  was 
prominent  among  the  leaders  ?  What  states 
addressed  congress  on  the  subject?  What 
measures  did  congress  adopt  to  reflect  on 
General  Washington  ?  Who  was  placed  at 
the  head  of  the  board  of  war  ?  What  expedi- 
tion did  they  plan  ?  Who  was  invited  to  join 
the  expedition  ?     Did  the  enterprise  succeed  ? 

What  was  the  public  sentiment  in  regard 
to  the  intrigues  against  Washington  ?  Who 
superseded  Conway?  What  was  the  finaJ 
sentiment  in  congress?  On  what  occasion 
did  General  Conway  make  suitable  acknowl- 
edgements? What  provision  does  congress 
make  for  the  officers,  to  quiet  discontents  ? 
What  does  he  urge  with  regard  to  the  ap- 
proaching campaign  ?  Are  the  British  ready 
to  open  the  campaign  early  ?  To  what  are 
their  efforts  limited? 

What  position  did  La  Fayette  occupy  in 
May  ?  What  attempt  was  made  to  surprise 
him  ?  With  what  success  ?  What  is  said  oi 
the  American  privateers  ?  How  many  British 
vessels  had  they  captured  ?  What  effect  had 
the  capture  of  Burgoyne  in  Europe  ?  What 
were  the  feelings  of  the  English  people? 
What  were  the  calamities  which  they  foresaw 
might  happen  ?  With  what  feelings  did  France 
view  the  discontents  in  America?  Why  did 
she  not  at  first  espouse  her  cause?  What 
was  her  wish  ?     What  her  general  policy  ? 

What  was  the  course  of  Dr.  Franklin? 
What  proposition  did  he  make  to  England? 
What  effect  had  the  capture  of  Burgoyne? 
What  did  the  French  ministry  immediately 
declare  ?  On  what  day  was  the  treaty  made  t 
Did  it  recognize  the  independence  of  the 
United  States  ?  What  was  agreed  to  in  the 
treaty  ?  Who  signed  it  on  the  part  of  France  ? 
Who  on  the  part  of  the  States?  On  what 
day  were  the  commissioners  received  at  th« 
court  of  France  ?  How  were  they  received  ? 
Was  the  event  important  ?  What  measures 
were  adopted  by  the  British  parliamen'.,  ? 
What  was  foretold  of  these  measures  ?  Which 
counsels  prevailed?  Who  were  appointed 
commissioners  ?  What  were  their  secret  ob- 
jects? 

When  the  news  of  the  alliance  reached 
England,  what  effect  did  it  produce  ?  What 
did  the  English  resolve  upon  ?  How  was 
France  found  to  be  prepared  ?  At  what  time 
did  the  treaty  reach  the  United  States  ?  By 
what  vessel  was  it  brought  ?  When  did  the 
British  commissioners  arrive?  Who  were 
they  ?  Were  their  tetms  acceptable  ?  What 
did  congress  demand  ?     What  did  the  commis 


PART    III.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[PERIOO    II 


sioners  then  attempt?  Which  laliored  with 
the  greatest  ability  and  zeal  ?  What  means 
•lid  he  use  ?  What  was  ofTcrod  to  General 
Reed  I  What  was  his  reply  ?  How  was 
Johnstone  exposed  ?  What  measures  did 
congress  adof»t  ?  What  writers  exposed  the 
baseness  of  his  attempts?  IIow  was  puhlic 
opinion  at  the  time  ? 


CHAPTER  Vni. 

At  what  time  did  the  British  prepare  to 
evacuate  Philadelphia?  On  what  day  did 
they  march  out  of  the  city  ?  What  are  the 
movements  of  Washington  ?  What  his  views 
of  a  general  engagement  ?  What  those  of  his 
officers?  Where  did  the  battle  take  place  ? 
On  what  day  ?  ^Vhat  was  the  conduct  of 
General  Lee  ?  What  punishment  did  he  af- 
terwards suffer? 

Which  party  retained  the  possession  of  the 
field  ?  What  move  was  made  in  the  night  by 
the  British  army  ?  On  what  place  do  they 
retreat  '  What  disposition  is  made  of  the 
American  army  ? 

Who  commanded  the  French  fleet?  Of 
how  many  ships  did  it  consist?  From  what 
French  port  did  it  sail  ?  On  what  day  '  What 
was  its  destination  ?  Disappointed  in  that 
plan,  w  hat  did  it  next  undertake  ?  Who  was 
made  minister  to  Fran<-e?  On  what  day? 
What  expedition  did  Washington  plan  in  con- 
junction with  the  French  fleet?  To  whom 
was  it  intrusted  ?  What  was  the  force  to  be 
employed?  What  that  of  the  British?  At 
what  time  did  the  French  fleet  arrive  off  New- 
port ?  What  were  the  arrangements  for  cap- 
turing the  place  ?  At  what  time  was  the  de- 
scent to  be  made?     What  delayed  it? 

What  caused  the  French  fleet  to  depart  ? 
At  what  time  does  Sullivan  besiege  Newport? 
WTiat  is  done  by  d'Estaing?  Why  is  the 
siege  raised  ?  On  what  day  ?  To  what  point 
does  the  American  army  retreat  ?  Are  they 
pursued  ?  Where  does  the  action  take  place  ? 
With  what  result?  Who  arrives  from  New 
Vork?  With  what  force  ?  What  were  some 
of  the  consequences  of  d'Estaing's  conduct? 
To  whom  did  Clinton  leave  the  command  of 
the  transports ?  With  what  orders?  What 
mjury  was  done  to  the  American  ships?  Was 
private  property  respected? 

Was  the  campaign  of  this  year  distinguish- 
ed for  savage  depredations  ?  Where  is  Wyo- 
ming situated  ?  Who  conmianded  the  Indians 
that  attacked  it?  Were  the  people  in  favor 
of  the  colonists?  What  stimulated  the  Brit- 
ish and^  Indians  to  attack  the  Wyoming  settle- 
ments ?  At  what  time  is  the  attack  made  ? 
Who  commanded  the  Americans  at  Wilks- 
barre?  How  did  he  determine  to  resist  the 
savages  ?  What  was  the  result  ?  What  gave 
rise  to  difficulties  between  the  French  and 
Americans  ?  To  what  did  congress  attribute 
them? 

For  what  place  does  the  French  fleet  sail  ? 
On  what  day  ?  Do  the  English  also  send  for- 
ces to  the  West  Indies  ?  How  many  troops 
depart?  What  results  are  accomplished  in 
♦he   West  Indies  ?     What   was  one  of   the 


leading  onjects  of  the  campaign  of  1778  ?  How 
many  troops  sail  for  Georgia?  What  city 
IS  captured  ?  How  many  men  are  lost  on 
the  part  of  the  Americans  ?  At  wlial  place 
does  General  Washington  retire  to  winter 
quarters  ? 


CHAPTER  IX. 

What  was  the  plan  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton? 
What  place  alone  held  out  ?  WTio  command- 
ed the  troops  at  St.  Augustine?  What  did 
ho  do?  Who  took  command  of  the  British 
forces  in  Georgia  ?  Was  the  whole  country 
now  sulxlued  '.  Why  did  not  Prevost  attack 
Charleston  ?  Against  what  place  did  he  plan 
an  ex[)edition  ?  Who  commanded  it?  What 
was  the  result? 

Why  did  the  British  transfer  the  war  to  the 
southern  states  ?  How  were  the  royalists 
classed?  What  was  intended  by  the  move- 
ment to  Augusta?  What  other  means  did 
the  British  employ  ?  Did  the  royalists  col- 
lect and  embody  themselves  ?  Under  whom? 
Under  whom  did  the  Carolinians  rally?  Where 
did  the  hostile  [Kirties  meet  ?  What  was  the 
result  ?  How  many  of  the  royalists  were 
executed  ?  Who  was  appointed  to  command 
the  southern  forces?  At  what  time  did  he 
reach  Charleston  ?  When  did  he  take  com- 
mand ?  At  what  place  ?  What  was  Lincoln's 
plan?  What  was  the  strength  of  his  army? 
To  what  point  does  he  dispatch  General 
Ashe  ?     With  what  force  ? 

What  stratagem  did  Prevost  use  ?  Was  it 
j  successful  ?  What  troops  resisted  ?  What 
j  was  the  loss  of  the  Americans  ?  What  was 
the  consequence  of  this  defeat  ?  What  gov- 
ernment was  organized  in  Georgia?  What 
was  the  conduct  of  the  Carolinians  ?  Who 
was  chosen  governor?  How  many  men  were 
raised  by  the  middle  of  April  ?  What  were 
Lincoln's  plans  ?  What  movement  w  as  made 
by  the  British  army  ?  With  what  success  ? 
On  what  point  did  General  Moultrie  retreat? 
On  what  day  did  tlie  English  appear  before 
Charleston  ?  By  what  corps  had  the  garri- 
son been  reinforced  ?  What  reinforcements 
were  expected?  How  was  delay  produced? 
What  did  Prevost  do  ?  Does  Lincoln  arrive  ? 
To  what  place  does  Prevost  retire?  What 
are  his  objects?  What  the  movements  of 
Lincoln? 

What  expedition  was  sent  out  from  New 
York  in  May  ?  Who  commanded  it  ?  Of 
what  force  did  it  consist'  Wliat  objects 
did  it  propose  to  accomplish?  To  what  point 
did  the  fleet  proceed  ?  What  was  accomplish 
ed  ?  And  what  the  result  ?  WTiat  places  did 
Clinton  next  attack  ?  Why  were  these  pla 
ces  important?  At  what  time  did  he  leave 
New  York  ?  Which  place  did  he  first  attack? 
With  what  result?  How  was  Verplank  Point 
taken?  Where  did  General  Clinton  finally 
encamp  ?  What  was  accomplished  by  the 
Connecticut  privateers  ?  What  measures  did 
General  Clinton  take  to  destroy  them  ^  Wh^ 
towns  were  sacked  nnd  burnt? 

What  measures  did  Washington  take  to 
recover  Stony  Point  ?     Who  commanded  th 

505 


TART    in.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[period  n> 


expedition?  How  was  it  conducted,  and 
what;  was  the  result  ?  Were  the  Americans 
equally  successful  at  Verplank's  Point  ?  What 
measures  did  Clinton  adopt  when  he  learned  the 
news  ?  What  did  General  Washington  deem 
it  pradent  to  do  ?  What  exploit  was  perform- 
ed by  Major  Lee  on  the  19th  of  July?  Who 
had  corne  from  Halifax  and  taken  post  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Penobscot  river?  What  was 
Lis  object  ?  Who  commanded  the  naval  and 
and  armament  sent  to  the  Penobscot  ?  What 
did  they  do  on  reaching  the  Penolxscot  ?  What 
occasioned  the  failure  of  the  enterprise? 
How  did  the  men  escape?  What  feelings 
did  this  disaster  occasion  in  Massachusetts? 
What  expedition  was  planned  against  the  In- 
dians ?  Who  commanded  ?  What  did  it  ef- 
fect f  To  what  place  did  the  army  retire, 
after  accomplishing  their  object  ? 

CHAPTER  X. 

What  events  were  transpiring  in  the  West 
Indies  ?  Who  commanded  the  English  fleet  ? 
Who  the  French?  What  did  the  English  de- 
sire ?  What  had  the  French  in  view  ?  Why 
did  they  not  wish  a  general  battle  ?  What 
island  is  captured  by  the  French  ?  After  d''Es- 
taing  had  received  reinforcements,  what  place 
does  he  assail  ?  Give  the  particulars.  What 
complaints  are  made  by  the  Americans? 
What  reasons  do  they  give  why  d'Estaing 
should  return?  Does  he  listen  to  their  en- 
treaties? What  two  measures  does  Count 
d'Estaing  propose?  Which  was  adopted? 
What  measures  of  defense  are  adopted  l:)y 
General  Prevost? 

What  steps  are  taken  by  General  Lincoln? 
What  was  prematurely  done  by  d'Estaing? 
How  did  the  commandant  effect  delay  ?  What 
truce  was  granted  f  What  reinforcements 
did  the  British  receive?  Who  joined  the 
Americans  ?  With  what  force  ?  On  what 
day  was  the  place  besieged  ?  When  was  the 
bombardment  commenced  ?  Give  a  general 
account  of  the  battle,  and  the  final  result. 

Why  does  Clinton  withdraw  from  Rhode 
Island  ?  What  fleet  was  commanded  by  Paul 
Jones  ?  Describe  the  battle  which  occurred 
on  the  23d  of  September.  Who  was  the  vic- 
tor?    At  what  cost? 

What  were  some  of  the  disadvantages  of 
the  French  alliance?  What  considerations 
did  the  patriots  address  to  the  people  ?  What 
evils  were  experienced  from  the  avaricious 
and  selfish  ?  What  added  to  this  general  de- 
cline of  morality  !  What  amount  of  pajier 
had  been  issued  by  congress  ?  What  mean 
device  did  England  resort  to,  to  depreciate 
the  currency  ? 

What  selfish  considerations  influenced  the 
French  cabinet?  What  did  Mr.  Geranl  de- 
mand for  F'rance  ?  What  did  he  ask  for 
Spain?  What  did  Spain  seek  to  obtain  from 
the  United  Stales  ?  What  course  did  slie 
finally  adopt  on  her  own  account  ?  Who  was 
sent  out  to  reinforce  General  Clinton  ?  What 
move  did  Clinton  then  make?  Who  com- 
manded at  the  south?  Where  did  Washing- 
.«n  go  into  winter-quarters '' 

506 


CHAPTER  XI. 

What  feelings  were  manifested  in  Russia 
towards  England  ?  What  did  Englana  claim? 
Wlio  was  foremost  in  opposition  to  her  pre- 
tensions ?  What  proposition  was  made  by 
Catharine  II.  ?  What  j)Owers  acceded  to  the 
proposal  ?  What  were  the  provisions  of  the 
treaty  ?  What  agreement  was  made  to  en- 
sure'its  obsei-vance  ?  To  what  courts  were 
these  articles  of  agreement  communicated! 
What  powers  adopted  th«m  ?  What  policj 
did  England  pursue  ?  What  course  did  Por- 
tugal take  ?  Why  ?  What  course  did  Hol- 
land adopt? 

What  was  now  the  policy  of  the  British  t 
To  what  point  did  Clinton  sail  ?  By  whom 
is  he  reinforced  ?  On  what  point  does  he 
concentrate  his  forces?  What  are  the  move- 
ments of  General  Lincoln  ?  Who  aids  him  ? 
What  were  the  discouragements  attending 
the  defense  of  Charleston  ?  At  what  time  did 
the  siege  commence?  Where  was  General 
Huger  stationed  ?  Did  he  retain  his  position  ? 
What  was  the  consequence?  What  rein 
forcements  did  the  British  receive?  Hovs 
v/as  Fort  Moultrie  passed  ?  With  what  loss  ? 
How  was  Charleston  then  menaced?  On 
what  day  was  Fort  Moultrie  abandoned  ? 

On  what  day  was  Charleston  surrendered  ? 
How   many   men   capitulated  ?     How    many 


cannon  were  given  up 


To  whom  do  his 


torians  attribute  the  success  at  Savannah  and 
Charleston?  What  expeditions  did  Clinton 
plan?  Were  they  successful?  Whom  did 
Tarieton  pursue?  Where  did  he  overtake 
Burfoi-d  ?  How  did  he  tarnish  the  honors  of 
his  success?  Into  whose  possession  had 
South  Carolina  now  fallen  ?  W  hat  did  Gene- 
ral Clinton  say  of  it?  What  does  he  proceed 
to  do  ?  What  does  he  require  of  the  citizens  ? 
What  afTangements  does  he  now  make  ? 
What  is  remarked  of  the  winter  of  1779-80? 
What  movement  had  been  made  by  Knyphau- 
son  during  Clinton's  absence?  What  was 
his  object?  What  engagement  took  place? 
With  what  result  ?  What  aroused  the  people? 
What  was  the  consequei>ce  ? 


CHAPTER  XII. 

What  measures  did  congress  adopt  in  re- 
gard to  their  currency  1  What  had  been  pre- 
viously done  by  Clinton  in  South  Carolina? 
What  was  the  conduct  of  the  British  towards 
the  republicans  of  the  south  ?  To  wh;n  vexa- 
tions were  they  subject?  What  especially 
excited  the  opposition  of  the  C'aroJinians  ? 
What  did  the  British  require  of  them  ?  What 
did  thev  reply  ?  What  is  said  of  the  women 
ot  Carolina?  What  was  their  parting  ad- 
vic.=;''  What  general  remarks  are  made  ia 
regard  to  the  causes  which  produced  the  tor- 
por of  1779  ?  What  state  of  feeling  succt  ed- 
ed  this?  Was  it  shared  and  stimulated  by 
the  ladies  ?  What  society  was  formed  in 
Philadelphia?  Who  w^as  at  its  head ?  What 
was  the  character  of  Mr.  AVashington  ? 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
What  news  did  La  Fayette  bring  on  his  ro 


PART    III.j 


QUESTIONS. 


[PKRIOD   IX. 


turn  from  France?  How  was  he  received? 
When  (lid  the  squadron  arrive  ?  What  rein- 
forccinciits  did  it  bring  ?  What  arrangements 
were  made  in  regard  to  the  rank  of  the  offi- 
cers ?     How  were  the  French  received? 

What  reinforcements  reached  New  York.? 
What  expedition  was  determined  on  by  Gen- 
eral Clinton?  What  measures  were  adopted 
by  Washington  ?  What  was  the  final  action 
of  General  Clinton  ?  What  events  transpired 
•t  the  south  ?  What  officers  distinguished 
themselves  in  partisan  warfare  ?  W  hat  was 
effected  by  Colonel  Sumpter?  Where  did 
he  defeat  the  British?  Who  is  sent  with 
regular  troops  to  defend  South  Carolina  ? 

Who  was  appointed  to  the  command  ot  the 
southern  army  ?  On  what  point  did  ho  ad- 
vance ?  With  wliat  fore  e  ?  What  p-  oclanii- 
tion  did  he  issue  ?  What  influence  had  it  on 
•the  people  ?  Who  commanded  the  British 
anny  ?  What  plans  did  he  form  to  attack  the 
Americans  ?  What  was  done  by  General 
Gates  ?  How  did  the  armies  meet  ?  Near 
what  place  ?  What  was  the  result  of  the  bat- 
tle ?  What  was  the  loss  of  the  Americans  ? 
What  that  of  the  British  ?  What  general  offi- 
cer was  mortally  wounded  ?  On  what  point 
did  General  Gates  retreat?  What  officer 
still  remained  in  South  Carolina  ?  Where  is 
he  finally  defeated ?  By  whom?  Who  still 
continued  to  harass  the  British  ? 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

What  thrilling  event  occurred  at  the  north? 
What  was  Arnold's  standing  with  the  people 
at  this  time  ?  What  caused  his  first  indebted- 
ness ?  What  excited  him  against  congress  ? 
What  punishment  was  inflicted  by  the  court- 
martial  ?  Why  does  he  determine  to  sell  his 
country  ?  With  whom  does  he  negotiate  ? 
What  plan  is  agreed  upon?  How  did  he  dis- 
pose of  the  forces?  Who  was  appointed  to 
confer  with  him?  At  what  time  do  they  have 
a  personal  inter\iew?  Why  does  Andre  re- 
main on  shore  ? 

Wliy  does  he  not  again  go  on  board  the  Vul- 
ture ?  What  route  does  he  take  for  New 
York  ?  Where  is  he  met  and  arrested?  By 
whom?  What  conversation  passed?  To 
what  post  is  he  taken  ?  What  does  Colonel 
Jame«.on  permit  ?  Where  had  General  Wash- 
ington been  employed  ?  What  was  his  first 
care  ?  Had  Arnold  accomplices  ?  How  might 
Andre  have  been  disposed  of?  What  course 
iid  General  Washington  adopt  ?  Who  were 
prominent  members  of  the  court-martial  ? 

Who  interfered  to  save  Andre  ?  What  ar- 
guments were  used  to  excuse  him  ?  How  did 
he  appear  before  the  court  ?  What  was  his 
sentence  ?  Does  Clinton  still  urge  his  re- 
lease ?  Who  were  appointed  to  negotiate  in 
the  matter?  What  were  the  arguments  of 
Robinson  ?  What  the  reply  of  Greene  ?  What 
circumstances  increased  his  desire  of  life  ? 
What  does  he  solicit  of  Washington  ?  When 
is  he  finally  executed?  What  are  his  last 
words  at  the  gallows  ? 

What  did  Arnold  receive  from  the  British 
government  ?     What  did  he  sacrifice  ?    How 


were  the  captors  of  Andre  rewarded  ?  After 
the  battle  of  Camden,  what  enterprise  did 
Cornwallis  undertake  ?  To  what  place  did 
he  march  ?  What  time  did  he  reach  it  ?  Who 
had  committed  acts  of  barbarity  in  North 
Carolina?  What  spirit  did  they  arouse  in 
the  people?  Who  were  the  {trincipal  lead- 
ers? At  what  i)lace  was  the  priricipal  battle 
fought?  With  what  result?  Hov\-  did  this 
afiect  the  situation  of  Cornwallis  ?  Who 
were  the  principal  leaders  of  the  republicans? 
What  docs  Cornwallis  finally  decide  upon? 
j  Where  does  he  encamp  his  army? 

V\  ho  was  sent  to  Virginia  ?  For  what  pur- 
pose ?  With  what  force  ?  What  rencounter 
took  place  between  the  partisan  chiefs?  With 
what  result?  Who  superseded  Gates?  Id 
whit  Condi  .ion  d  d  he  f;nd  the  army  ?  Wlat 
line  of  policy  was  determined  on  ?  Who  was 
sent  to  reinforce  Cornwallis  !  With  what 
force?  Who  makes  a  descent  on  Virginia^ 
In  what  spirit  ? 


CHAPTER  XV. 

What  events  were  transpiring  in  J]urope? 
Were  the  naval  operations  extensive?  Who 
captured  Pensaccla,  and  subsequently  Flori 
da  ?  What  reinforcements  did  France  de 
termine  on  sending  to  America?  Whal 
force  was  to  be  sent  to  Cornwallis  ?  What 
was  the  situation  of  American  afl"airs  ?  What 
were  the  difficulties  which  surrounded  the 
American  congress?  What  means  did  the) 
adopt  to  raise  money  ? 

Who  was  appointed  treasurer  ?  What  was 
his  character?  What  means  did  he  adopt  to 
raise  the  credit  of  the  country  ?  What  was 
done,  in  the  mean  time,  abroad?  Who  watch- 
ed over  the  interests  of  America  there  ?  What 
moneys  were  raised  by  loan?  What  results 
w^ere  to  be  produced?  What  insubordination 
showed  itself  at  this  time  ?  What  were  the 
alledged  grounds  of  it?  To  what  extent  did 
it  reach  ?  Who  were  the  commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  congress  to  examine  into  the 
facts  ? 

What  measures  were  taken  by  Clinton  to 
seduce  the  mutineers?  With  what  result? 
What  measures  were  recommended  by  Wash, 
ington  ?  How  was  the  matter  finally  adopt- 
ed ?  What  was  done  with  Clinton's  emissa- 
ries ?  What  other  troops  revolt  ?  What  steps 
were  taken  by  Washington?  What  plan  of 
operations  was  adoj)ted  by  General  Greene? 
Describe  the  battle  of  the  Cowpens  ?  What 
loss  did  each  party  sustain? 

What  does  Cornwallis  decide  upon  ?  What 
favorable  incident  saved  Colonel  Morgan! 
Who  arrives  and  assumes  the  command  ?  Do 
the  British  still  pursue  ?  ^^'here  are  the 
Americans  again  overtaken?  By  what  inci- 
dent are  they  again  preserved  ?  To  what 
point  does  General  Greene  march  ?  Who  is  to 
join  him  ?  What  are  the  intentions  of  Corn- 
wallis ?  To  what  place  does  he  go  ?  For 
what  purpose  ?  What  accidents  caused  the 
defeat  of  two  parties  of  loyalists?  What 
terminated  the  Tarleton  expedition  ? 

At  what  place  does  General  Greene  concea 

507 


PART   III.J 


QUESTIONS. 


[period  n 


trate  his  army  ?  How  strong  is  it  ?  De- 
scribe the  battle  of  Guilford  Court  House  ?  To 
what  place  does  Greene  retreat  ?  What  meas- 
ures does  Cornwallis  now  decide  upon? 
What  movements  are  made  by  Greene  ?  When 
Cornwallis  reached  Wilmington,  what  plans 
does  he  consider?     What  does  he  finally  de 


cidf 


upcn 


?     Who  is  left  in  command  of  the 


'roops  remaining  in   Carolina?     With  what 
opes? 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Where  were  the  head-quarters  of  Lord 
Rawdon  ?  What  were  the  other  principal 
posts  of  the  British  ?  What  compelled  the 
British  to  divide  their  troops  ?  What  effect 
was  produced  by  the  retreat  of  Cornwallis? 
What  partisan  otBcers  annoyed  the  British  in 
the  southern  part  of  Carolina?  Who  held 
Lord  Rawdon  in  check  in  the  northern  part  ? 
Where  does  Greene  intrench  his  army  ?  B}' 
whom  are  they  attacked  ?  At  w  hat  time  ? 
Describe  the  batlle.  What  is  the  loss  on 
either  side  ?  Wh  it  movement  is  made  by 
Greene  ?     Is  he  pursued  ? 

At  w^hat  time  does  Lord  Rawdon  evacuate 
Camden  ?  Towards  what  place  does  he  re- 
treat? W'hat  forts  are  captured  Ijy  Marion 
and  Lee?  What  by  Sumpter?  How  many 
prisoners  are  made?  What  posts  now  re- 
mained to  the  British  in  upper'  Carolina? 
What  post  does  Greene  beseige  ?  Who  flies 
to  its  succor  ?  What  }Jost  capitulates  to  the 
Americans?  Why  does  Greene  assault  the 
post  of  Ninety-Six?  Is  he  successful  ?  To 
what  place  does  he  then  retire  ?  Sketch  the 
history  o'  Isaac  Hayne.  What  is  said  of 
Lord  Ra>trdon  ? 


.  field,  between  Washington  and  Count  Ro 
chambeau  ?  What  change  was  made  in  hi.' 
plans  ?     What  stratagem  was  practiced? 

I  At  what  place  did  the  French  join  General 
W'ashington  ?     When  he  crossed  the  Hudson 

I  what  report  did  he  cause  to  be  spread  ?  De 
scribe  his  route  to  the  south.  At  what  time 
did  he  join  La  Fayette  ?  At  what  place?  Al 
what  time  did  Count  de  Grasse  enter  the 
Chesapeake  ?  What  end  did  it  accomplish  ? 
What  was  feared  in  regard  to  General  La 
Fayette''     How  was  the  artiiler)'    to  be  ob 


tained  for  the 


?     What  was  the  advice 


of  Washmgton  ?     What  was  the  conduct  of 
the  French  admiral  ?     Was  it  successful  ? 


CHAPTER  XVIL 

Wfiat  were  the  determinations  of  Greene? 
What  route  did  he  pursue  to  meet  the  enemy  ? 
Who  commanded  the  British  forces?  Where 
was  the  decisive  battle  fought?  With  what 
result  ?  What  was  the  loss  of  the  British  ? 
What  that  of  the  Americans  ?  After  Greene's 
army  was  reinforced,  to  what  j)laces  did  the 
British  retreat  ?  W^hat  is  said  of  Greene's 
military  character?  Where  did  Arnold  land 
in  Virginia?  With  what  force  ?  What  was 
his  conduct  ? 

What  plan  is  formed  for  the  capture  of  Ar- 
nold? Who  is  dispatched  to  Virginia?  With 
what  force  ?  What  naval  force  is  dispatched 
from  Rhode  Island?  What  prevents  the  cap- 
ture of  Arnold?  What  force  does  Clinton 
send  to  Virginia?  What  town  is  burnt  by 
Arnold?  To  what  place  do  Philip  and  Ar- 
nold retreat  ?  For  what  object  ?  After  Corn- 
wallis took  command,  what  plans  does  he 
form  ?  Who  commanded  the  corps  of  Ameri- 
cans in  Virginia?  What  policy  did  La  Fa- 
yette adopt  ?  What  expedition  was  confided 
to  Tarleton  ?     With  what  result  ? 

What  orders  are  sent  to  Cornwallis  by 
Clinton?  What  is  finally  decided  upon? 
Where  does  Cornwallis  conclude  to  fortify 
aimself  ■?    Wfiat  was  agi-eed  upon  at  Wethers- 

508 


CHAPTER  XVni. 

What  is  the  situation  of  Cornwallis?  What 
information  does  he  receive  from  Clinton? 
What  diversion  does  Clinton  attempt?  Who 
commanded  the  expedition  against  New  Lon- 
don ?  What  forts  defended  it  ?  What  was 
the  conduct  of  the  Biitish?  What  distin- 
guished ofRcer  was  slain  by  his  own  sword? 
What  was  the  fate  of  New  London?  Did 
Arnold  penetrate  into  the  country?  What 
measures  of  defense  are  adopted  by  Corn- 
wallis ?  How  does  he  lose  his  only  chance 
of  escape  ? 

What  is  the  strength  of  the  combined  ar- 
mies which  move  from  Williamsburg  f  W^hal 
portion  were  French?  At  what  time  do 
they  commence  the  seige?  What  portions  of 
the  works  are  carried  by  assault?  How  did 
General  Washington  divide  the  service  ? 
Who  commanded  the  sortie  ?  What  was  its 
success  ?  What  effort  does  Cornwallis  mak<» 
to  save  his  army  ?     How  is  he  prevented? 

At  what  time  does  he  propose  to  ne-goti- 
ate  ?  What  terms  does  he  ask  ?  What  are 
granted  ?  What  were  the  articles  of  capitula- 
tion? How  many  troops  were  surrendered? 
What  arrangements  were  made  between  the 
French  and  Americans?  How  were  the 
prisoners  treated?  Was  any  aid  on  its  way 
from  New  York?  What  feelings  did  the 
event  occasion  in  New  York  ?  What  allies 
leave  America  ? 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

What  has  already  been  stated  in  regard  to 
Vermont  ?  What  did  New  York  attempt  in 
regard  to  the  settlers  in  Vermont?  W\M 
was  the  consequence?  What  measures  are 
taken  by  the  inhabitants  of  Vermont  I  WliaJ 
name  do  they  give  to  the  state?  What  do 
they  ask  of  congress  ? 

What  was  the  situation  of  Vermont  in 
1731  ?  By  what  system  of  management  had 
its  territory  been  protected?  What  fortunate 
event  avoided  a  crisis  ?  What  was  the  con- 
dition of  the  country  in  1781  ?  What  means 
of  relief  had  congress  ?  Did  the  states  pay 
their  quotas  ?     Whom  did  the  peoj)le  !.)lame  ? 

What  was  now  the  feeling  in  England  in 
regard  to  the  war?  What  posts  did  the  Brit 
ish  now  hold  in  America?  What  resolution 
was  passed  in  the  house  of  commons  ?  Who 
succeeds  Sir  Henry  Clinton  ?    What  was  the 


PART    IV. J 


QUESTIONS. 


[period  I. 


general  feeling  on  both  sides?  WTio  were 
appointed  by  the  British  to  nc^rotisite  for 
peace  ?  Why  were  they  unsuccessful  ?  Who 
were  appointed  by  coniross  .'  What  power 
recognizes  tlie  independence  of  the  United 
States? 

Who  were  appointed  commissioners  on  the 


fiart  of  Great  Britain?  When  were  the  pre- 
iminury  articles  signed  ?  When  was  the  final 
treaty  completed  ?  What  circumstances  made 
the  treaty  more  favorable  to  America?  What 
subject  was  left  unsettled?  Wliat  were  the 
causes  of  discontent  in  the  army  ?  What 
were  the  fears  of  the  oflicers?  What  am- 
bitious feelings  had  weight  ? 

What  means  were  taken  to  bring  Washing- 
ton into  these  views  ?  What  sentiments  were 
expressed  in  the  letter  to  Washington  ?  What, 
feelings  did  the  communication  produce  ? 
What  did  he  reply  ?  What  gave  rise  to  the 
Newburg  letter?  Who  was  its  author? 
WTiat  was  its  character  and  tenor?  What 
did  it  advise  ?     What  did  it  propose  ? 

What  course  did  Washington  adopt?  What 
address  did  he  make  in  the  meeting?  What 
did  he  declare — and  what  promise  ?  What 
effect  was  produced  upon  the  officers  ?  What 
did  he  write  to  congress  in  their  behalf? 
What  act  did  congress  pass  ? 

Wiio  first  communicated  the  intelligence  of 
peace  ?  At  what  time  was  it  officially  an- 
nounced ?  How  long  had  the  war  lasted  ? 
When  was  the  army  disbanded  ?  What  is 
said  of  those  who  still  survive  ?  What  Eu- 
ropean powers  acknowledge  the  independence 
of  the  United  States  ?  At  what  periods  ? 
When  did  Prussia  come  in  ?  On  what  day 
did  the  British  evacuate  New  York  ?  At 
what  time  did  Washington  take  leave  of  the 
army  ?  At  what  place  ?  Whence  did  Wash- 
ington proceed  ?  For  what  j)urpose  ?  On 
what  day  did  he  resign  his  commission  ?  To 
what  place  does  he  retire  ?  Where  is  Mount 
Vernon  situated  ? 


CHAPTER  XX. 

What  was  the  condition  of  the  country  at 
the  close  of  the  war?  What  augmented  the 
discontent  ?  Wliat  expedient  was  resorted 
to  by  Rhode  Island?  What  disorders  grew 
out  of  these  distresses  ?  Who  was  the  leader 
of  the  malcontents  in  Massachusetts?  What 
did  he  do  at  Springfield  ? 

V/'aat  force  was  ordered  out  to  suppress  the 


insurrection  ?  Who  commanded  it  ?  vVho 
was  appointed  to  take  possession  of  Sjiring- 
ficld?  How  did  he  accomplish  it?  Hyw 
niiiriy  rioters  were  killed?  How  were  the 
malcontents  finally  disposed  of?  What  was 
discovered  in  regard  to  the  government! 
What  remedy  was  proposed?  What  evila 
existed  ?  How  alone  could  they  have  a  reme- 
dy? Who  suggested  the  idea  of  strengthen- 
ing the  general  government  ?  Which  state 
first  recommended  a  convention  to  form  a 
constitution?  On  whose  motion?  In  wha». 
year?  How  was  the  proposition  received  by 
congress  ?  When  did  the  convention  meet  ? 
What  did  they  proceed  to  do? 

What  two  opposite  viev.s  presented  them 
selves  ?  Wiiat  did  one  class  of  p:>'l:icians 
believe?  Where  did  they  look  for  .'-n  exam- 
ple ?  What  did  others  believe  ?  Where  is 
the  true  line?  On  what  basis  was  the  con- 
stitution formed  ?  What  different  views  were 
entertained  by  the  two  parties?  M  hat  were 
those  called  who  leaned  towards  strengthen- 
ing the  general  government  ?  What  were 
their  opponents  called  ?  What  other  difficul- 
ties arose  ?  How  were  the  slaves  finally  al 
lowed  to  be  reckoned  ? 

Was  there  any  opposition  to  the  adoption 
of  the  new  constitution  ?  How  many  states 
adopted  it  in  1789?  What  states  had  not? 
What  is  the  supreme  authority  in  which  the 
constitution  is  piomulgated?  What  are  the 
objects  for  which  it  was  established?  In 
what  is  the  legislative  power  vested  ?  How 
are  representatives  chosen — and  for  what 
time?  By  whom?  How  are  they  appor- 
tioned ?  Of  how  many  memljers  is  the  senate 
composed?  What  their  term  of  service? 
Who  chooses  the  presiding  officer  of  the 
house  of  representatives  ?  What  is  he  called? 
Who  is  the  presiding  officer  of  the  senate  ? 
What  are  the  two  houses  called  ?  How  often 
must  they  sit  ? 

What  bills  must  originate  in  the  house  of 
representatives?  Who  has  the  care  of  the 
peoples'  money  ?  Who  bears  the  sword  ? 
Who  the  purse  ?  Where  is  the  executive 
power  vested  ?  What  is  requisite  to  make  a 
person  eligible?  What  power  has  the  presi- 
dent? How  are  treaties  made?  Where  is 
the  judicial  power  vested  ?  How  are  im 
peachments  made  ?  Who  tries  them  ?  What 
was  feared  by  both  parties,  when  the  consti 
tution  was  adopted?  How  is  it  now  re 
garded  ? 


PART    IV. 


PERIOD   I. 

At   what    time  does  Part  IV.  begin? 
what  time  does  it  close? 


At    what   time   does    this    Period    bea 
WV hat  event  marks  its  commencement? 


At 


At 


what  time  does  it  close  ? 
its  close  ? 


What  event  marxa 


CHAPTER  I. 
On  what  day  was  the  new  goverriment  to 
go  into  operation?     What  were  W:ishington's 
wishes   at  the  close  of  the  war  ?     To  wbil 

509 


PART    IV.J 


QUESTIONS. 


[period  l 


place  did  he  make  a  visit  ?  What  important 
idea  did  he  suggest  ?  Whom  did  he  memo- 
rialize on  the  subject?  What  was  offered 
by  the  states  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  ? 

What  added  to  Washington's  expenses? 
To  vriiat  does  Washington  give  his  attention 
in  retirement  ?  What  remains  has  he  left  of 
his  taste?  To  vvhat  place  was  he  first  called 
from  his  retirement  ?  What  oiHce  did  he  re- 
ceive from  the  convention  ?  After  the  adop- 
tion of  the  constitution,  to  what  office  was  he 
chosen  ?  How  long  after  he  received  notice 
of  his  election,  before  his  departure  for  New 
York  ?  How  was  he  received  by  the  people 
on  his  journey  ?  On  what  day  was  he  in- 
augurated ?     At  what  place  ? 

What  did  he  declare  in  his  inaugural  ad- 
dress in  regard  to  himself?  What  maxims  of 
vfisdom  and  patriotism  did  he  lay  down  ? 
What  was  the  first  object  of  congress  ?  On 
what  did  they  lay  duties  ?  What  distinction 
did  they  make  between  American  and  foreign 
vessels  ?  Who  were  the  first  secretaries  ap- 
pointed under  the  constitution  ?  Under  whose 
care  was  the  navy  placed  ?  To  whom  were 
the  secretaries  made  responsible  ?  By  whom 
i-emovable  ?  What  changes  were  made  in 
the  constitution  in  this  session  ? 

Describe  the  organization  of  the  judiciary. 
By  what  congress  was  it  made  ?  What  sala- 
ries were  given  to  the  various  officers  ?  What 
did  congress  recommend  before  adjournment  ? 
At  what  time  did  congress  adjourn  ?  What 
did  they  require  of  the  secretary  of  the  treas- 
ury ?  How  is  General  Washington  received 
in  New  England  ?  When  did  North  Carolina 
come  into  the  Union? 

At  what  time  did  the  second  session  of  con- 
gress begin?  What  important  report  was 
made  by  Hamilton  ?  What  debts  did  he  pro- 
pose to  assume  ?  What  gave  rise  to  the  two 
great  parties  ?  What  were  the  points  of  dif- 
ference between  the  opposing  parties  ?  Which 
side  did  the  federalists  espouse  ?  From  what 
section  of  the  country  were  they?  What  did 
the  federalists  contend  for  in  the  assumption 
of  the  state  del)ts  ?  What  principle  was  ad- 
vocated by  the  republicans?  What  were  the 
arguments  used  on  each  side?  What  was 
proposed  by  Mr.  Madison  ?  How  was  it  re- 
ceived ? 

What  motives  were  attributed  to  Mr.  Hamil- 
ton ?  What  were  the  proofs  relied  upon  ? 
What  were  the  arguments  in  favor  of  assum- 
ing the  state  debts  ?  What  was  decided  in 
the  matter  ?  What  means  were  used  to  carry 
out  the  plans  of  Mr.  Hamilton  ?  In  what  year 
did  Rhode  Island  come  into  the  Union  ? 
What  was  the  argument  in  favor  of  a  duty  on 
distilled  spirits  ?     Was  the  duty  laid  ? 

What  cession  was  made  by  North  Caroli- 
na? Hy  whom  was  Nashville  foundedl  In 
what  year  1  What  treaty  vvas  made  in 
1790  ?  What  were  the  arcrunients  for  and 
against  a  national  banki  What  was  the  re- 
sult of  thtt  deliberations'?  Where  vvas  the 
bank  Incatedl  With  what  capital?  Who 
wore  the  leaders  of  the  two  great  parties? 
What  grounds  of  complaint  were  urged  against 
the  course  of  Mr.  Jefferson  ?     Could  the  dif- 

510 


ferences  be  healed?  At  what  time  was  Ver 
mont  admitted  into  the  Union  ?  When  was  the 
first  census  taken  ?  What  was  the  population  ? 
When  was  the  first  apportionment  made?  Whaif 
was  the  ratio  of  representation  adopted  ? 


CHAPTER  n. 

What  is  said  of  the  connection  between 
the  Moravian  missionaries  and  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  aborigines?  How  did  the  Mora- 
vians treat  their  converts?  What  excited 
the  people  against  the  Moravian  converts? 
Who  established  a  mission  on  the  Alleghany 
river?  In  what  year?  With  what  success? 
What  Indian  war  occurred  in  1770?  What 
gave  rise  to  it  ?  Where  do  the  Moravian 
missionaries  locate  themselves  ?  Under 
whom  ?  What  settlements  are  broken  up  ? 
To  what  place  did  Zeisberger  remove  ?  How 
many  persons  afterwards  joined  him  from  the 
Susquehannah  ?  What  obstacles  opposed  the 
influence  of  the  chiefs?  Who  among  the 
Delawares  favored  civilization  ?  What  reso- 
lution was  finally  adopted  by  the  Delawares  "^ 

What  difficulties  did  the  revolution  raise  to 
the  work  of  the  missionaries  ?  Who  visits 
the  missionaries?  With  what  intent  ?  How 
is  he  appeased?  What  finally  do  the  Indian 
tribes  determine  on?  What  are  the  Moravi- 
ans obliired  to  do?  Whence  do  they  flee? 
What  befalls  them? 

How  many  of  the  converts  returned  to  the 
Muskingum  to  gather  the  corn?  Describe 
the  manner  in  which  they  were  murdered? 
What  happened  to  the  missionaries  who  were 
taken  to  Detroit?  What  was  the  declaration 
of  Captain  Pipe?  Vvhat  did  the  governor 
state  to  the  missionaries  ?  Where  did  they 
again  settle?  After  the  peace,  where  did 
they  again  locate  themselves  ? 

Which  was  the  most  powerful  of  the  west- 
ern tribes  of  Indians  ?  Who  was  their  chief? 
What  was  his  character  ?  Whom  did  he  in 
cite  to  join  against  the  United  States  ?  Wliat 
were  his  views  and  intentions  ?  What  gene- 
ral was  first  sent  against  the  savages  ?  With 
what  force  ?  Near  what  place  is  he  defeated? 
Who  was  next  sent  against  them?  With 
what  force?  What  was  the  result?  What 
did  congress  resolve  ujjon  ?  What  wc-"^  the 
difficulties  in  the  way  ?  Who  were  sent  to 
negotiate  ?  What  was  their  fate  ?  What  did 
the  Six  Nations  effect? 

When  was  Kentucky  admitted  into  the 
Union?  What  was  the  currency  of  the 
country  called  after  the  establishment  of  the 
mint?  When  was  Washington  re-elected 
president?  Who  was  re-elected  vice-presi- 
dent? What  events  in  France  now  affected 
American  politics?  What  were  the  argu- 
ments and  feelings  of  the  democratic  party  ? 
What  those  of  the  federalists? 

What  course  did  Washington  adopt?  Was 
this  in  accordance  with  public  sympathy? 
By  whom  was  Genet  sent  out  as  a  minister  ? 
Where  did  he  land  ?  What  did  he  infer  from 
his  reception?  What  were  his  proceedings 
at  Charleston?  How  was  he  received  in 
Philadelphia  ?  Who  complained  of  his  acts  ? 
What  course  did  General  Washington  adopt  t 


QUESTIONS. 


[period  II. 


Who  succeeded  Genet  1     When  was  Kentucky  I 
admitted  to  the  Union  i     Hy  whom  and  when  j 
was  tlie  first  Enfilish  st'ttleinent  made  in  this 
Btate  •     What  inducenienls  were  hehl  out  l)y 
Virginia  for  now  settlers  1 

CIIAPTKR  in. 

What  oftice  did  Mr.  Jeflerson  resign  in  1794'» 
What  excitement  did  confiress  create  in  western 
Pennsylvania  1  What  measures  did  Washing- 
ton adopt  to  vindicate  the  laws  ?  How  many 
men  were  raised?  By  whom  were  they  com- 
manded 1     What  effect  was  produced  1 

What  naval  armament  was  ordered  at  this 
time  ?  For  what  particular  object  ?  With 
what  power  was  a  war  apprehended?  What 
complaiuls  did  Great  Britain  make  against  tlie 
Americans?  Of  what  did  the  Americans 
complain?  What  measures  did  congress 
adopt  ?  Wlio  was  sent  to  England  to  negoti- 
ate {  Who  was  appointed  to  succeed  Gene- 
ral St.  Clair  ?  What  name  did  the  Indians 
give  to  General  Wayne  ?  What  was  the  ad- 
vice of  Litt  le  Turtle  I  Describe  General 
Wayne's  campaign  against  the  Indians. — 
Where  did  he  attack  and  defeat  them  ?  On 
what  day?  Were  any  British  soldiers  in  the 
fight  ?  How  did  the  British  treat  the  Indians  ? 
What  was  the  consequence  ?  What  was  af- 
terwards done  by  the  Americans  ? 

At  what  time  did  General  Hamilton  resign? 
Who  succeeded  him  ?  When  was  Jay's  trea- 
ty completed  ?  Was  it  ratified  ?  What  were 
its  provisions?  What  oljjections  were  raised 
to  it  ?  What  breach  of  faith  was  committed 
by  a  senator?  What  effect  did  it  produce? 
What  was  attempted  at  the  next  session  of 
ccrigress,  by  the  hcu.se  of  representatives  ? 
What  was  the  final  result  ? 

What  other  treaties  were  made  this  year  ? 
What  was  insisted  on  by  Spain,  after  the 
revolution  ?  Who  was  appointed  to  make  a 
treaty?  What  did  the  treaty  guaranty  ?  When 
was  Tennessee  admitted  into  the  Union? 
Were  the  treaties  of  1705  opposed?  What 
was  the  conduct  of  the  French  minister? 
Who  succeeded  Mr.  Morris,  as  minister  to 
France  ?  How  was  he  received  there  ?  Who 
succeeded  Mr.  Fauchet?  What  sinister  mo- 
tives had  France  ?  How  did  she  finally  con- 
duct towards  America  ? 

Why  was  Mr.  Monroe  recalled?  Who 
succeeded  him?  What  is  said  of  the  admin- 
istration of  General  Washington  ?  At  what 
time  did  he  publish  his  farewell  address  ? 
What  were  the  principal  subjects  to  which 
he  drew  the  attention  of  the  American  peo- 
ple ?     What  did  he  say  of  the  spirit  of  party  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Who  were  the  candidates  for  the  presiden- 
cy to  succeed  General  Washington?  What 
were  the  points  of  difference  belween  them  ? 
With  what  did  each  party  cnarge  the  other  ? 
What  intelligence  did  Mr.  Adams  receive  up- 
on entering  upon  his  duties  ?  What  measures 
did  congress  adopt?  What  army  did  they 
place  at  the  command  of  the  president  ? 

How  die*    Mr.  Adams   manifest  his  desire 

33 


for  peace?  Who  composed  the  new  embassy* 
Were  they  received  ?  How  were  the  nego 
tiations  carried  on?  Wiiat  was  demaiidea 
\)y  tlic  persons  acting  under  Talleyrand? 
What  was  the  mission  called?     Wliy  ? 

Who  were  first  recalled?  What  did  Mr 
Adams  declare  ?  What  was  the  conduct  of 
the  French?  What  became  the  motto  of  the 
country  ?  Who  was  appointed  to  command 
the  army?  Who  was  made  second  in  com- 
mand ?  What  naval  battle  was  fought  ?  Wtio 
composed  the  new  embassy?  Whom  did 
they  find  at  the  head  of  the  French  govern- 
ment? Did  they  negotiate  a  treaty?  At 
what  time  ? 

At  what  time  did  the  death  of  General 
Washington  occur?  What  feelings  did  it 
produce  in  the  countiy?  What  notice  did 
congress  take  of  his  death  ?  What  was  his 
age  ?     What  is  said  of  hiin  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 

In  what  year  was  the  seat  of  government 
transferred  to  Washington  ?  From  what 
slates  was  the  territory  ceded?  How  large 
is  it '.     What  is  it  called  ? 

What  new  territories  were  made  in  the  year 
1800  {  What  is  said  of  the  feelings  of  the  re- 
publican party  towards  Mr.  Adams  at  his  first 
election?  To  whom  was  the  party  particu- 
larly opposed  ?  What  measures  of  President 
Adams  were  made  the  means  of  assailing  nis 
administration?  What  was  charged  on  him 
by  his  opponents?  What  acts  of  Mr.  Adams' 
administration  were  especially  unpopular? 
What  was  the  nature  of  the  alien  law? 
What  that  of  the  sedition  law  ? 

How  were  the  president  and  vice-presi- 
dent elected  in  1800?  Who  were  the  candi- 
dates of  the  democratic  party  ?  What  diffi- 
culty occurred  ?  Whom  did  the  federal  party 
support  for  the  presidency  ?  What  difficulty 
occurred  in  the  ballot?  Who  was  finally 
chosen  ?     After  how  many  ballotings  ? 

When  was  Mr.  Jefferson  inaugurated? 
What  custom  did  he  introduce  in  regard  to 
the  message?  Who  was  made  secretary  of 
state  ?  What  bills  were  immediately  passed 
by  congress?  What  was  the  population  of 
the  Unhed  States  in  the  second  census? 
How  much  increase  in  the  last  ten  years? 
What  had  been  the  increase  in  the  revenue  ? 
What  war  was  declared  in  1801  ?  What  new 
state  was  admitted  into  the  Union  in  1802? 
From  what  states  had  the  United  States  de- 
rived this  territory  ?  What  steps  w  ere  taken 
on  the  subject  of  slaveiy  ?  In  what  year  was 
Louisiana  ceded  to  the  French  ?  What  order 
was  made  in  regard  to  the  port  of  New  Or- 
leans? What  measures  did  congress  adopt? 
With  what  success  ?  What  propositions  were 
made  in  regard  to  Louisiana  ?  How  much 
was  j)aid  for  it?  By  what  treaty  was  it  trans- 
ferred ? 


PERIOD    II. 

At  what  time  does  this -Period  begin?  At 
what  lime  does  it  close  ?  What  event  marks 
its  commencement?    What  its  termination? 

511 


PART    IV.J 


QUESTIONS. 


[period  ii 


CHAPTER  I. 

What  was  the  custom  of  the  nations  inhabit- 
ing the  southern  shores  of  the  Mediterranean? 
What  was  intimated  by  Tripoli?  Who  was 
ordered  to  the  Mediterranean?  With  what 
force  ?  What  did  he  do  ?  Who  was  ordered 
out  with  a  larger  squadron  ?  What  happened 
to  the  Philadelphia  ?  What  daring  enterprise 
was  accomplished  by  Lieut.  Decatur? 

Is  Commodore  Preble  successful  in  his  at- 
empt   to   destroy   Tripoli?      How    are   the 

mcrican  prisoners  treated?  What  plan  is 
proposed  by  Captain  Eaton  ?  In  what  year? 
[n  what  3'ear  were  the  forces  organized  ? 
A'hat  place  do  they  attack  and  capture  ?  Are 
they  left  without  annoyance?  What  are  the 
conditions  of  the  peace  ?  When  was  it  con- 
cluded ? 

What  painful  occurrence  took  place  in 
1804?  What  caused  the  difficulty?  What 
was  the  vote  in  favor  of  Mr.  Jefferson  in  his 
second  election  ?  What  had  been  the  policy 
of  the  United  States  ?  How  had  they  profited 
by  it?  What  was  the  policy  of  France  and 
Great  Britain?  What  two  subjects  were  in 
dispute  between  America  and  Great  Britain  ? 
What  was  the  right  of  search  claimed  by 
Ennland  ?  What  was  the  other  subject  of 
difference?  What  did  England  claim?  What 
did  America  claim  ?  What  did  America  do 
in  pursuance  of  her  principles?  How  did 
this  give  rise  to  difficulties  ? 

Why  were  the  principles  of  the  English 
convenient  to  them  ?  How  far  did  they  carry 
the  claimed  right  of  impressment?  What 
measures  were  adopted  liy  Great  Britain  in 
the  administration  of  Charles  Fox?  What 
counter  measures  were  adopted  by  France  ? 
What  was  this  equivalent  to  I  What  was  the 
standing  of  Aaron  Burr  after  his  duel  with 
Hamilton?  What  expedition  was  he  sup- 
posed to  have  organized?  Where  is  he  ap- 
prehended ?  Where  tried  ?  On  what  charges  ? 
Before  whom  was  he  tried  ?  With  what  re- 
sult? 


to  a  treaty  with  the  United  States?    Was 
the  arrangement  sanctioned  by  the   British 

government? 


When  did  the  non-intercourse  law 


expire 


CHAPTER  II. 

At  what  time  did  the  Chesapeake  leave 
Hampton  Road?  By  whom  was  she  com- 
manded ?  What  was  demanded  by  the  com- 
mander of  the  British  frigate  Leopard  ?  What 
outrage  was  then  committed  on  her?  What 
feeling  did  this  event  excite  in  the  country? 
W^hat  measures  did  the  president  adopt? 

What  were  the  orders  in  council  issued  by 
Great  Britain?  What  reasons  were  given 
for  them  ?  What  counteracting  orders  were 
issued  by  Napoleon  ?  What  effect  had  these 
measures  on  American  commerce  ?  What 
expedient  did  congress  adopt  to  protect  our 
commerce  ?  What  were  the  instructions  is- 
guea  to  Mr.  Monroe  ?  What  was  the  propo- 
sition of  Mr.  Canning?  Who  was  sent  to  the 
United  States  to  adjust  the  difficulties  ?  What 
was  done  with  Commodore  Barron?  Who 
succeeded  Mr.  Jefferson?  In  what  year? 
Wnat  substitute  was  adopted  for  the  embar- 
go? What  orders  were  issued  by  Buonaparte, 
IB  regard  to  American  vessels  ?     Who  agreed 

512 


What  pro{)osition  did  the  United  States  then 
make  to  the  belligerents?  By  whom  was  it 
accepted?  What  Avas  the  population  of  the 
United  States  at  the  third  census  ?  What 
occurrence  took  place  between  the  frigate 
President  and  the  Little  Belt  ?  What  indica- 
tions are  observed  among  the  Indian  tribes  ? 
Who  are  the  moving  spirits  among  the  savages  ? 
What  part  does  each  perform  ?  How  does 
the  Prophet  discipline  his  tribes? 

What  were  the  arguments  of  Tecumseh  by 
which  he  excited  the  Indians  ?  What  expe- 
dient was  adopted  to  get  rid  of  the  opposing 
chiefs  ?  Describe  the  death  of  the  Wyandot 
chief,  Leatlier-Lips.  Where  did  the  Indians 
collect  their  forces?  Who  commanded  the 
forces  which  marched  against  the  Indians? 
Where  did  he  meet  the  Indians?  What  was 
agreed  upon?  Wlat  was  the  plan  of  the  In- 
dians? What  was  the  result?  What  was 
the  loss  on  either  side? 

Who  succeeded  Mr.  Jackson  as  minister? 
What  difficulty  did  he  adjust  ?  In  what  way  ? 
What  did  the  British  still  claim  as  a  right  ? 
Plow  many  American  vessels  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  British  between  1803  and  18]  1? 
What  was  finally  resolved  upon  by  the  presi- 
dent ?  What  preparations  were  made  for 
war?  What  conspiracy  was  developed  in 
February,  1812  ?  Who  was  the  agent  se- 
lected by  the  British  government?  Was  he 
successful  ?  To  what  cause  did  he  attribute 
his  failure  ?  Why  did  he  disclose  the  facts 
to  the  president  ?     What  reward  did  he  re 


CHAPTER  m. 

WTiat  act  was  passed  in  April,  ]  812  ?  Whej 
was  war  declared  ?  What  reasons  were  giveb. 
by  the  president  for  the  war?  What  part>' 
protested?  What  difference  existed  in  the 
condition  of  the  country  at  this  period  and  at 
the  revolution  ?  In  what  respects  was  the 
country  better  prepared  at  the  period  of  the 
revolution  ?  What  war  had  just  closed  pre- 
vious to  the  revolution?  What  mistake  was 
made  in  appointing  the  generals?  What  mis- 
take was  made  in  the  administration  of  Mr. 
Jefferson?  What  was  the  amount  of  the  na- 
tional debt  at  the  commencement  of  the  war? 
What  was  the  strength  of  the  army  in  1808? 
To  what  number  was  it  increased  on  the  eve 
of  the  war?  What  was  the  condition  of  the 
army  ? 

Vv  hat  causes  Djieratcd  to  suppress  national 
feeling?  What  more  favoraljle  moment  for 
war  had  gone  by?  What  was  the  condition 
of  the  revenue?  What  was  the  condition  ot 
the  navy  ?  What  had  given  it  confidence  and 
efficiency  ?  Who  was  appointed  commander- 
in-chief?  Where  did  he  establish  his  head- 
quarters ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 
What  was  the  plan  of  the  first  caiipaiga 


PJIBT    IV.] 


QUESTIONS. 


«Vho  was  appointed  to  command  the  north- 
western army  ?  How  many  regiments  of  mi- 
litia were  raised  in  Ohio?  Who  commanded 
them  .'  From  what  place  does  he  move  the 
troops  ?  At  what  time  ?  What  extraordinary 
omission  was  made  in  the  letter  of  the  secre- 
tary of  war?  What  was  the  consequence  of 
this  mistake  ?  On  what  day  did  General  Hull 
receive  the  intelligence  that  war  was  de- 
clared ?     In  what  way  ? 

Where  was  the  strong  hold  of  the  British  ? 
What  impediments  were  offered  to  the  ad- 
vance of  General  Hull  ?  What  were  his  or- 
ders ?  At  what  time  did  he  reach  Detroit  ? 
What  orders  did  Mr.  Eustis  issue  to  General 
Hull?  At  what  time  did  General  Hull  cross 
into  Canada?  Where  did  he  take  post? 
What  measures  did  he  adopt  ?  Why  were 
the  troops  inactive  at  Sandwich?  What 
skirmish  ensued?  What  supplies  were  ex- 
pected ?  Who  was  sent  out  to  protect  them  ? 
What  followed  ? 

What  signal  neglect  of  the  government 
caused  the  loss  of  Mackinaw  ?  On  what  day 
did  it  surrender?  What  were  now  the  im- 
pressions of  General  Hull  ?  What  arrange- 
ment permitted  all  the  British  force  to  be 
brought  against  him?  What  resolution  did 
he  adopt  ?  How  did  it  affect  the  army  ?  On 
what  day  did  he  reach  Detroit  ?  What  battle 
was  fought  on  the  9th  of  August  ?  Who  com- 
manded on  either  side?  What  was  the  re- 
sult? What  did  Hull  now  propose?  Who 
are  now  sent  out  to  protect  the  expected  sup- 
plies ?     What  occurred  at  Chicago  ? 

W^ho  arrives  to  take  command  of  Fort  Mai- 
den ?  On  what  day  does  he  reach  Sandwich  ? 
What  reason  does  he  give  why  the  Americans 
should  surrender!  What  is  Hull's  reply? 
What  measures  does  Brock  then  adopt? 
On  what  day  do  the  British  cross  the  river? 
Where  do  they  land  ?  What  is  Hull's  con- 
duct ?  How  are  the  garrisons  first  formed  for 
battle  ?  When  withdrawn,  what  feelings  are 
manifested  by  the  ofHcers  and  men  ?  What 
is  the  final  result  ?  What  was  the  force  on 
each  side?  What  disposition  was  made  of 
General  Hull  ?  How  was  he  treated  by  the 
government  ?  What  was  his  sentence  ?  Was 
it  executed  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 

What  naval  battle  was  fought  on  the  19th 
of  August?  Who  commanded  on  each  side? 
WTia-  were  the  names  of  the  vessels  ?  What 
was  tae  loss  on  each  side  ?  How  much  was 
paid  by  congress  to  the  captors  ?  What  other 
naval  battle  was  fought  soon  after  ?  Where 
wers  the  militia  quartered?  Under  whose 
command ''  What  did  they  desire  to  do  ?  At 
what  time  is  the  crossing  first  attempted? 
On  what  day  is  the  crossing  effected  ?  Unrler 
whose  command  ?  What  befalls  him?  Who 
then  assumes  the  command  ?  What  does  he 
accomplish? 

What  British  general  now  advances? 
Wliat  is  the  result  of  his  onset  ?  What  Brit- 
ish general  now  appears  ?  With  what  force  ? 
What  was  the  conduct  of  the  militia  on  the 

33* 


American  side?  To  what  arc  the  American 
troops  now  obliged  to  submit?  Who  bears 
the  flag  of  truce  ?  What  is  the  loss  of  the 
Americans  ?  What  movements  are  made  in 
Kentucky  and  Ohio  ?  How  many  men  are 
advancing  ?     Under  whose  command  ? 

What  Yort  is  attacked  on  the  Wabash? 
Under  whose  command  was  it  ?  What  was 
the  result  ?  What  measures  of  defense  are 
adopted  by  Governor  Shelby?  Whore  do 
the  troops  concentrate  ?  What  incidents  oc- 
cur to  them  on  their  march?  What  meas- 
ures are  adopted  by  the  militia?  What  is  the 
conduct  of  their  general  ?  What  new  expe- 
dition is  undertaken  by  Hopkins?  What 
other  enterprises  are  undertaken  against  the 
Indians?  What  transpired  in  the  northern 
army  ?  What  happened  at  Ogdensburg  ? 
What  was  accomplished  by  Major  Young? 
Who  commanded  the  northern  army  at  Cham 
plain  ?  When  and  where  did  they  go  into 
winter-quarters  ? 

Who  succeeded  General  Van  Rensselaer  in 
the  command  of  the  central  army  ?  What  is 
his  general  conduct  ?  What  officer  performs  a 
gallant  enterprise  ?  W^hat  befalls  him  ?  What 
naval  engagement  occurred  on  the  18th  of 
October  ?  Describe  it.  What  afterwards  oc 
curred  to  Captain  Jones?  How  was  he  re 
ceived  on  his  return  home  ?  How  rewarded 
by  congress  ? 

What  other  naval  victory  was  the  cause  of 
just  pride  to  the  Americans  ?  What  was  the 
reply  of  Commodore  Decatur  to  Captain  Car- 
den  ?  What  other  victory  closed  the  naval 
successes  of  this  year?  What  was  effected 
by  privateers  ?  What  is  said  of  the  campaign 
by  land  of  1812?  What  of  the  American 
successes  at  sea  ?  What  was  feared  by  the 
British  ? 


CHAPTER  VI. 

When  were  the  orders  in  council  repealed? 
What  overtures  for  peace  were  made  by  di- 
rection of  INIr.  Monroe  ?  What  reply  was 
made  by  the  British  minister,  Lord  Castle- 
reagh?  What  advantage  did  Sir  George  Pro- 
vost take  of  General  Dearborn  ?  What  was 
the  consecjucnce  of  this  measure  ?  What  is 
proposed  by  Admiral  Warren  ?  What  dc«8 
he  threaten  ? 

What  fact  had  the  American  government 
learned  ?  What  Wvas  the  reply  of  Mr.  Monroe 
to  Admiral  Warren?  Did  the  negotiation 
progress?  Why  not?  What  was  the  state  of 
feeling  in  the  country?  What  causes  con- 
tributed to  the  public  disasters  ? 

What  states  arrayed  themselves  against 
the  government?  With  what  powers  does 
the  constitution  invest  the  president  ?  What 
ground  was  assumed  l)y  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut  ?  What  was  feared  ?  What  ef- 
fect had  these  measures  on  popular  feeling? 
Was  the  administration  fully  sustained  ?  At 
what  time  did  congress  meet  ?  What  i  leans 
did  they  take  to  increase  the  army  ?  What 
measures  were  adopted  for  the  increase  of  the 
navy?  What  means  were  taken  to  suppljr 
the  treasury  ?    What  law  was  passed  in  re 

513 


PART   IV.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[period  u 


gard  to  seamen  ?  When  was  it  to  be  carried 
into  effect  ?  What  was  the  force  of  the  regu- 
lar army  ?  What  additions  were  made  to  it  ? 
What  was  the  result  of  the  late  election  ' 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Where  was  the  scene  of  the  campaign  of 
of  1813  ?  Who  commanded  the  three  armies  ? 
Wliere  was  their  several  stations  ?  Who  was 
governor  of  Canada  ?  Who  was  charged  with 
the  defenses  of  Upper  Canada  ?  Who  with 
that  of  Lower  Canada?  Where  were  now 
the  head-quarters  of  General  Harrison  ? 
Where  was  General  Winchester  quartered? 
When  was  he  attacked  by  the  British  force  ? 
Who  commanded  it?     What  was  the  result? 

What  were  the  stipulations  of  the  sur- 
render? What  was  the  conduct  of  the  sav- 
ages? What  the  fate  of  the  prisoners?  On 
what  day  did  the  massacre  take  place  ?  To 
what  place  does  General  Harrison  now  re- 
move his  head-quarters  ?  By  what  force  is 
he  here  besieged  ?  Who  commanded  it  ? 
Who  comes  to  his  succor?  What  orders 
does  Harrison  give?  How  are  the  advan- 
tages partially  lost?  What  is  the  fate  of 
Colonel  Dudley  and  his  party  ? 

What  is  the  result  of  Proctor's  attack  on 
Fort  Meigs  ?  What  allies  join  the  Americans 
in  July  ?  What  were  the  views  of  the  Ameri- 
can government  at  the  beginning  of  the  war? 
What  were  finally  their  determination  ?  What 
new  enterprise  did  Proctor  undertake  ?  Who 
commanded  Fort  Stephenson?  With  what 
force  ?  Vv  hat  force  invested  it  ?  With  what 
result  ? 


To  what  place  is  the  war  now  transferred  ? 
What  place  is  taken?  In  what  condition  does 
Harrison  find  Fort  Maiden  ?  To  what  place 
does  Proctor  retreat  ?  Where  does  he  finally 
make  a  stand  ?  How  does  he  post  his  array 
for  battle  ?  How  is  the  successful  attack 
made  ?  What  is  the  result  1  What  trophies 
were  taken  ?  What  agreement  was  now  made 
with  the  Indians?  What  events  transpired 
in  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware  bays  I 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Wliat  enterprise  was  accomplished  on  the 
8th  of  October  by  Captain  Elliot  ?  What  by 
Major  Forsyth  ?  What  attack  was  ordered 
by  Sir  George  Provost?  With  what  result? 
What  was  the  condition  of  the  American  flo- 
tilla on  the  lakes  ?  What  expedition  is  under- 
taken from  Sackett's  Harbor  by  General 
Dearborn  ?  What  force  is  employed  ?  With 
what  result  ? 

How  many  men  were  slain  by  the  explo- 
sion of  the  magazines  ?  What  general  officer  ? 
How  did  he  die  ?  What  was  the  loss  of  the 
British?  What  that  of  the  Americans? 
When  was  York  evacuated  ?  What  expe- 
dition was  next  undertaken?  Who  com- 
manded the  British  at  Fort  George  ?  What 
was  the  loss  of  the  British?  What  that  of 
the  Americans?  What  expedition  was  or- 
dered by  Sir  George  Prevost  ?  Who  com- 
manded? Who  commanded  the  American 
troops  ?     With  what  n^sult  ? 

To  what  j)lace  did  Colonel  Vincent  retreat? 
Who  were  detached  to  pursue  him?  What 
calamity  bcfel  the  American  force?  What 
was  then  done  by  Colonel  Burns  ?     What  ex- 

f (edition  was  undertaken  by  Colonel  Burst- 
er? With  what  result?  What  important 
naval  battle  was  fought  on  Lake  Erie  ?  Who 
were  the  commanders?  How  was  it  con- 
ducted? What  was  the  result?  What  did 
Perry  say  in  his  dispatch  ? 

514 


CHAPTER  IX. 

What  was  the  condition  of  the  naval  anna 
ment  on  Lake  Ontario  ?  Who  was  appointed 
to  command  the  central  army  ?  At  wliat  place 
were  his  head-quarters?  What  expedition 
did  he  plan  ?  What  corps  of  observation  was 
appointed  to  observe  his  movements  ?  Where 
was  a  battle  fought  ?  With  what  result  ?  Who 
was  to  join  General  Wilkinson's  army  ?  With 
what  force?  Was  the  junction  effected? 
Where  did  each  army  go  into  winter-quarters  ? 
What  measures  were  adopted  by  General  Pro- 
vost? Who  commanded  the  Americans  at 
Fort  George  ?  What  mistake  did  he  make  ? 
What  retaliatory  measures  were  adopted? 

What  naval  engagement  took  place  in  Feb 
ruary  of  this  year?  Who  were  found  among 
the  crew  1  Describe  the  circumstances  at 
tending  the  capture  of  the  Chesapeake  ?  What 
were  the  last  words  of  Lawrence  ?  To  what 
place  was  the  prize  carried?  What  other 
naval  disaster  soon  followed?  What  naval 
victory  was  acliieved  on  the  4th  of  Septem- 
ber? What  was  the  last  request  of  Lieuten- 
ant Burrows?  What  common  honor  was 
shown  to  the  remains  of  the  two  commanders  1. 
What  American  commodore  returned  from  a 
long  and  important  cruise  ? 


CHAPTER  X. 

What  efforts  had  been  made  to  civilize  the 
Creeks  ?  Who  appeared  among  them  to  urge 
them  to  throw  off  the  restraints  of  civilization? 
V/hat  arguments  did  he  use  ?  On  what  did 
they  finally  resolve  ?  Describe  the  massacre 
of  Fort  Mims.     How  many  perished  ? 

What  troops  were  immediately  sent  out 
against  the  Indians?  By  whom  were  they 
commanded?  At  what  place  did  General 
Jackson  defeat  the  Indians?  What  towns 
were  also  destroyed?  Who  commanded  at 
Autosse  ?  What  was  the  result  of  the  con 
flict  ?  What  victory  was  obtained  by  General 
Claiborne  ?  What  was  the  last  rallying  place 
of  the  Indians  ?  How  was  the  place  situated : 
Describe  the  battle?  What  distinguished 
chief  submitted  ?  What  did  he  say  to  Genera. 
Jackson  ?  When  was  the  treaty  made  with 
the  Creeks  ?  To  what  command  was  General 
Jackson  appointed? 


CHAPTER  XL 

Who  offered  to  mediate  between  Great 
Britain  and  America?  Who  were  appointed 
commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States?  What  did  the  English  propose? 
Where  did  the  commissioners  meet  ?     W1m> 


PART    IV.] 


QUESTIONS. 


(.PERIOD   IL 


were  appointed  on  the  part  of  Grsut  nritain? 
Who  were  added  on  the  part  of  America? 

At  what  time  did  coni,'rcss  assenililc  in 
1813?  For  what  ol)jcct  ?  Wliat  did  they 
proceed  to  do  ?  What  subject  of  interest 
came  up  at  the  regular  session  of  congress  ? 
What  was  insisted  on  by  the  Americans? 
How  was  the  matter  finally  arranged  ?  What 
important  measure  was  adopted  l)y  congress  ? 


What  did  the  opposition  say  to 


What 


events  produced  the  repeal  of  those  laws  ? 
What  acts  were  passed  for  the  relief  of  the 
array? 


CHAPTER  XII. 

At  what  time  did  the  army  move  from 
French  Mills  ?  Who  was  sent  to  the  Niagara 
frontier  ?  With  what  force  ?  Wliat  success- 
ful movement  is  made  by  the  British?  What 
attempt  is  made  by  General  Wilkinson  to  in- 
vade Canada?  With  what  result?  What 
notice  do  the  government  take  of  Wilkin- 
son's conduct  ?  What  movement  is  made  by 
the  British  army?  Who  had  superintended 
the  preparation  of  an  armament  on  Lake 
Champlain  ?  At  what  place  was  it  ?  What 
attempt  was  made  by  the  British  ?  With  what 
success  ? 

What  enterprise  was  undertaken  by  Cap- 
tain Holmes  ?  With  what  result  ?  What 
plans  were  formed  by  the  British  cabinet  ? 
How  were  they  to  be  executed?  At  what 
place  on  the  northern  coast  was  the  shipping 
destroyed  ?  To  what  amount  ?  What  reason 
is  given  by  a  British  historian  for  the  distinc- 
tion that  had  been  made  in  favor  of  New 
England  ^ 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

At  what  place  does  General  Brown  halt  to 
recruit  his  army  ?  What  general  officers  com- 
manded the  brigades?  At  what  time  did 
General  Brown  reach  Buffalo  ?  When  does 
he  cross  into  Canada?  What  is  the  first 
place  which  surrenders  ?  At  what  time  does 
the  army  advance  on  the  enemy  ?  What  is 
the  strength  of  each  army  ?  On  what  day  is 
the  battle  fought  ?  At  what  place  ?  Who 
particularly  distinguish  themselves  ?  What  is 
said  of  this  battle  ?  What  British  officers 
are  severely  wounded? 

What  position  is  assumed  by  General  Rial? 
By  whom  is  he  joined?  What  movements 
are  made  by  General  Brown  ?  What  informa- 
tion caused  the  movement  which  resulted  in 
the  battle  of  Bridgewater?  Describe  the 
manner  in  which  the  battle  was  brought  on. 
Deicribe  the  battle.  Who  ordered  Colonel 
Miller  to  stoiTTi  the  height?  \Miat  was  his 
reply  ?  What  were  some  of  the  stirring  in- 
cidents of  the  battle  ?  M'hat  Avas  the  loss  of 
the  British?  What  that  of  the  Americans? 
What  officers  were  wounded  ?  What  orders 
did  General  Brown  leave  for  General  Ripley? 
Why  were  the  cannon  not  removed  ?  Who 
flaiiied  the  victory?  To  what  post  do  the 
Americans  retire  ?  What  force  besieges  them  ? 
Who  arrives  and  takes  command  of  the  Ameri- 
can army  ? 


On  what  day  was  the  assault  made  on  Fort 
Erie  I  What  part  of  the  fort  was  taken  ? 
What  accident  saved  it  from  the  enemy? 
What  was  the  loss  of  the  British?  Whal 
that  of  the  Americans?  Who  again  assumed 
the  command  of  tiie  fort  ?  Who  is  ordered 
to  reinforce  General  Grown?  With  what 
force  '  What  plan  dor  i  he  form  for  x\,o  relief 
of  his  army  ?  How  was  the  sortie  conducted? 
What  were  its  fruits?  What  movement  was 
then  made  by  llie  British  army  ?  What  skir 
mish  took  place  on  the  20th  of  October? 
What  expedition  was  undertaken  on  the  uj^ 
per  lakes  ? 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

What  was  tlie  main  defense  of  the  Chesa 
peake  bay?  Where  was  this  flotilla  block- 
aded ?  What  i)lan  was  formed  by  the  British 
for  earring  on  the  war  at  the  south  ?  What 
measures  were  taken  to  defend  W^ashington? 
What  reinforcements  did  the  British  army  re- 
ceive? How  was  the  fleet  divided  ?  What 
duty  was  each  part  to  perform?  What  was 
accomplished  by  General  Ross  ?  What  move- 
ment is  made  by  General  Winder  ?  Who  was 
secretary  of  war  ? 

What  policy  was  resolved  upon  ?  Who 
advances  to  the  relief  of  Washington  ?  What 
order  does  he  receive  from  General  Winder? 
Which  member  of  the  cabinet  labors  to  rally 
volunteers  ?  What  does  he  propose  to  Gen 
eral  Stanburj-  ?  Where  are  the  enemy  met  ? 
What  is  the  result?  Where  do  they  again 
rally  ?  What  do  they  finally  decide  on  ?  At 
what  time  does  Ross  reach  Washington? 
What  is  his  conduct?  What  is  the  loss  on 
either  side? 

What  was  the  general  conduct  of  the  Brit 
ish  in  Washington?  What  other  places  dt 
they  capture  ?  Is  the  booty  large  ?  Whal 
expedition  is  next  undertaken  ?  What  routt 
do  they  take  ?  Who  commanded  the  land 
force  ?  Where  did  they  land  ?  Who  com- 
manded the  Americans?  Who  is  detached 
with  an  advanced  force?  What  important 
event  occurs  in  the  first  skirmish  ?  Who 
then  took  command  of  the  British?  WTiat 
manoeuvre  is  made  liy  Colonel  Brooke  ?  What 
is  General  Smith's  determination?  What 
news  came  from  Admiral  Cochrane  ?  Wliat 
did  Brooke  decide  upon?  What  was  the 
condition  of  things  on  the  following  day  ? 


35 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Which  of  the  eastern  states  is  invaded  ? 
With  what  force  ?  What  degrading  condition 
is  imposed  on  the  inhabitants  ?  What  inva- 
sion was  made  in  August?  Under  whom? 
With  what  result?  What  occurred  z.t  Sto- 
nington  ?  What  expedition  is  planned  by  Sir 
George  Pre  vest?  With  what  hopes  ?  What 
proclamation  did  he  issue  ?  What  effect  did 
it  produce  ? 

What  force  was  employed  in  the  expe- 
dition? How  did  it  approach  Plattsburg? 
What  skirmish  took  place  on  the  route " 
What  was  the  situation  of  the  American  army 
at  Plattsburg  ?     What  mistake  did  S.r  Georg* 


515 


PART    IV.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[period  n. 


Provost  make?  How  did  he  dispose  his 
force  ?  What  was  the  strength  of  the  respect- 
ive fleets '  Who  commanded  each  ?  What 
movements  were  executed  during  the  battle  ? 
What  was  the  result?  How  many  were 
killed  on  either  side  ?  What  movement  was 
made  by  the  British  army  ? 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

What  enterprise  was  carried  on  ii.  the  Pfi- 
Cific  Ocean  ?  With  what  success  ?  What 
force  was  sent  out  to  capture  Commodore 
Porter?     What  was  his  first  step ? 

Where  did  he  meet  Commodore  Hillyar  ? 
How  long  was  he  lilockadod  ?  What  does 
he  then  attempt?  How  is  he  baffled?  De- 
scribe the  battle.  How  many  of  the  crew  of 
the  Essex  survive  ?  What  is  done  with  Com- 
modore Porter?  How  is  he  received  in  New 
York  ?  What  othet  naval  engagements  took 
place  in  April?  Describe  the  cruise  of  the 
Wasp  ? 

What  difficulties  surround  the  country? 
Who  is  made  secretary  of  war?  What  con- 
vention is  proposed  by  the  New  England 
states?  What  states  send  delegates?  Where 
does  the  convention  assemble  ?  How  long 
was  it  in  session?  Were  the  deliberations 
public  ?  What  amendments  were  proposed 
to  the  constitution  ?  What  was  demanded  of 
the  United  States  ?  What  did  the  commis- 
sioners learn  on  reaching  Washington  ?  What 
was  the  feeling  of  the  country  in  regard  to 
this  { onvention  ? 


CHAPTER  XVn. 

Where  did  General  Jackson  establish  his 
nead-quarlers  ?  Where  did  the  British  land 
arms  and  ammunition?  Under  whom?  Wliat 
foolish  proclamation  did  he  issue  ?  Descri!)e 
the  situation  of  the  Barratarians,  and  the  gen- 
erous conduct  of  their  commander.  What 
did  General  Jackson  recommend  in  regard  to 
Pensacola  ?  What  did  he  do  ?  On  what  day 
does  he  enter  it?  What  decides  him  to  go  to 
New  Orleans? 

What  is  the  situation  of  New  Orleans  ? 
What  the  spirit  which  prevails  ?  Who  are 
the  distinguished  persons  who  arouse  the  peo- 
ple ?  In  whom  do  they  confide  ?  Who  are 
employed  in  the  defenses  ? 

Who  commanded  the  force  appointed  to 
defend  the  passes?  By  whom  was  it  at- 
tacked ?  What  was  the  result?  What  meas- 
ures were  adopted  to  prevent  intelligence  from 
being  carried  to  the  enemy  ?  What  movement 
is  made  by  General  Kean?  What  is  appre- 
hended by  General  Jackson?  What  meas- 
ures does  he  adopt  to  prevent  it  ?  On  what 
day  did  General  Jackson  attack  the  British  ? 
With  what  result  ?  What  were  the  dispo- 
titions  made  by  General  Jackson  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  city  ? 

What  'uefel  the  Caroline?  When  did  Sir 
Edward  Packenham  arrive  ?  What  was  his 
first  attempt  ?  With  what  loss  ?  What  was 
supposed  to  be  the  feeling  of  the  legislature  ? 
What  measures  did  General  Jackson  adopt  ? 
What  took   place   on  the   fiirst  of  January  ? 

516 


WTiat  reinforcements  arrived  to  General  Jack' 
son  ?  What  to  the  British  army  ?  What  wan 
now  the  relative  strength  of  the  two  armies  ? 
On  what  day  was  the  final  attack  made  ?  De- 
scribe the  battle.  What  British  generals  were 
wounded  or  slain?  What  was  the  loss  on 
either  side?  When  did  the  British  cvicuate 
the  country" 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Where  was  Fort  Bowyer  situated  ?  When 
did  it  surrender?  To  whom  ?  At  what  time 
did  the  news  of  {)eace  reach  America  ?  Was 
the  treaty  ratified?  What  did  it  stipulate? 
What  points  of  difference  remained  unsettled? 
What  loss  occurred  at  the  mouth  of  New  York 
harbor?  What  captures  were  made  by  the 
Americans?  What  occurred  at  the  Dartmoor 
prison?  What  other  war  is  immediately  un 
dertaken  ?  For  what  reasons  ?  How  many 
squadrons  are  fitted  out?  By  whom  com 
manded  ?  What  do  they  accomplish?  What 
example  was  thus  set  to  other  nations? 

What  measures  were  taken  to  secure  the 
friendship  of  the  Indians  ?  To  what  force 
was  the  reg\dar  army  reduced  ?  When  was 
the  National  Bank  established  ?  With  whal 
capital  ?  What  treaties  did  General  Jackson 
form  with  the  Indians  ?  When  was  Indiana 
admitted  into  the  Union?  When  were  manu- 
factories first  undertaken  in  the  United 
States  ?  What  was  their  condition  before 
the  war?  What  during  the  war?  What 
soon  after  ? 

What  did  the  manufacturers  ask  of  con 
gress?  What  was  the  feeling  on  the  subject 
in  congress  ?  When  was  the  colonization 
society  formed?  What  were  its  objects? 
Who  succeeded  Mr.  Madison  ?  On  what  day 
was  he  inaugurated  ?  What  Indian  treaties 
were  made  this  year?  What  state  admitted 
into  the  Union  ?  What  rendezvous  were  es- 
tablished for  smuggling  and  illegal  traffic? 
How  were  they  suppressed? 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

What  was  now  the  object  of  the  adminis 
tration  ?  What  spirit  animated  the  states? 
Which  state  took  the  lead  in  internal  improve- 
ments ?  What  did  New  York  accomplish  ? 
Under  whose  auspices  ?  What  was  the  wish 
of  congress?  Yv'hat  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Mon 
roe  ?     What  the  final  decision  ? 

What  improvement  had  congress  caused  to 
be  made  ?  Was  this  decisive  of  the  right  of 
congress  ?  Why  not  ?  What  states  had  con- 
curred ir  this  improvement  ?  What  is  said 
of  military  roads?  What  arrangement  was 
made  with  Great  Britain  in  regard  to  the  ar- 
mament on  the  lakes  ?  What  measures  were 
taken  to  secure  the  repose  on  the  frontiers  ? 
What  gave  rise  to  the  war  with  the  Seminoles  ? 
What  further  incited  the  Indians?  What  act 
of  hostility  was  committed  on  the  Americans? 
What  rejjaration  was  demanded  ? 

Who  was  ordered  to  the  scene  of  action  ? 
What  measures  did  he  adopt?  Viat  was 
done  with  Arbuthnot  and  Ambrister?  On 
what   charges  were  they   tried?     What  was 


PltT   IT. J 


QUESTIONS. 


[PBKIOO  IB 


their  sentence  ?  Wlier  was  Illinois  admitted 
into  the  Union?  What  commercial  treaties 
were  formed  ?  What  provision  was  made  for 
the  oflicers  of  the  revolution  ?  What  lands 
were  ceded  by  the  Chickasaws  ?  What  means 
were  adopted  to  civilize  the  Indians?  When 
was  Alabama  admitted  into  the  Union ?  What 
other  changes  were  made  among  the  territo- 
ries? 

Whst  measure  was  recommended  by  De 
Witt  Clinton  in  1818?  On  what  was  his 
recommendation  based?  What  action  was 
had  by  the  legislature  ?  What  has  since  been 
done  by  other  states?  What  treaty  was 
'irraed  with  the  Spanish  minister?  What 
were  its  provisions?  By  which  of  the  go- 
vernments was  it  ratified?  Who  succeeded 
Don  Onis  ?  By  what  route  did  he  come  to 
America?  On  his  arrival,  what  did  he  at- 
tempt? What  was  steadily  demanded  by 
Mr.  Adams?  When  was  the  treaty  finally 
ratified? 

PERIOD   III. 

At  what  time  does  this  Period  begin? 
When  does  it  terminate  ?  What  event  marks 
Its  commencement  ?    What  its  conclusion  ? 


CHAPTER  I. 

What  south-western  territory  petitioned  for 
admission  into  the  Union  ?  What  restriction 
was  proposed  in  the  bill  ?  What  other  terri- 
tory asked  to  be  admitted  ?  Were  the  ques- 
tions considered  separately?  How  were  the 
parties  formed  on  this  question  ?  What  were 
the  arguments  against  the  restriction  ?  What 
in  favor  of  it  ?  What  compromise  was  finally 
agreed  to?  Was  Maine  admitted?  What 
again  revived  the  question  of  restriction? 
How  was  the  matter  finally  disposed  of?  In 
what  year  was  Mr.  Monroe  re-elected  ?  What 
was  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  1820  ?  How 
many  were  slaves  ? 

Who  was  appointed  governor  of  Florida? 
Who  chief-justice?  Who  was  the  Spanish 
gorvemor?  What  caused  a  difference  between 
him  and  Governor  Jackson  ?  What  measures 
does  Governor  Jackson  adopt?  What  meas- 
ures against  the  press  ?  How  is  Florida  di- 
vided ?  What  act  did  congress  pass  ?  Was 
Governor  Jackson  re-appointed  ?  What  treaty 
of  commerce  was  made  in  1822  ?  What 
troubled  the  commerce  of  the  West  Indies  ? 
What  was  done  to  protect  it?  Who  was 
appointed  to  comraana  the  American  squad- 
ron? 

To  what  did  President  Monroe  invite  the 
attention  of  the  American  congress  ?  What 
facts  did  he  state  ?  What  action  was  had  ? 
To  what  governments  were  ministers  appoint- 
ed? In  what  year?  What  articles  were 
signed  in  regard  to  the  slave-trade  ?  What 
did  they  authorize?  What  is  said  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  manufactures  from  1816  to  1824? 
On  what  ground  was  the  tariflf  bill  opposed  ? 
On  what  ground  was  it  advocated?  What 
6tct  was  conceded?  What  measure  was 
finally  adopted  ? 


CHAPTER  n. 

By  whom  was  General  La  Fayette  invited 
to  visit  America?  On  what  day  did  he  a> 
rive  in  New  York?  How  was  he  received? 
What  demonstrations  were  made  of  respect 
and  regard  ?  How  was  he  received  at  Bos- 
ton ?  What  other  sections  of  the  country  did 
he  visit? 

What  act  of  congress  testified  the  national 
gratitude  ?  What  route  did  he  take  from 
Washington,  and  what  portions  of  the  country 
did  he  visit?  In  what  ship  did  he  return  to 
France  ?  What  is  said  of  Mr  Monroe's  ad- 
ministration? What  important  events  cha- 
racterized it  ? 

How  many  candidates  appeared  in  the  field 
for  the  presidency  ?  Who  were  they?  Wa» 
either  of  them  chosen  by  the  people  I  What 
does  the  constitution  provide  in  such  aa 
event?  Who  was  elected  by  the  house  of 
representatives  ?  What  course  of  policy  did 
Mr.  Adams  mark  out  in  his  inaugural  address? 
What  treaty  of  commerce  was  formed  in 
1825  ?  What  remarkable  event  occurred  on 
the  4th  of  July,  1826  ?  What  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1827? 

What  is  said  of  free-masonry  ?  What 
caused  the  excitement  against  Morgan? 
What  outrages  were  committed  on  himf 
What  effect  did  they  produce  on  the  public 
mind  ?  What  committee  of  investigation  was 
appointed  by  the  legislature  ?  What  did  they 
report?  To  what  political  organization  did 
the  abduction  of  Morgan  give  rise  ?  What 
is  said  of  •'  making  political  capital  ?" 

What  national  question  again  agitated  the 
public  mind?  Was  a  new  tariff  law  finally 
passed  ?  What  effect  did  it  produce  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country  ?  To  what  par- 
ties did  it  give  rise  in  South  Carolina  ?  To 
what  celebrated  speeches  in  congress  ?  What 
Indian  war  broke  out  in  1832?  What  new 
disease  made  its  appearance  this  year?  Where 
did  it  first  show  itself?  Wliat  was  its  pro- 
gress and  character  ? 

Wlio  was  ordered  to  collect  the  troops  on 
the  sea-coast,  and  conduct  the  Black  Hawk 
war  ?  What  sufferings  afflict  the  army  ?  At 
what  time  is  the  Black  Hawk  war  closed  I 
What  is  done  with  Black  Hawk  and  his  son? 
When  did  the  second  inauguration  of  General 
Jackson  take  place? 

What  convention  was  held  at  Columbi:^ 
South  Carolina,  in  November,  1832  ?  What 
ordinance  did  this  convention  pass?  Waat 
did  it  declare  in  regard  to  the  tariff  laws? 
What  in  regard  to  its  own  officers  ?  What 
did  it  declare  in  regard  to  force  to  be  used  by 
the  United  States  ?  What  to  the  people  ol 
the  United  States  ?  When  and  where  did 
the  friends  of  the  Union  hold  a  conventioii? 
What  manifesto  did  they  issue  ?  When  did 
the  legislature  assemble  at  Columbia  ?  What 
measures  did  General  Hamilton  recommend? 
What  counteracting  measure  was  adopted  by 
President  Jackson  ?  What  was  the  purport 
of  his  proclamation  ?  How  was  this  procla- 
mation received  by  the  public  ? 

Who  succeeded  General  Hamilton  as  gov 

517 


fABT   IT.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[PBRIOD  til 


emor  of  South  Carolina?  What  did  he  re- 
commend ?  Wliat  were  the  feelings  of  the 
Unionists  ?  What  preparations  were  made  by 
President  Jackson  ?  What  was  now  done  by 
the  Nullifiers  ?  What  measure  restored  tran- 
quillity? Who  proposed  and  advocated  it? 
How  was  the  measure  received  by  the  coun- 
try? 


CHAPTER  HI. 

What  distinguished  person  died  on  the  20th 
o(  May,  1833?  What  difficulties  attended 
the  condition  of  the  Indian  tribes?  Why 
could  they  not  exist  in  the  vicinity  of  civiliza- 
tion ?  What  were  General  Jackson's  opinions 
in  regard  to  them  ?  What  does  he  propose  to 
congress  ?  What  does  he  declare  in  regard  to 
the  emigration  ?  How  was  the  plan  received 
by  congress  ?  What  tribes  remove  ?  In  what 
years?  What  agreement  did  the  United 
States  make  with  Georgia  in  1802?  Had  the 
government  fulfilled  its  obligations?  What 
became  of  the  Indians  who  emigrated  ?  What 
■was  the  feeling  of  those  who  remained  ? 

What  were  some  of  the  results  of  the  in- 
crease of  population  ?  What  were  the  evils 
of  the  proximity  of  the  Indians  ?  What  did 
Georgia  finally  decide  upon  ?  How  did  they 
proceed?  What  restrained  President  Jack- 
son ?  What  was  done  in  regard  to  the  mis- 
sionaries ?  How  were  the  Cherokees  finally 
removed  ^ 

CHAPTER  IV.  • 

With  what  tribes  of  Indians  was  the  great- 
est difficulty  experienced  ?  What  treaty  had 
been  made  with  the  Seminoles  ?  What  did 
they  claim  under  this  treaty  ?  What  treaty 
was  made  by  Colonel  Gadsden?  What  did 
this  treaty  provide  ?  What  did  the  Indians, 
sent  out  for  examination,  do  ?  How  was  this 
received  by  the  nation  ?  How  soon  were  the 
Indians  to  remove?  On  what  did  General 
Jackson  decide  ?  Who  was  appointed  agent 
and  sent  out  to  Florida  ?  What  did  he  soon 
discover  ?  What  4ecision  was  made  by  the 
war  department  ? 

What  talk  was  held  with  the  Indians? 
How  did  they  appear  disposed  ?  Were  they 
sincere  ?  What  did  General  Clinch  advise  ? 
What  was  the  answer?  Do  the  Indians  ac- 
knowledge the  treaty  of  Payne's  Landing? 
Who  was  their  principal  chief?  To  what 
did  he  owe  his  elevation  ?  What  was  his  ap- 
pearance and  character  ?  What  occurred  at 
the  conference  with  General  Thompson? 
How  did  he  afterwards  deport  himself?  How 
did  the  opposition  of  the  Indians  first  show 
Itself?  What  effect  had  this  on  the  friendly 
Indians?  What  measures  were  adopted  by 
the  government  ? 

What  expedition  was  fitted  out  at  Tampa 
Bay?  What  officers  belonged  to  the  expe- 
dition ?  Of  how  many  men  was  it  composed  ? 
How  far  from  Tampa  Bay  before  they  en- 
countered the  Indians  ?  Describe  the  scene 
•which  occurred.  After  the  first  attack,  what 
vas  to  have  been  done  by  Osceola?  What 
took  place  in  the  afternoon  ?    Who  escaped 

518 


to  tell  the  story  ?  By  what  means  ?  What 
sensation  did  the  battle  produce  ?  What  did 
the  Seminoles  threaten  ? 

Where  were  the  head-quarters  of  General 
Clinch  ?  What  force  had  he  ?  What  marcb 
does  he  undertake  ?  What  battle  ensued  ^ 
How  was  it  brought  on?  Who  refused  to 
engage  in  it?  What  measures  did  General 
Clinch  adopt  after  the  battle  ?  Who  was  now 
appointed  to  the  chief  command  ?  What  wat 
the  condition  of  the  country?  How  is  it 
described  in  a  letter  from  St.  Augustine  ? 

In  what  service  did  General  Scott  first  em- 
ploy the  army?  Wliat  enterprise  is  under 
taken  by  General  Gaines  ?  Describe  the  route 
which  he  took,  and  the  battle  which  he  fought. 
To  what  strait  is  he  reduced  ?  By  whom  re- 
lieved ?  In  what  way  does  Osceola  deceive 
General  Gaines?  Wliat  did  he  accomplish 
by  this  manoeuvre  ?  When  does  General 
Scott  leave  the  command?  Who  succeeds 
him? 

Who  is  appointed  to  the  permanent  com- 
mand ?  How  is  Osceola  captured  ?  Where 
does  he  die?  When?  What  did  General 
Jesup  now  suppose  ?  What  orders  does  he 
soon  issue  to  Colonel  Taylor?  Through 
what  country  do  they  pass  ?  Where  did  they 
meet  the  Indians?  What  distinguished  offi- 
cer fell  in  the  engagement  ?  What  were  his 
last  words  ?  What  was  the  result  of  the  bat 
tie  ?    What  is  said  of  the  service  in  Florida? 

Who  finally  takes  command  to  close  the 
war  ?  On  what  occasion  is  General  Scott 
sent  to  the  Creeks  ?  What  had  been  done  by 
Osceola  ?  At  what  time  did  they  begin  hos- 
tilities ?  What  acts  of  outrage  do  they  per 
petrate?  By  whom  are  they  finally  subdued? 
What  striking  proofs  are  furnished  of  their 
reluctance  to  surrender  to  the  white  man? 
What  treaty  was  negotiated  by  Mr.  Rives  in 
1831  ?  Who  required  its  punctual  fulfillment  ? 
When  was  Arkansas  made  a  state  ? 

When  was  Michigan  admitted  ?  What  num- 
ber did  this  make?  How  does  it  compare 
with  the  original  number  ?  What  opinions 
are  entertained  in  regard  to  President  Jack- 
son's administration?  To  what  do  his  oi>- 
ponents  trace  the  causes  of  distress?  Why  ? 
What  bill  does  he  veto  ?  What  did  he  next 
do  in  regard  to  the  deposits  in  the  United 
States  Bank  ?  Where  was  the  money  after- 
wards placed  ?  Where  was  the  principal  op- 
position made  to  these  measures  ?  Who  were 
the  leaders  of  the  different  parties  ? 

What  resolutions  were  introduced  into  the 
senate  by  Mr.  Clay?  What  subsequent  de- 
cision was  made  on  them  ?  In  what  year  ? 
Who  succeeded  President  Jackson?  What 
is  said  of  Mr.  Van  Buren  as  vice-president  ? 
What  infatuation  seized  the  public  mind  from 
1835  to  1837?  What  petition  was  made  to 
Mr.  Van  Buren?  How  did  he  receive  it? 
What  was  the  specie  circular?  How  did  it 
operate  ?     "NN'liat  effects  were  produced  by  it? 

What  effect  had  these  measures  on  the  pub- 
lic funds  ?  How  did  the  president  attempt  to 
repair  them?  What  measures  did  he  recom- 
mend to  congrwi^  ^    How  was  it  received  by 


f  ART  IV. 


aUESTIONS. 


[rERion  III 


the  people  ?    What  other  expedients  did  the  | 
president  recommend?    What  was  contended; 
for  by  the  admiaistnuion  as  necessiiry  to  ensure  i 
wonted  prosperity  .'      What  was   one  of   the 
causes  of  pecuniary   distress   in    New  York  ?  I 
When  did  the  fire  occur?     What  number  of 
buildings  and  how  nmch  property  were  con- 
sumed ?    At  what  time  did  the  banks  resume 
specie  payments? 

What  important  movement  took  place  in 
Canada?  Wluit  force  was  collected  at  Navy 
Island?  Describe  the  attack  on  the  Caroline. 
What  was  done  by  the  president  and  the  gov- 
ernor of  New  York?  Who  was  tried  for  the 
murder  of  Durfee,  and  with  what  result? 
What  was  the  population  of  the  United  States 
in  1&40?  Who  was  elected  president  of  the 
United  States?  When  was  he  inaugurated? 
How  long  did  he  survive?  Who  succeeded  to 
the  presidency  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 

What  was  the  exciting  topic  at  this  time  ? 
What  were  the  opinions  of  the  Whig  party  ? 
What  reasons  did  they  assign  for  them  ?  What 
views  did  the  Democratic  party  take  ?  What 
was  the  object  of  General  Harrison's  procla- 
mation ?  Why  did  he  issue  it  ?  When  was 
the  Sub-Treasury  law  repealed  ?  What  bill 
did  the  House  of  Representatives  pass?  How 
did  Mr.  Tyler  act  upon  it  ?  What  other  bill 
was  then  passed  ?  What  was  again  Mr.  Ty- 
ler's course  ?    What  did  the  cabinet  do  ? 

What  was  the  main  feature  of  the  Bankrupt 
Law?  What  was  the  cause  of  repudiation? 
How  was  it  regarded  by  foreigners?  From 
what  state  did  the  old  United  States'  Bank  re- 
ceive a  charter?  Who  was  the  president  of 
this  bank?  What  effects  did  its  failure  pro- 
duce ?  What  cause  of  dispute  existed  between 
the  United  States  and  England?  What  results 
were  apprehended  ?  How  was  the  question 
finally  settled? 

When  did  the  Philadelphia  riots  occur  ? 
From  what  causes  did  they  spring?  Give  an 
account  of  the  first  outbreak.  How  many  days 
did  the  riots  continue  ?  What  property  was 
destroyed?  How  many  persons  were  killed 
and  wounded?  When  were  the  riots  re- 
newed ?  What  party  appeared  in  Rhode  Is- 
land ?  What  did  they  do?  What  slate  build- 
ing did  they  capture  ?  How  did  their  conflict 
with  the  state  authorities  result  ?  What  was 
done  with  Mr.  Dorr?  What  accident  happen- 
ed on  board  the  Princeton  ?  What  distinguished 
persons  were  killed  ? 

How  had  the  large  manors  in  New  York 
been  granted?  Which  was  the  most  exten- 
sive ?  How  were  they  divided  ?  On  what  con- 
ditions were  the  farms  leased  ?  How  did  these 
come  to  be  regarded  by  the  tenants?  What 
first  occasioned  resistance  on  their  part  ? 
When  and  where  did  serious  disturbances 
breakout?  How  were  the  rioters  disguised? 
Give  an  account  of  some  of  their  acts.  What 
murder  was  committed?  Who  was  elected 
governor  ?  What  measures  did  he  take  ?  What 
was  done  with  the  murderers  of  Steele  ? 

What  course  did  Governor  Young  pursue 
with  regard  to  the  condemned  Anti-Renters? 
What  two  states  were  admitted  into  the  Union  ? 
When  ?  Who  was  the  founder  of  Mormonisrn  ? 
What  evidence  did  he  give  of  divine  authority  ? 
What  is  said  of  his  doctrines  ?  To  what  state 
did  the  Mormons  migrate?  What  were  their 
numbers  ?  By  whom  were  they  expelled  ?  For 
what  reasons  ?  Where  did  they  then  go  ?  De- 
scribe their  city.  What  occurred  in  their  neigh- 
borhood ?  How  was  their  leader  killed  ?  Where 
are  they  now  settled  f 


CHAPTER  VI. 

What  18  the  subject  of  this  chapter  ?  Who 
discovered  Texas?  When?  What  nation  in 
consecpience  claimed  the  country  ?  Bv  whora 
were  they  opposed  ?  What  was  the  first  set- 
tlement? VV'hat  seems  to  have  been  the  wish 
of  the  Mexican  government  ?  What  may  be 
considered  the  first  cause  of  the  Mexican  war  ? 
How  was  Mexico  governed  by  the  Spanish 
k.ngs?  What  cau.sed  them  to  relax  their  op- 
pression."*? When  did  the  first  revolution  be- 
gin >  Which  party  was  successful  ?  Who 
was  the  leader  in  the  second  revolution  ?  What 
was  his  fate  ? 

What  distinguished  person  next  appeared? 
What  aspect  did  he  give  to  the  new  govern- 
ment? What  arrangement  had  the  United 
States  made  with  Spain?  Where  did  Stephen 
Austin  settle  with  his  colony  ?  On  what  con- 
dition did  the  Mexican  government  admit  emi- 
grants into  Texas?  Who  was  the  leader  o/ 
American  colonization  there?  What  feelings 
had  the  Mexican  clergy  respecting  the  erni 
grants?  Why  was  this  one  of  the  causes  of 
our  Mexican  war?  What  did  the  Mexican? 
believe  of  the  Americans  ? 

With  what  province  was  Texas  united ' 
What  were  the  eflfects  of  this  union?  What 
was  the  object  of  Au.stin's  mission  ?  What 
was  its  result?  What  did  Santa  Anna  do' 
Whom  send  into  Texas  ?  What  was  the  ob 
ject  of  the  Texans  in  arming  at  this  time? 
What  battle  was  fought  ?  What  fortresses 
were  occupied  by  the  Mexicans  ?  Which  ol 
these  did  the  Texans  first  capture  ?  Which 
next  ?     With  what  result  ? 

How  large  was  the  garrison  at  the  Alamo  ? 
By  whom  was  it  attacked  ?  When  did  the 
Texans  declare  independence  ?  Who  com- 
manded at  Goliad  ?  On  what  condition  did  he 
surrender?  Give  an  account  of  the  massacre. 
What  followed,  at  length,  from  this?  What 
great  battle  was  next  fought  ?  Who  was  taken 
prisoner  ?  What  treaty  did  he  make  ?  Was 
this  treaty  allowed  by  Mexico  ?  What  powers 
acknowledged  the  independence  of  Texas  ? 
What  expedition  was  sent  out  in  1841  ?  What 
happened  to  it  ? 

Whose  favor  did  Santa  Anna  gain  ?  How 
did  he  keep  his  promises  ?  What  place  did  the 
Texans  attack?  Give  an  account  of  the  con- 
flict and  the  treatment  of  the  prisoners.  What 
presidents  objected  to  the  admission  of  Texas? 
On  what  grounds?  By  whom  was  the  ques- 
tion revived?  How  did  the  presidential  elec- 
tion of  1844  result  ?  Who  negotiated  the  treaty 
admitting  Texas  ?  What  fears  had  the  Ameri- 
can Secretary  of  State  ? 

What  resolution  did  congress  pass?  On 
what  conditions  was  Texas  admitted  ?  What 
course  did  the  Mexican  minister  take  ?  What 
had  been  the  conduct  of  Mexico  towards  the 
United  States  ?  What  treaties  were  made  ? 
What  American  commander  was  sent  into 
Texas?  Where  did  he  encamp?  What  in- 
structions were  given  him  ?  Who  was  now 
president  of  Mexico  ?  What  measures  did  he 
take  to  prevent  war  ? 

What  answer  was  given  to  Mr.  Slidell  ? 
Who  displaced  Herrera  ?  What  treaty  was 
ratified  by  the  Senate  ?  What  was  claimed  by 
America  and  England  in  Oregon  ?  On  what 
grounds  did  the  Americans  claim  the  Columbia 
river?  What  is  remarkable  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains?  What  act  did  Congress  pass? 
How  was  the  difliculty  with  England  settled  ? 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Where  was  General  Taylor  ordered  1   WIi«t 

519 


rART  IV. J 


aUESTIONS. 


[period  III 


was  Mr.  Slidell's  opinion  ?  What  the  opinion 
of  many  Americans  ?  What  had  Congress  left 
undefined?  What  might  the  president  infer 
from  this  ?  When  did  Gen.  Taylor  leave  Cor- 
Dus  Christi  1  When  arrive  at  Point  Isabel  ? 
Wiiom  did  he  leave  here  1  For  what  object  ? 
To  what  point  did  he  now  march?  Where 
build  a  fort  ? 

When  did  the  Mexican  government  declare 
war?  Was  this  before  or  after  the  first  bat- 
.les?  Who  commanded  at  Matamoras  ?  De- 
icribe  the  attack  on  Thornton's  command. 
What  eflfect  had  Taylor's  despatch  on  the  na- 
tion ?  What  declaration  did  the  president 
make  ?    How  did  Congress  respond  ■? 

What  plan  of  indemnity  did  the  president 
decide  upon  ?  What  is  said  of  the  extent  of 
the  plan  of  campaign  1  To  what  place  were 
ships  to  be  sent  ?  What  was  the  destination  of 
the  "  Army  of  the  West  ?"  Of  the  "  Army  of  the 
Centre  ?"  What  was  the  title  of  Gen.  Taylor's 
force  ?  To  whom  did  he  send  for  aid  ?  What 
was  the  purpose  of  Arista's  proclamation  ?  Of 
Gen.  Taylor's  ?  What  intelligence  did  Taylor 
receive  ?  Who  brought  it  ?  Give  an  account 
of  his  adventures. 

What  course  was  adopted  by  Taylor?  W^hat 
place  did  the  Mexicans  attack  ?  What  was 
Gen.  Taylor's  object  in  marching  to  Point 
Isabel  ?  On  returning,  how  did  he  find  the 
Mexicans  posted  to  oppose  him  ?  How  did  he 
dispose  his  troops  for  the  battle  ?  What  was 
the  result  of  the  conflict  ?  What  distinguishecl 
officer  was  killed?  Where  did  the  Mexicans 
next  take  their  position  ?  Describe  the  ground. 
What  gallant  action  did  May's  dragoons  per- 
form ?  Whom  take  prisoner  ?  What  valuable 
captures  did  the  Americans  make  ?  What 
name  was  given  to  the  fort  opposite  Mata- 
moras ?     Why  ? 

How  were  the  news  of  the  victories  received 
in  the  United  States  ?  What  did  Arista  now 
propose  ?  Of  what  place  did  Taylor  take  pos- 
session ?  What  offer  did  the  president  make 
to  Mexico  ?  To  what  body  was  it  referred  ? 
In  what  way  was  Taylor  embarrassed  ?  What 
did  the  War  Department  order  ?  What  was 
done  at  Camargo?  What  was  the  strength  of 
the  first  division  of  the  army  ?  When  did  it 
march?  Describe  the  country  around  Mon- 
terey. Of  what  was  the  American  force 
composed?  What  measures  were  taken  to 
cut  off  the  Mexican  supplies  ?  Who  com- 
manded the  attack  on  the  new  road  thus 
opened  ?  What  places  were  first  carried  ?  De- 
scribe the  attack  on  the  Bishop's  palace. 
What  attack  had  Taylor  directed  ?  How  were 
the  Mexicans  defended  ?  What  place  did  the 
Americans  succeed  in  reaching?  What  did 
Ampudia  now  propose  ?  What  course  did 
Taylor  decide  upon  ?  For  what  reasons  T 
What  action  did  the  president  take  in  the  case  ? 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

To  what  distinguished  officer  was  assigned 
*he  duty  of  mustering  the  volunteers  ?  What 
route  did  he  take  ?  How  many  recruits  were 
sent  to  Gen.  Taylor  ?  Where  were  those  des- 
tined for  the  "  army  of  the  centre"  concentra- 
ted ?  What  is  said  of  Gen.  Wool's  discipline  ? 
What  was  his  destination?  His  force?  At 
what  place  did  he  cross  the  Rio  Grande  ? 

Describe  the  difficulties  of  the  march.  How 
was  the  army  regarded  by  some  of  the  inhabi- 
tants? By  others?  Of  what  province  was 
Monclova  the  capital  ?  What  tidings  did  Gen. 
Wool  receive  tliere  ?  What  was  Gen.  Tay- 
lor's opinion  ?  His  advice  to  Gen.  Wool  ?  How 
was  the  army  received  at  Parras  ? 

520 


To  what  place  did  General  Taylor  go  1  Who 
captured  Tampico  ?  What  general  was  left  at 
Monterey  ?  What  at  Saltillo  ?  Who  was  now 
ruler  in  Mexico  1  What  information  was  re- 
ceived by  Gen.  Worth  1  What  message  did  he 
send  to  Gen.  Wool  1  At  what  place  did  'Wool's 
army  arrive  1  What  new  plan  of  campaign 
was  communicated  to  Gen.  Taylor?  What 
able  officer  was  to  lake  the  command  ?  What 
troops  were  withdrawn  from  Taylor  1  How 
were  Scott's  plans  made  known  to  Santa 
Anna?  (See  side  note.)  What  was  Taylor's 
force  ?  What  was  the  position  of  the  field  of 
Buena  Vista  1  What  party  had  been  captured 
by  Minon  7  On  what  day  did  the  battle  begin  t 
Describe  the  positions  of  the  Americans. 

When  was  the  first  attack  made  1  The  at« 
tack  on  Washington's  battery  ?  On  O'Brien's 
battery  and  the  Indiana  regiment  1  What 
caused  the  capture  of  one  of  O'Brien's  gunsi 
Describe  the  attack  of  the  Mississippians.  Bv 
what  batteries  were  they  aided  ? 

On  what  service  was  Col.  May  dispatched  7 
What  gallant  action  did  the  Mississippi  regi' 
ment  again  perform  ?  W^hat  was  the  object  o/ 
Santa  Anna's  flag  of  truce  ?  What  warlike 
movements  did  he  make  while  secured  by  this 
flag  7  Against  what  regiments  was  the  attack 
now  directed  1  What  distinguished  officers 
were  killed  1 

How  was  the  night  after  the  battle  spent  t 
What  reinforcements  made  a  remarkable 
march  ?  What  was  discovered  in  the  morn- 
ing ?  W^hat  measures  had  Santa  Anna  taken  1 
What  cruelty  was  committed  on  a  wagon- 
train  1  Who  defeated  Gen.  Minon  1  Who 
Gen.  Urrea  7  What  was  the  effect  of  the  bat- 
tle of  Buena  Vista?  Who  was  left  in  com 
mand  on  Taylor's  return  home  7 


CHAPTER  IX. 

What  fleet  lay  off  California  7  W^hat  direc 
tions  were  given  to  its  commander?  What 
places  were  taken  by  Commodore  Sloat  7  What 
army  officer  had  arrived  at  St.  John  7  What 
had  been  his  employment  ?  What  was  his 
character  ?  How  did  the  Spanish  governor  act 
towards  him  7  What  was  Fremont's  course  ? 
What  did  De  Castro  attempt  7  Who  was  ap- 
pointed governor  of  California  7  Who  left  in 
command  of  the  fleet  ? 

What  was  the  object  of  the  "  Army  of  the 
West  7"  Under  whose  command  was  it  placed  1 
Of  what  different  bodies  was  it  composed  f 
Where  did  the  troops  assemble  7  Why  was 
the  choice  of  officers  regarded  as  important  1 
Who  were  elected  7  By  whom  were  the  vol- 
unteers instructed  ?  When  did  the  army  begin 
its  march  7  What  rivers  cross,  and  at  what 
place  arrive  7 

Describe  the  prairies  over  which  the  troops 
moved.  The  hardships  of  the  soldiers.  The 
fright  of  their  horses.  What  tidings  did  Kearny 
receive  7  Of  what  place  did  he  take  posses- 
sion 7  How  long  a  march  had  the  army  ac« 
complished  7  In  what  time  ?  What  was 
Kearny's  proclamation  7  What  oath  was  taken  1 
What  question  was  debated  at  Washington  7 

Where  did  Kearny  now  go  7  Who  was  left 
governor  of  New  Mexico  7  What  orders  were 
given  to  Col.  Doniphan  7  Mention  Kearny's 
route  to  the  Pacific.  How  many  of  the  enemy 
did  he  encounter  7  At  what  "place  7  What 
was  his  loss  7  What  generous  order  did  ho 
give  7  Of  what  force  did  he  now  take  com- 
mand 7  Where  meet  the  enemy  7  What  title 
did  he  assume  7  By  whom  was  he  reinforced  1 
Describe  his  route  homeward.  By  whom 
was  he  accompanied?  What  remarkable 
journeys  had  he  performed  ?    In  what  time  ? 


tXKT  IT.) 


aUESTIONS. 


[period  iil 


CHAPTER  X. 

Who  arrived  at  Santa  Fc  ?  At  what  time  ? 
What  order  did  Doniphan  receive  1  What  In- 
dians had  shown  hostile  dispositions  ?  Apainst 
vhom  ?  How  did  Doniphan  divide  his  torce  ! 
,Vhat  was  the  objec  t  of  Walton's  delachinenl  7 
Describe  the  sufferings  of  Doniphan's  com- 
mand. 

How  were  Captain  Raid  and  his  party  re- 
ceived by  the  Kavajos  ?  What  treaty  was 
made  with  them  1  In  what  direction  did  Doni- 
phan move  ?  What  desert  cross  t  Where  en- 
counter the  Mexicans  ?  What  message  did 
tliey  send  ?  What  was  the  result  of  the  con- 
flict! 

What  reinforcements  reached  the  expedi 
Hon  ?  At  what  place  T  What  news  did  they 
receive  from  Chihuahua  ?  What  desert  cross  ? 
How  were  their  sufferings  from  thirst  relieved? 
By  what  force  was  Doniphan  opposed  .'  Wiiere 
was  it  stationed  ?  Describe  the  action.  What 
distinguished  persons  commanded  the  l\Iexi- 
cans?  When  did  Doniphan  enter  Chihuahua? 
Who  preceded  hira  in  order  to  take  posses- 
sion? How  long  did  the  regiment  remain  here  7 
By  what  route  did  they  return  home  7 

What  conspiracy  was  organized  in  New 
Mexico  7  At  what  places  did  it  break  out  ? 
What  course  did  Col.  Price  pursue  on  receiv- 
ing the  tidings  7  At  what  places  did  he  en- 
counter the  enemy?  What  was  the  loss  on 
both  sides?  What  Indians  showed  a  hostile 
disposition?  What  measures  did  the  govern- 
ment adopt  7     Where  send  reinforcements  7 


CHAPTER  XL 

What  is  the  subject  of  this  chapter?  What 
expedition  was  resolved  upon  ?  Who  was 
selected  to  command  it  7  What  direction  did 
he  receive  ?  Why  was  this  necessary  7  What 
was  Santa  Anna's  force  7  At  v.hat  place  was 
his  army  7  What  course  might  he  have  taken  7 
What  plan  did  he  actually  adopt  7  What  was 
done  by  Gen.  Jesup  ?  How  many  transports 
were  employed  ?  Where  was  the  general 
rendezvous  7  W^hen  was  the  army  landed  at 
Vera  Cruz?  Who  was  the  American  chief 
engineer?  When  did  the  bombardment  com- 
mence 7  The  surrender  take  place  ?  What 
was  the  American  loss  in  officers  7    In  men  7 

Who  succeeded  Commodore  Conner?  What 
'aces  were  captured  7  What  policy  did  our 
overnment  now  adopt  ?  What  officers  were 
appointed  ?  Who  commanded  the  advance  of 
Scott's  army  7  At  what  place  was  the  general 
encampment  7  How  was  Santa  Anna  sta- 
tioned 7  What  did  Scott's  reconnaissance 
show  ?  How  was  this  difficulty  overcome  ? 
What  remarkable  order  did  General  Scott 
publish? 

What  distinguished  officers  led  the  attack  7 
What  was  the  Mexican  loss  7  What  did 
Scott's  orders  direct  7  When  was  Jalapa  en- 
tered 7  What  strong  fortress  was  captured  ? 
By  whom  7  What  number  of  prisoners  were 
captured  at  Cerro  Gordo  7  When  was  Puebla 
entered  7  What  were  the  Mexican  opinions  of 
the  American  army  7 


CHAPTER  XII. 
Who  was  sent  by  the  president  as  peace 
commissioner  7  Was  he  successful  7  What 
was  the  condition  of  the  army  ?  What  law 
was  passed  by  Congress  7  When  did  the  army 
leave  Puebla  ?  What  was  its  strength  ?  What 
force  was  left  behind  ?  How  did  the  army 
move  t  What  mountains  ascend  ?  What  mag- 
Bificent  prosj  set  stretched  before  them  '    To 


what  place  did  the  advance  division  proceed  1 
What  was  the  condition  of  the  ground  on 
which  Mexico  was  built?  How  was  the  city 
approached  ?  What  was  tlie  result  of  the 
reconnaissance  7  What  did  General  Scott  say 
of  El  Pinon  ? 

Over  what  ground  was  a  new  road  madel 
What  lakes  were  turned?  What  two  fortifica- 
tions were  in  front  ?  In  what  direction  was  a 
road  now  made  ?  With  w  hat  object  ?  What 
was  the  position  of  Contreras?  Its  strength* 
What  divisions  attacked  it  7  What  order  waa 
given  7  What  village  captured?  What  descrip- 
tion of  night  succeeded? 

What  did  Persifor  P.  !-'mith  propose  7  Who 
brought  tidings  to  General  Scott  ?  What  aid 
did  he  send  7  How  was  the  march  conducted  in 
the  storm  and  darkness  7  Describe  the  assault. 
What  number  of  prisoners  and  guns  were 
taken?  What  particular  pieces  of  artillery? 
To  w  hat  place  did  the  army  now  move  ?  What 
important  capture  had  Worth  made?  What 
was  General  Shields'  position  and  duties? 
What  point  did  Worth  attack  ?  What  Twiggs  ? 
By  whom  were  the  Mexicans  pursued  ?  How 
far? 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

What  might  General  Scott  now  have  done  ? 
Give  his  reasons.  At  what  place  were  ne- 
gotiations for  peace  carried  on  7  What  did 
the  Mexican  government  demand  7  How  did 
they  violate  the  armistice  ?  In  w  hat  direc- 
tion was  Mexico  from  the  American  head- 
quarters T  Chapultepec  ?  How  were  the  King's 
Mills  situated?  (  asa  Mata?  What  was  the 
strength  of  the  Mexican  army  ? 

To  whom  was  assigned  the  direction  of  the 
attack  on  Molinos  del  Rey?  How  did  the 
enemy  conceal  his  strength  ?  Who  assaulted 
the  centre  of  his  defences  7  What  loss  did  the 
Americans  sustain  here  7  What  was  done 
with  the  enemy's  works  ?  What  is  the  actual 
position  of  the  "  Halls  of  the  Montezumas  ?" 
For  what  was  it  now  used  7  What  was  the 
first  measure  of  assault  7  When  did  the  bat- 
tle begin  7  What  was  the  signal  of  attack? 
By  what  divisions  was  it  conducted  7  Where 
did  each  operate  7  How  were  they  aided  by 
the  batteries  1  What  was  Worth's  position  ? 
What  force  did  he  defeat  1  In  what  direction 
pursue  the  retreat?  What  orders  were  given 
to  (Jeneral  Quitman  ? 

What  division  did  Scott  accompany  7  Why 
return  to  (  hapultepec  ?  What  had  Quitman's 
division  effected  7  What  did  the  Mexicans 
now  desire  7  What  answer  did  General  Scott 
return  ?  When  was  the  American  flag  hoisted 
over  th«  National  Palace?  When  did  Scott 
appear  on  the  Grand  Plaza  7  How  was  he  re- 
ceived by  the  troops  7  What  troubles  did  the 
army  encounter  in  the  city  ?  What  did  Scott's 
orders  enjoin  ?  What  proclamation  was  made 
on  the  16th  ?    On  the  19th  ? 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

What  was  the  American  force  at  the  entry 
into  the  capital?  What  probably  would  nave 
been  the  result  had  Scott's  army  been  de- 
feated? What  was  now  the  desire  of  the 
Americans  ? 

Where  was  Colonel  Childs  besieged  7  What 
force  had  lie  ?  By  whom  was  Santa  Anna  en- 
countered 7  What  battle  did  General  Lane 
again  fight  ?  What  became  of  Santa  Anna  1 
Who  became  president  of  Mexico?  What  did 
he  do  1  What  did  the  congress  appoint  ? 
Where  was  the   treaty  signed  7    By  whom  t 

521 


PAR  r  ir.J 


QUESTIONS. 


[PERIOD  IV 


What  course  did  the  United  States  Senate 
adopt?  By  what  body  was  the  treaty  finally 
ratified  ?  Give  an  account  of  the  death  of  Ex- 
President  Adams. 

Where  did  General  Price  encounter  a  Mexi- 
can force  1  By  whom  was  peace  proclaimed 
at  Mexico?  What  was  the  first  stipulation  of 
the  treaty?  What  was  the  new  boundary 
line  ?  What  was  agreed  to  with  regard  to  the 
Colorado  river?  The  Gila?  What  choice 
was  left  to  Mexicans  living  in  the  ceded  ter- 
ritory ?  What  did  the  United  States  promise 
with  regard  to  the  Indians  ?  What  price  agree 
to  pay  for  the  new  territory  ?  How  was  it  to 
be  paid  ?  What  state  was  admitted  into  the 
Union  ?  When  ?  When  was  peace  proclaimed 
by  President  Polk  ? 

What  can  you  say  of  the  return  of  the  army? 
Of  the  loss  of  life  in  the  war?  How  should 
the  value  of  money  be  estimated  1  What  did 
it  cost  to  send  food  to  Ireland  ?  What  for  the 
Mexican  war  ?  At  what  time  should  a  nation 
endeavor  to  promote  universal  peace?  Who 
should  be  leaders  in  such  a  cause  ?  How  has 
our  country  acted  towards  Mexico  ?  Was 
such  a  course  necessary  ?  What  method  is 
recommended  as  a  means  of  obtaining  uni- 
versal PEACE  ? 

PERIOD    IV. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Why  is  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo  an 
important  epoch  1  What  barbarity  led  the 
way  to  the  petition  of  Oregon  for  a  terri- 
torial government?  What  dangerous  collision 
of  opinions  followed  ?  When,  and  under  what 
restriction  was  Oregon  made  a  territory  1 
When,  and  by  whom  was  American  Califor- 
nia discovered?  How  did  the  English  obtain 
their  right  of  discovery  7  How  lose  it  7  How- 
did  the  Spaniards  gain  the  right  of  discovery 
to  the  country?  When  and  where  was  the 
first  permanent  settlement?  Describe  the 
missions.  Why  was  the  established  order  of 
things  not  favorable  to  the  increase  of  the 
country  7  What  was  the  population  in  1840  ? 
When  Mexico  became  a  republic,  what  was 
the  course  of  California? 

When  did  the  country  between  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  the  Pacific  begin  to  be  known, 
and  what  was  the  progress  of  discovery  and 
occupation,  on  the  part  of  Americans,  up  to 
1840?  What  was  sent  out  in  1841  by  the  Am. 
gov.,  and  with  what  instructions  ?     What  re- 

Sort  was  made  by  Capt.  Wilkes  ?     Describe 
ohn  C.  Fremont's  first  tour  of  exploration. 
His  second. 


CHAPTER  II. 
What  was  Mr.  Polk's  position  in  regard  to 
war  when  he  came  into  the  presidency  7  What 
did  he  doubtless  intend  7  What  project  was 
on  foot,  and  by  what  agency  was  it  to  be  ef- 
fected 7  What  steps  w  ere  taken  on  the  part 
of  Macnamara  ?  What  privileges  gained  from 
Mexico?  What  action  was  expected  from 
Californians,  and  how  was  it  to  be  susiained 
by  the  British?  By  what  means  was  this  plot 
counterworked  ?  What  is  said  concerning  the 
sudden  up  springing  of  a  great  commercial 
power  on  the  Pacific?  WMiat  remarkable  co- 
incidence of  events  seems  in  this  case  to  point 
out  the  hand  of  Providence  7  When,  in  1848, 
California  was  added  to  this  Republic,  what 
just  grounds  for  apprehension  had  the  Ameri- 
can patriot  ?  What  wonderful  means  occurred 
in  Providence  to  meet  this  difficulty  ?  When, 
and  under  what  circumstances  was  the  first 
discovery  of  gold  ma  ie  in  California  ?    What 

622 


consequences  followed  when  these  facts  were 
reported  from  unquestionable  sources  ? 


CHAPTER  III. 

What  is  said  of  Minesota  7  W^ho  were  in- 
augurated on  the  4th  of  March,  1849?  What 
new  department  was  formed  ?  What  officers 
are  noticed?  What  close  had  the  30th/ Con- 
gress, and  from  what  cause  7  When  and  where 
was  an  opinion  that  slavery  is,  under  all  cir- 
cumstances, a  sin,  received  as  a  matter  of 
conscience  ?  What  had  been  the  universal 
opinion  of  the  wise  and  good  in  this  country 
before  ?  By  whom  was  the  first  effort  made 
to  abolish  the  slave-trade  7  What  was  done 
by  the  Continental  Congress  in  1787  7  What 
sudden  change  in  her  political  front  was  made 
by  England?  What  anomaly  is  presented  by 
the  action  of  the  Holy  Alliance  in  respect  to 
slavery  ?  How  was  the  opinion  thus  promul- 
gated, that  African  slavery  was  the  great  sin 
of  the  world,  likely  to  affect  the  American 
Republic  ?  Are  there  any  reasons  for  suppos- 
ing that  the  absolutists  of  Europe  might,  with 
design,  seek  to  bring  political  rum  upon  Amer- 
ica? Had  England,  shortly  before  this  time, 
sought  to  divide  the  Republic  ?  What  change 
may  be  noticed  in  the  operations  of  politicians 
or  statesmen?  How  was  the  promulgated 
opinion  received,  and  what  was  its  tendency? 
In  regard  to  the  influence  of  books,  how  has 
the  want  of  an  international  copyright  law- 
operated?  When  the  fevered  state  of  the 
country  on  the  slavery  question  threatened  a 
crisis,  what  was  the  course  of  events  ?  What 
was  the  view  taken  by  Mr.  Calhoun  and  his 
party?  What  of  the  majority  of  the  South? 
What  is  said  of  the  tests  required  ?  What  was 
the  real  position  of  the  majority  of  the  North, 
as  respected  slavery?  What  is  said  of  the 
Free  soil  convention  held  at  Buffalo  7  De- 
scribe the  first  meeting  of  southern  delegates, 
in  Dec,  1848.  Of  the  second  meeting?  Why 
was  this  unsatisfactory  to  Mr.  Calhoun's  party^ 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Was  any  government  obtained  for  the  new 
territories  in  the  congress  of  1848-9?  What 
was  the  course  of  California  under  her  trying 
circumstances  7  What  of  the  Presidents  Polk 
and  Taylor,  with  respect  to  this  fast  rising 
state  ?  Give  an  account  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  Californians  up  to  the  meeting  of  their 
first  legislature  at  San  Jos6.  Of  Gov.  Bur- 
net's speech?  Who  were  the  first  chosen  Sen- 
ators 7  What  did  they  carry  to  congress? 
What  was  the  action  of  the  President,  and  how 
was  the  Californian  petition  received  in  con- 
gress? Give  an  account  of  the  contest  be- 
tween New  Mexico  and  Texas,  and  how  it 
was  connected  with  the  slavery  question. 
Where  are  now  the  Mormons  7  What  bill  was 
introduced  into  the  Senate  by  Senator  Butler, 
of  S.  C.  ?  What  was  now  the  feeling  between 
the  North  and  South  ?  What  do  you  learn  ol 
the  origin  and  object  of  the  Nashville  Con- 
vention ?  What  were  the  expectations  of  the 
ultra  disunionists  7  What  the  views  and  feel- 
ings of  American  patriots  7 


CHAPTER  V. 

What  is  remarked  concerning  the  1st  ses 
sion  of  the  31st  congress  ?  Which  branch  took 
the  lead,  and  what  is  said  of  several  of  its  ora- 
tors and  statesmen  ?  W^ith  what  feelings  did 
members  from  the  North  and  South  meet  each 
other?  How  were  each  instructed  by  their 
constituents?  Why,  and  in  what  respects 
were  there  misunderstandings  between  th« 
men  of  the  North  and  those  of  the  South  . 


n.«T  IT.] 


QUESTIONS. 


[riKioD  rv. 


What  is  said  of  Fenators  Dickinson  and  Phelps? 
Repeat  the  synopsis  given  of  Mr.  Dickinson's 
speech.  Of  the  speech  of  Mr.  Phelps.  Of  that 
of  Mr.  Clay.  Of  that  of  Mr.  Webster.  What 
was  the  date  of  eachi  On  what  occasion 
was  Mr.  Clay's  made  T 


CHAPTER  VI. 

What  was  the  effect  of  the  collision  of  opin- 
ions in  congress  ?  IIow  were  the  committee 
of  thirteen  composed,  and  for  what  purpose 
chosen  1  Give  an  account  of  the  Nashville 
Convention.  Of  the  attempt  which  was  made 
from  the  U.  S.  upon  Cuba.  By  what  event 
was  the  nation  called  to  mourning  ?  What  is 
said  of  Millard  Fillmore  ?  Of  his  choice  of  a 
cabinet  1    What  was  done  by  Mr.  Webster  ? 

What  important  measures  passed  congress? 
When  1  Of  the  different  branches  of  the  com- 
promise measures,  which  does  your  author 
arrange  as  first  ?  Which  as  second  ?— third  ? 
—fourth  ?— fifth  ?  What  was  achieved  by  the 
success  of  the  compromise  measures  ? 

What  remains  of  the  slavery  agitation  ap- 
peared at  tUe  HoiXh !— at  the  South  1    What 


may  be  expected  from  the  restoration  of  con- 
fidence between  the  North  and  the  South  1 
Give  some  particulars  of  the  Brazilian  treaty— 
Of  the  Austrian.  What  difficulty  arose  «on- 
cerning  Austrian  affairs  ?  What  occurred  in 
the  National  Assembly  of  the  Republic  of 
{Switzerland?  What  is  remarked  concerning 
the  Sandwich  Islands? — Concerning  Liberia  1 
When  and  how  was  the  attention  of  the  secu- 
lar community  drawn  to  the  condition  of  th« 
religious?  By  what  circumstances  occurring 
in  the  visit  of  Dr.  Breckenridge  to  Europe,  is 
it  shown  that  the  public  opinion  of  northers 
Christians,  which  led  the  way  to  this  church 
disruption,  followedahat  dictated  by  men  of 
Great  Britain  ?  By  what  course  has  the  late 
action  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  tended  to  heal  disunion  ?  What  re- 
sults were  shown  by  the  census  of  1850' 
What  is  said  of  the  present  condition  of  the 
Republic  1  What  kind  of  headship  of  nations 
should  we  covet  for  our  country  '  What  ia 
said  of  the  emigration  from  Europe  to  thii 
country  ?  What  is  said  of  future  war,  espe- 
cially with  Great  Britain?  What,  in  concl»»- 
Eioa,  is  the  counsel  of  the  historian? 
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